However, they did approach the drop-top Jag from a more practical perspective, and even here, it was found to meet the criteria.
As we’ve already heard, the F-Type in roadster form (we'll see if Jaguar has improved the coupe in this department) is not the best handler in its niche, being outclassed around the bends by the Porsche Cayman S and Boxster S, but it’s still pegged as being engaging to drive and very controllably tail-happy – it’s handling limits are easily approachable.
In fact, reviewer Tom Mutchler even calls it “a British Corvette,” though he goes on to say that he does not mean it in any kind of pejorative way - it's actually a compliment...
Speaking of the aforementioned practical aspects, CR praises the two-door’s seats, liberal use of stitched leather and the quick-operating electric soft top that stows away in 12 seconds.
Not that you needed more incentive to conjure up additional mental pictures of yourself holding its thick-rimmed wheel, but the full video drive lies (with a bonus track from Jay Leno's Garage) after the virtual jump, below.
By Andrei Nedelea
It’s the new Eagle Low Drag GT, a custom car based on the Jaguar E-Type Low Drag Coupe (a racing variant), but with a longer and more svelte silhouette courtesy of an extended wheelbase. The original was a looker, but this new interpretation is even better.
Its creators call it the ultimate grand tourer, and boast about its extra legroom over the regular low-drag coupe, recirculating air-con and the long-range fuel cell that makes long distance cruising possible. There are performance upgrades that buyers can opt for, including speed sensitive electric power steering (not sure why you’d want that), sports and adjustable suspension riding on Ohlins dampers, full leather trimmed interior and a concealed sat-nav screen.
Power comes from the same 4.7-liter straight-six as before, and it sends all its power to the rears through a five-speed stick shift. Performance is irrelevant with the sound note it’s capable of producing, coupled with the disturbingly pretty looks, but it will definitely be fast enough for most people – this car is about the experience, not the numbers.
Well, actually, that’s not entirely true. One of the numbers is important, the price; it stands at £650,000 ($1,050,000 or €777,000).
By Andrei Nedelea
Video via Daily Telegraph
Still, the comparison is justified, and makes for some sound advice, as the three vehicles cost about the same, go about as fast and are all viable alternatives as “everyday supercars.”
Moreover, they could have easily included the Nissan GT-R into their group of cars, though they know it would have annihilated the other three performance-wise, aside from already matching them in terms of price, practicality and even image.
The decision of buying a new car is difficult regardless of the price range within the constraints of which you must stay, or the class/type of vehicle you’re looking to get behind the wheel of. Even buying a very fast sports car/supercar is a daunting task, and the better informed you are, the harder the decision becomes…
Scroll down, check out the video, and find out which car won the test (hands down) in the end.
By Andrei Nedelea
Two magazines, including AutoExpress from the UK and Autobild from Germany had a go too, during which they made it clear that, at least in its current form, it’s still very far from production-ready.
Its steering needs too much lock to go around corners (and even straight, apparently) and the suspension is not tuned to iron out bumps, clearly not helped by the massive 23-inch rims it rides on.
Still, the UK reviewer does concede that there is ample space inside, and the driver is given the feeling of sitting in the car, rather than on top of it, an unwanted feeling that many cars display nowadays, but the Jag engineers were clear about avoiding.
The big rims, coupled with the stiff springs, lack of soundproofing and the lack of anything even closely resembling a production interior mean this test is inconclusive, but at least it confirms what we already knew: the C-X17 is a looker on the move, and while this silver example is not as spectacular as the blue one, it still promises to be one of the prettiest faces in its class (if/when they will finally admit to making it).
By Andrei Nedelea
To mark the occasion, Jaguar painted the study in a lustrous Liquid Aluminium liquid metal finish, which I have to admit, looks at as good, if not better than the C-X17’s original blue paint.
The C-X17’s official purpose in life was to introduce Jaguar’s all-new advanced aluminium architecture, which will underpin a new range of future Jaguars, beginning with a new mid-sized C/D segment sedan in 2015. However, the SUV’s looks hint to a production model, so in order to garner as many reactions as possible, Jaguar took the C-X17 to the Dubai International Motor Show.
The sports crossover also posed for a photo shoot in Dubai and was even offered to a lucky local journalist for a video review.
Scroll down to check out the video (which also includes a short interview with Jaguar design boss Ian Callum) and to see the new photo gallery.
By Dan Mihalascu
