Test Drive: Jaguar F-Pace

Let us not beat around the bush the Jaguar F-Pace is a great looking crossover SUV. Not only that but it's a great looking car. There's no disputing the fact that the first SUV in the history of Jaguar has some serious presence.

Jaguar F-Pace S 30d in Glacier White

What a bold move by Jaguar to enter a car into the small luxury crossover segment which is completely dominated by Germans. The established BMW X3 and Audi Q5 have been recently challenged by the Porsche Macan and the Mercedes GLC. And now Jaguar has entered these unexplored waters. Jaguar started reinventing itself around ten years ago with the XF, therefore it makes sense that they would leave their comfort zone and try something new with the F-Pace.

The brilliance of the exterior continues on the inside. It is a close to perfect blend of style, technology and user friendliness. You slide in your drivers seat like a hand into a fencing glove. You immediately feel at home. The commanding feature of the interior is the 10.2-inch touch-screen infotainment unit. It' s an option but it needs to be selected since the standard 8-inch unit is not going to cut it. It is easy to use as well if your familiar with the android operating system. With the upgrade you also get the 12.3-inch customizable virtual cock pit. The interior is rather dark if not fitted with the lighter aluminium trim. But I still wouldn't call it gloomy. Also the buttons for the JaguarDrive-control drive mode system, which comes as standard to all trim levels, are slightly in an unergonomical position. Remember also that the gear-selector rises up from the center console when you turn on the ignition. Best unnecessary feature ever created.

The interior of an F-Pace 20d R-sport with the upgraded infotainment

The digital dials

There are six trim levels available, Pure, Prestige, R-Sport, Business AWD, Portfolio and S. The Business is only available for the 2.0 litre all-wheel drive version and the S only for the larger 3.0 litre V6 diesel and petrol engines. The one I drove had the highest spec S trim level. With which you get large 20-inch alloys and the S-body kit which has some Satin Chrome detailed bumpers and side skirts. Even though the S is almost fully loaded you still have to pay extra for the excellent 10.2-inch infotainment and virtual cock pit. And don't forget the obligatory S-badges.

The F-pace is available with an adequate selection of engines. A basic 2.0 litre turbodiesel with either rear or all-wheel drive developing 180 PS and 430 Nm of torque. It is probably the choice of many for it's superior fuel consumption to the V6 alternatives. The supercharged petrol 3.0 litre V6 is the same unit as in the F-Type with either 340 or 380 PS. That will make this big cat go at some serious speed towards the horizon. I drove the 3.0 litre V6 turbodiesel and what an engine it is. Developing 300 PS and 700 Nm of torque it is probably the best diesel I've driven. It is responsive, refined and characterful. Words that are not often used to describe one engine. Together with the magnificent 8-speed automatic it hurls the car to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. This engine is not available with the 6-speed manual but I'm not complaining.

F-Type styled tail-lights now standard across the Jaguar range

Jaguar promises the F-Pace to be sporty. I sort of ignored that and expected it to feel as big as it is and not to feel as sporty as it looks. Goodness how wrong I was. The tall Jaaag sticks to the road like a stressed squirrel hangs on to a tree trunk. Somehow it manages to feel so low-down that you only remember how high up you are when you approach a saloon and suddenly notice you can see over it. Body roll is almost non-existent and the steering feels light and quick. Take this car to your annual skiing trip to the Alps and you will be able to haul all your equipment around while enjoying the legendary mountain roads.

Jaguar has created something very special here. After my short test drive I exited the car and quickly announced that it was the best car I've ever driven. I honestly believe that the F-Pace is all the car you'd want and need.

Front of the R-Sport trim

PS. Oh yeah, the practicality. I can confirm that three adults fit in the back rather nicely and that the boot is large enough for your dogs to join you on your Alpine adventure. If you want seven seats buy the Discovery Sport.

Test drive: Renault Mégane Sport Tourer GT

There is an immediate repulsiveness to this car and that is why call it a Sport Tourer instead of an estate. It's already trying too much and you haven't even had a proper look at it yet. Even though you could probably abbreviate it to ST, therein lies this cars problem. But we'll get to that later. I've never been a fan of these small family estates. You obviously buy it because you need or think you need space for moving furniture, dogs, aquarium tanks or what have you. But then there's the question why not buy a three year old second hand proper estate such as a Mondeo or a Passat. Don't even try to get me started on the Clio or Ibiza estates. I already have a negative attitude towards this car but it does have some redeeming qualities.

Renault Mégane Sport Tourer GT in Iron Blue

Starting with the looks. The French have managed to design a very quirky and engaging car to look at. It is beautifully proportioned and with those unique head and rear-lights it truly stands out from the bunch. It looks stylish without compromising the practicality of the thing. What looks like a lack of the d-pillar gives it an effect where it looks like glass envelops the entire top side of the car. Very

The white part of the screen is the sat-nav

sci-fi and UFO type stuff. Sort of the same can be said of the interior. The i-pad sized touch-screen and few buttons gives it a nice upmarket feel. Although I must say the center console display thing is quite confusing at first. And I can already see the material around the screen becoming peppered with finger-prints.

No doubting what car it is when the badge is that enormous.

This GT-model has all the techy stuff as standard. And as the GT-model it also has the top of the line 1.6 litre turbocharged engine developing a respectable 205 PS. This top-spec car also gives you the freedom to choose between different driving-modes. Which is something I feel every car has and somehow we should be excited about it. Anyhow, in this Mégane Sport Tourer GT stay away from the large touch screen button that says Sport. The cars 7-speed paddleshift gearbox will not now what is up and what is down. The ride which is perfectly decent for this car will be ruined. Coupled that with the body-hugging sport seats and your Renault GT will make you mental. Which makes the entire concept of the GT obsolete. It feels that the engine and gearbox do not get along all that well. The engine is happiest when overtaking in comfort mode. Here the engine works well with the gearbox and the car can make use most of the turbo grunt of which it has 280 Nm. The only enjoyable feature of the Sport button is that it enhances the rather fruity noise of that four-pot turbo.  

The rear is very unique. I also like the single exhaust.

This tech and the very apparent nature of it is very impressive but also the cars downfall. The fact that Renault has made a hot Mégane estate is very well and good but this a case of better idea than execution. There is nothing wrong in wanting the Mégane estate even though it isn't the most practical of the bunch. But there is only money lost if you buy the Sport Tourer GT.

PS. The price of this car is quite substantial, almost 40 000€ over here...  

 

Test drive: Honda Civic Type R

I have added a new hot hatchback to my, patent pending, 'I've driven that' - collection. It as it turns out is also the second most powerful car that you can drive at the Auto 2016 event.

The EP3 Honda Civic Type R is an iconic hot hatchback revered for it's brilliant chassis, fun handling characteristics and tuning possibilities. But the third generation was not loved all that much. Honda has tried to rectify that with the latest available model the fourth generation.

Honda Civic Type R in championship white

First lets kick off with the - there's no other word for it - insane styling. It looks ready modified with

Why? Just why

wheel-arches that look as they'd been borrowed from another car and spoilers. Big, big spoilers. The one on the boot is so large that when the car rolled in to the test drive car area that is how I recognized it. It was like a shark fin on top of car roofs. I find the styling stupid and a bit embarrassing. In my view a hot hatchback should be so discrete that only car bores will be able to notice it. This gathers attention as much as a cosplayer walking in costume through a train station.

The wing is so tall you can't see it in the rear-view mirror.

When falling into the harsh semi-racing seats, and I mean falling they're much lower down than you'd think, you find yourself in a Honda with a button that says +R. This button changes the lighting and instruments to red. It's obviously the race button. That is all you need to know about this car. No complicated computer to go into where to choose gearbox, suspension or steering settings.

Four tailpipes in a hot hatchback is too many. You too Audi, two is enough.

The Civic Type R is not meant for anyone with backache. It reacts with shakes and rattles to every little bump. Turning off the +R function evens out the ride a tad but not enough. It appears this chassis is not meant for anything else than race tracks. The steering confirms that. It's weighty and precise, not much lock is needed to make a sharp turn. The driving sensation is enhanced by the manual gearbox. A manual in a high performance hatchback! Oh joy. It's just as sharp and precise as one would like it. Short throws and a close proximity to the steering wheel aids the driver to make quicker shifts.

What? Do you want to know the speed at which you're traveling

What makes a hot hatchback is its engine. The fourth generation Civic Type R has a 2.0 litre turbo VTEC developing 310 horsepower. This goes through the front wheels which it actually handles rather well. On hard acceleration it tracks straight with minimal torque steer. Turbo lag was quite absent as well, but I think that was down to the manual gearbox which meant I always kept it at higher than normal revs. Finally the noise. Despite the tuning look of the exhausts it sounded real. No extra burble, crackle or bang only pure vtec kicked in yo.

I wouldn't buy this car purely on the looks. I can understand the track ready look because it feels like it would be very capable at pounding round a few circuits. Many others have also been repelled by the look of this car since the one I drove is the first I've seen on the road. Subtle hot hatchbacks are the way to go.

Test drive: Jaguar F-Type R coupé

Alright so, the Auto2016 event started off with a bang for my part at least. Instead of starting the weekend off cautiously I decided to dive straight to shark infested waters by driving the most expensive and most powerful car available the Jaguar F-Type R.

Jaguar F-Type R in a special Jaguar Experience livery

 I entered the large area where the test drive cars are kept with anxiety and general uneasiness. I was among one of the first to drive this thing. It is worth over 200 000 euros, what if i bin it? What if some orangutan in a Renault drives into me? Then there wouldn't be any F-Type for the rest to drive around in. I entered the car as gracefully as I could and started the engine in what turned to be a very echoey room. During the test drive I was accompanied by a nice woman wearing a discrete Jaguar jumper, because no one is allowed to drive off alone in any of the test drive cars. The lady showed me where to open the flaps on the exhaust, I gave the engine a 'gentle' warmup just to make sure the Jag got everybody's attention and then drove off.

The four tail pipes emit a sound only made by a furious deity.

The general numbness, though, went away quickly when I entered the outside world. The F-Type R in normal city traffic is actually not scary at all. It's extremely easy to maneuver and the visibility, all though not great, is sufficient enough for you to sense the corners of the car. The test drive route for the event is around 20 minutes and exciting at all. Mostly in the city a bit of motorway acceleration and that's it. But the F-Type made the route very exciting indeed.

The suspension is not set up for comfort

When applying the throttle for some big speed it punches through the air and waves and buildings and anything else really, with an absolutely brutal V8 soundtrack. The general numbness that existed in my legs before the test drive returned. The acceleration is something I've never experienced before. I'd love to compare the acceleration and the sensation of speed to something else but truth be told, this is by far the fastest most powerful car I've ever driven. Only words that come to mind are holy sh*t I need to drive this on an autobahn and try again.

I apologize for the bad picture, my hands were shaking

The car is an absolute beast when it wants to be and in dynamic mode it is constantly rattling the cage door wanting to be freed. It feels very normal when you're not feeling playful but no one is ever going to drive this car normally. It's a complete animal with a massive character wrapped in a handsome and muscular suit, that can burble the alphabet if it wanted to on the overrun.
I honestly cannot be objective with reviewing this car, but then again I'm not a real journalist.



Specs: The Jaguar F-Type coupé has a supercharged 550 horsepower V8. Power delivered through a ZF eight speed gearbox to the rear wheels or all four wheels (test car had AWD).

Auto 2016 Car Show

This weekend in Helsinki, Finland there will be held a car show called Auto 2016. It won't showcase concepts that may or may not enter production in the year 2028 but instead new and relevant cars that already are or will enter the showrooms in the near future.

I predict the glamour and prestige of Paris or Tokyo motor show will be absent as well but this car show has a special niche that I have never come across. There will be over 100 cars that you will be able to test drive. You're not anymore restricted to just look and talk about the cars on display. Hurray!

Obviously the organisers of the event and importers of the cars cannot just give you the keys to any flagship model from their selection. This means most of the cars will represent what I call the buying with the brain sector. That mostly means small hatchbacks, economical SUVs and well, other boring every day greywackes.

But it's not all bad. Some test drive cars are fully loaded such as the latest Civic TypeR and VW Golf R variant. But certainly the highlight will be when I place my right foot on the throttle pedal of the Jaguar F-type R. Yes, indeed, any ham-fisted lead-footed lunatic with a driver's license can this weekend step out from the virtual world of Forza Horizon 3 and drive a 550 horsepower super cat in the real world. That's some serious trust the local Jaguar importers have on this nation which invented the Scandinavian flick.

Anyhow. This weekend will be filled a lot of driving in very different cars ranging from the Mazda 2 to Mercedes GLC. Probably all the test drives and opinions on cars that are only on the floor will end up on this blog. That's a lot of content.

Vision Gran Turismo: Mazda LM55

Since really nothing is happening in the car world at the moment, apart from the new 5-series being revealed. Let us revisit the world of Gran Turismo 6 and its Vision project. A project that lost its wings quite abruptly around a year ago.

Mazda LM55 in some sort of GT6 green

Anyhow, here's Mazda's contribution to the Vision Gran Turismo project the LM55. It's quite an unusual VGT concept since it is more of an homage to an earlier Mazda. You guessed it, the Le Mans winning 787B. All the other concepts so far have been legitimate new models which illustrate the future design direction of the manufacturer in question. And with that the manufacturers have tried to design road-going track-monsters such as the BMW and Mitsubishi concepts. Which incidentally today look like the BMW M2 and the Mitsubishi GT-PHEV concept revealed this year at the Paris motor show.

Hunting down the next Audi, Toyota and Porsche

The Mazda LM55 is a straight up Le Mans racer, which is immediately apparent by its appearance. For a body sculpted by wind tunnel and maths it looks quite elegant and striking. To the styling Mazda has adopted the Kodo philosophy which they also use in their road cars. I like Mazda's overall road car design, if they could bring it to the racetracks I'd be in the grandstands sporting a Mazda cap that's for sure. Great styling cues which also have an engineering purpose are the hollow wheel arches. You can see the suspension arm moving while going along at 340 kph on the - not so smooth - Mulsanne straight, which is a nice touch. 

Smooth purposeful lines

It is not my favourite VGT car to drive in the game. It understeers a lot, the rotary engine noise is way better on the 787B and I find the gearing a bit odd. I thought that the gearing for endurance racers should be long but on the eight speed LM55 it's stressful. An eight speed box is too much, around Circuit de la Sarthe for instance you don't really need a lower gear than third. Maybe because of that the car is very twitchy under breaking as well. Bear in mind I drive with a normal controller, which may contribute to my bad driving.

I would really like to see Mazda return to the front of prototype racing. And if it would look this good they will certainly have a fan headquarters camping outside the Dunlop curve.

Lamborghini Espada: Gandini art part 2

Since I have nothing to report from the Paris Motor Show (I wasn't there), let me present another Italian 70's sports/super car to you. Designed by the same person as the car from the previous post.

Lamborghini Espada in Rosso

The Lamborghini Espada was the most sold Lambo before the Countach. When you think most sold car remember which manufacturer we're talking about. They made and sold an overwhelming 1,217 Espadas during its ten years in production (1968-1978). This was huge for Lamborghini since they only sold a couple of hundred cars per model at that time. And for you classic car buyers, this also means that there are many Espadas out for sale today at quite a reasonable price - for a classic Lamborghini at least.

The 928 next to it looked like and SUV

As revealed in the title it was designed by one of Bertones greatest designer Marcello Gandini. The styling is sleek and... well, long. The long lines at the sides and the bonnet emphasize the length of this four-seater. Espada is Spanish and means sword. This charactarizes the cars sharp look. I just wonder if the name was invented after it was designed or the other way around. The cars other dimensions are as extreme as its length. It's under 1.2 meters high and close to 1.9 meters wide. Lamborghini had come a long way from the tractor dimensions. Some Gandini styling details are the NACA ducts on the bonnet, which I believe are functional. They better be, for the good of the engine lying beneath. 

NACA ducts give some depth to the king-size - large bonnet

The wheels are copied from the Miura

This vast car needs a powerful engine to hurl it forward. Luckily Lamborghini only makes engines with more than a few cylinders. The Espada has a version of Lambo's 3.9 litre V12 also seen in the Miura. Power output changed over the years from an initial 330 horsepower to 350 in the series II. Weirdly, for the series III the power was reduced to 325 HP. There were also ugly US-spec bumpers added to the series III which made it less desirable. That meant the series II sold the most and is the most wanted Espada today. 

The fuel filler is behind the plastic ducts

What comes to Italian supercars this may not be the most striking but it has an enormous amount of road presence. It is usable too with a large boot and two very usable backseats. Jay Leno talks about his Espada being his only car for some time. This is obviously possible only in a country where fuel prices are so low that it's almost viewed as a human right.