Jaguar F-TYPE Coupe arrives

Jaguar's new F-TYPE Coupe has arrived in Australia, 12 months after the F-TYPE Convertible went on sale here.

Three versions of the fixed-roof two-seater are now available, priced from $119,430 plus on-road costs – $470 less than previously announced in February due to the higher $61,884 luxury car tax threshold effective from July 1.

The sub-$120,000 opening price applies to the base F-TYPE Coupe, which is almost $19,000 cheaper than the convertible with which it shares its 250kW/450Nm 3.0-litre V6.

At $151,830 plus ORCs, the mid-range F-TYPE S Coupe undercuts the equivalent roadster by the same amount and comes with the same 280kW/460Nm 3.0-litre V6.

Bucking the trend is the range-topping F-TYPE R Coupe at $219,130 plus ORCs – making the first R-badged F-TYPE almost $18,000 more expensive than the F-TYPE V8 S Convertible.

While the top-shelf F-TYPE convertible is powered by a 364kW/625Nm 5.0-litre supercharged V8, the F-TYPE R Coupe packs a higher-performance 404.5kW/680Nm version of the same engine.

Peak power comes in at 6500rpm in all four engines, but the R Coupe's higher maximum torque output is developed at 3500rpm, whereas the V8 S Convertible delivers 30Nm less over a wider 2500-5500rpm range.

Jaguar says it has no plans for a V8 S version of the coupe or an R version of the roadster. For the time being, it has also ruled out four-cylinder versions of any F-TYPE, but doesn't deny the possibility of top-shelf SVR-badged versions of both body styles powered by a blown V8 producing at least 423kW.

For now, the 1650kg R Coupe is the hottest F-TYPE, sprinting to 100km/h in a claimed 4.2 seconds – one-tenth sooner than the 1665kg V8 S Convertible. Both models consume 11.1L/100km and have a 300km/h top speed.

Despite weighing 20kg less than the convertible at 1577kg, the entry-level V6 coupe hits 100km/h in the same claimed 5.3 seconds and consumes the same 8.8L/100km.

Slotting in between the base V6 and both V8s is the F-TYPE S Coupe, which like the S Convertible reaches 100km/h in a claimed 4.9 seconds and consumes 9/1L/100km, but weighs 20kg less at 1594kg.

The R Coupe runs a taller (2.45) final drive ratio than both V6 coupes (3.15 and 3.31 for the S).

All models come standard with an eight-speed ZF Quickshift automatic transmission with shift paddles, idle-stop, an electric parking brake, front and front/side airbags, stability/traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist, rear parking sensors, a temporary spare and tyre repair kit.

Also standard across the range are bi-xenon headlights with washers and LED signature lights, LED tail-lights, deployable door-handles, automatic headlights and wipers, heated/folding power mirrors, retracting rear wing, cruise control with speed limiter, keyless entry and start, LED overhead lighting, trip computer, electric steering wheel adjustment, 6x6-way power seat adjustment, an eight-inch colour touch-screen, 380-Watt Meridian surround sound system, CD/DVD player, sat-nav, Bluetooth telephony and five-inch colour TFT instrument display.

V6 models come with a twin central exhaust outlets, while V8 models have twin outboard tailpipes and also add an active electronic differential and 'Super Performance Braking System' with red callipers.

The base V6 features 18-inch wheels, an open diff and Performance Braking System with silver callipers, while the V6 S gets 19-inch alloys, a limited-slip diff and High Performance Braking System with red callipers.

S and R models add sports suspension with Adaptive Dynamics and an active sports exhaust, with R models gain 20-inch alloys, a unique suspension tune, torque vectoring, a switchable active exhaust, configurable Dynamic mode, gloss black side sill extensions and two-piece raised bonnet vents.

Inside, the base V6 comes with sports seats with leather and 'Suedecloth' trim, a three-spoke leather-clad steering wheel with black paddles, 'Light Hex' aluminium console trim and ambient interior models.

S models score all-leather trim, 'Ignis' shift paddles, 'Dark Hex' console trim and configurable LED ambient lighting, while the R Coupe cops Performance seats with Premium leather trim and an R-embossed head restraint, a flat-bottom R steering wheel, R-themed contrasting leather trim with double-stitching  and 'Dark Technical Weave' console trim.

Among the host of newly announced colour, trim, convenience and accessory options – even for the R Coupe -- are a digital radio receiver ($600), tyre pressure monitoring ($750), a powered tailgate ($1100), blind-spot monitoring and closing vehicle sensing ($1500), digital TV ($1500), panoramic glass sunroof ($2000), 770-Watt Meridian sound ($6900) and a carbon-ceramic braking kit including yellow callipers unique 20-inch alloys and stainless steel pedal covers (from $17,360).

The British brand expects the hard-top F-TYPE to sell in bigger numbers than the soft-top, which attracted 89 buyers last year and 76 in the first half of 2014 for a total of 165 in its first year on sale.

Jaguar says that makes it the third best selling model in its segment behind the Porsche 911 (194 sales so far this year) and the BMW 6 Series (120).

However, both those models are classed as $200,000-plus sports cars by official industry statistician VFACTS, which so far in 2014 ranks the F-TYPE 10th in the $80,000-plus sports car segment behind the Mercedes C-Class Coupe, BMW 3 and 4 Series Coupe and Convertible, Mercedes E-Class Coupe and Convertible, Audi A5, Mercedes SLK, Porsche Cayman and Boxster, and Audi TT.

Jaguar Australia says while its F-TYPE Convertible pricing is in line with other markets, the coupe is priced more aggressively here – despite the R Coupe's near-$18,000 price premium over the V8 S Convertible.

Given the majority of sports car sales go to coupes and both V6 models are more affordable than their less practical roadster equivalents, Jaguar expects the hard-top to account for 60 per cent of F-TYPE sales and to attract a higher proportion of buyers (75 per cent) from other brands.

As with the roadster, the mid-range V6 S is expected to be the volume-selling F-TYPE Coupe with 45 per cent of sales, with the remainder split evenly between the base V6 and flagship V8.

"The coupe will more than double our accessible market for the F-TYPE," said Jaguar Australia Brand Manager Mark Eedle. "It will bring us to a new audience and put us on more shopping lists."