Left foot on the brake, right foot on the throttle, hearing the growl building up intensely at close to 3,000 revs. Left foot off, right foot to the floor and the pair of 295-sections claw into the tarmac, with a wiggly feeling that scared the living daylights out of me for that split second. Launch done with, and with me barely comprehending the aggressive lunge forward, the F-Type R hit 100 km/h from standstill in just 4.06 seconds, and then went on to post a 10.85-second quarter-mile! The R will go on to 300 km/h, although the greatest restrictions, more than the legal speed limits, are the bumpy road surface and mindless motorists who fail miserably in understanding the concept of travelling in a straight line.
The numbers are good on paper, and even better to feel. The F-Type R can cruise comfortably at 180 km/h, all sliding and wiggling sensations done with once you’re on the move. The active rear spoiler comes up at 120 km/h and stays up till the speed drops below 80 km/h. It’s absolutely planted, stable and never fails to let you know that there’s always so much more power its heart has left to give. Heading towards a patch of slow-moving cars, it effortlessly shed speed after tottering at 130 km/h doing 1,600 RPM in eighth gear. The turn-off arrived and I lifted off, turning in sharply and then proceeding to crawl as fast as I could through the busy street.
The winding, open hilly roads were perfect and I felt the urge to let loose, watching out for the odd speed-bump, of course. The F-Type R corners sharp and sure, and the grip from the P-Zeros is very appreciable. It’s agile, reassuring and always seems to insist that I push harder, egging me on to try and find the limits of grip, because all that power seems limitless, or at the very least, extremely more than adequate on the roads I was on. One particular corner tempted me no end to turn off the traction control and slide my way around it, but, even by not giving in, I went around having just as much fun, but with more peace of mind, feeling the rear anxious to kick out, but staying put, just like I was. The R is a blast on the straights and a downright hoot around bends, and there are few others which deliver such a wholesome drive experience.
If you’re wondering about the efficiency a supercharged V8 sports car such as this mad Jag delivers, prepare to not be disappointed. The R returned four km/litre in the city and seven on the highway. Admirable! Also, at Rs 1.97 crore plus tax, it’s not for everybody, but, with its style, stance and substance, it sure makes everybody sit up and take notice. Turns out I am a bit of a cat person after all.
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