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Jaguar F-Type S vs F-Type R – Which Big Cat Matches Your Spirit?

calendar April 29, 2025

user MotorShare Team

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They share a bloodline but offer two wildly different experiences. Let's dive deep into what separates the Jaguar F-Type S Convertible and the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe.

If there’s one car that perfectly blends British elegance with raw sports car energy, it’s the Jaguar F-Type. Introduced in 2013 as the spiritual successor to the legendary Jaguar E-Type — a machine Enzo Ferrari once called “the most beautiful car ever made” — the F-Type stands as Jaguar’s roaring statement that beauty and performance are eternal.

Designed by Ian Callum — the brilliant mind behind the Aston Martin DB7, Aston Martin Vanquish, and the Jaguar XK — the F-Type combined sensual design with razor-edge modernity. Every curve serves a purpose; every detail is sculpted for speed and grace. The rear haunches evoke the classic E-Type, while the aggressive front end pushes Jaguar boldly into the 21st century.

Fun fact: the F-Type’s exhaust note wasn’t left to chance. Jaguar collaborated with musical engineers to perfect the "crackle" and "roar" — ensuring this car doesn’t just perform, it sings.

At Motorshare, you can experience two distinct personalities: the refined F-Type S Convertible and the wild F-Type R Coupe. Let’s break down the real-world differences between these two felines.


1. Engine Power: Graceful Performance vs. Supercharged Fury

At first encounter, the F-Type S Convertible offers exactly the kind of power you expect from a refined British roadster. Its 3.0L V6 Supercharged engine with 380 horsepower delivers swift, composed acceleration. It's lively, but never intimidating, allowing you to revel in open-top drives where power feels accessible and elegant rather than overwhelming. It's the kind of performance that flatters your confidence without demanding racing-driver reflexes.

In contrast, the F-Type R Coupe is pure unleashed fury. Its 5.0L V8 Supercharged engine hurls out 542 horsepower in a brutal, almost shocking manner. From the moment you bury the throttle, the world blurs. This isn't "spirited" — it's ballistic. The R doesn't just accelerate; it assaults the road ahead, demanding your full commitment. It’s the difference between commanding power and merely riding a tidal wave of it.

2. Body Style: Open-Sky Freedom vs. Enclosed Aggression

The F-Type S is all about romance with the environment. Lower the soft-top, and you're immersed in the elements — the wind, the scent of the road, the visceral sounds of the engine. Every journey feels amplified by the world around you. There's a classic joy to it: the car becomes less of a machine and more of a sensory amplifier for every twist, turn, and sunset.

The F-Type R Coupe, however, locks you into a different world. With its rigid fixed roof and aggressive, aerodynamic silhouette, it creates an intense, enclosed environment focused purely on performance. Here, you're less about enjoying the scenery and more about dominating the tarmac. It's a focused driving weapon that sacrifices openness for sharpness, feeling more like a precision tool honed for speed.

3. Transmission: Smooth Moves vs. Razor-Sharp Shifts

Both F-Types use Jaguar’s excellent 8-speed automatic, but they couldn’t feel more different in practice. In the F-Type S, the gearbox prioritizes smoothness, delivering seamless shifts that encourage relaxed yet dynamic cruising. It glides from gear to gear almost imperceptibly, reinforcing the S's "grand tourer" nature.

The F-Type R, on the other hand, transforms the same transmission into a vicious accomplice. In Dynamic mode, shifts become rapid-fire gunshots, each gear change punctuating acceleration with a visceral jolt. Paddle shifters feel immediate and brutally mechanical. It’s a setup that transforms a relaxing drive into a rapid, heart-pounding symphony of action.

4. Exhaust Symphony: Classy Roar vs. Savage Thunder

The F-Type S sings a polished, refined melody through its active exhaust system. At cruising speeds, it's subtle, a warm burble that never offends. But open it up, and the car delivers a melodic growl with just enough crackle on the overrun to make you grin — playful but never vulgar.

By contrast, the F-Type R is chaos made audible. The V8’s thunderous roar, deep and guttural at idle, crescendos into a primal scream under load. Downshifts elicit explosive bangs that reverberate through your chest. It’s less "musical" and more "orchestral warfare" — an exhaust note that announces your arrival two towns away.

5. Seating: Grand Tourer Comfort vs. Performance Embrace

Slide into the F-Type S and you’re welcomed by plush leather, ergonomic shapes, and seats designed for long-haul luxury. There's enough bolstering to hold you through corners, but it never feels restrictive. Comfort is king here — you could spend hours cruising without fatigue.

In the F-Type R, the seating philosophy shifts. The bolsters are harder, tighter, more purposeful. You’re held firmly in place, cocooned into the cockpit, your every movement anticipated. It's about performance: feeling one with the car when the g-forces pile up. Every squeeze of the seatback reminds you that the R expects you to drive, not just cruise.

6. Suspension: Balanced Comfort vs. Razor-Edge Responsiveness

Jaguar tuned the F-Type S’s suspension for a supple ride — sporty but never harsh. Bumps are absorbed with composure, and the adaptive dynamics smooth out uneven surfaces without sacrificing feedback. It strikes a near-perfect balance for real-world use: fun when you want it, civilized when you don’t.

The F-Type R’s suspension, however, means business. Tighter damping, stiffer springs, and a lower ride height all translate into razor-sharp reactions. The trade-off? Comfort takes a back seat. On a twisty backroad, the R feels surgically precise; on broken city streets, it reminds you that speed has a price.

7. Handling: Graceful Balance vs. Animalistic Grip

The F-Type S offers neutral, progressive handling. It's light, tossable, and eager to play — encouraging you to push but forgiving you when you overstep. It's fun without fear, making it perfect for drivers who love interaction but don’t want to wrestle with their machine.

The F-Type R is different. With standard all-wheel drive, aggressive torque vectoring, and a stiffer chassis, it feels glued to the road. Inputs must be precise; the car reacts instantly to every steering flick or throttle stab. Push hard, and the R rewards you with breathtaking capability — but it demands your full focus in return.

8. Visual Drama: Understated Elegance vs. Menacing Swagger

The F-Type S carries its beauty with poise. Its design is clean, flowing, and harmonious — turning heads not by shouting, but by seducing. It’s a car that looks just as appropriate parked outside a five-star hotel as it does winding through coastal roads.

The F-Type R, by comparison, looks ready to pick a fight. Enlarged intakes, aggressive aerodynamic touches, wider tires — every detail screams performance. It's not just fast; it looks fast even standing still, exuding menace and purpose with every sharp-edged crease.

9. Interior Ambience: Refined Luxury vs. Driver-Centric Sportiness

Inside the F-Type S, the cabin feels like a boutique hotel suite — high-end materials, intuitive layout, a space designed to please both driver and passenger. It's refined without being ostentatious, tech-savvy without feeling cold.

In the F-Type R, however, everything tilts toward the driver. The dashboard angles aggressively toward the cockpit, displays prioritize performance data, and the atmosphere becomes sportier, tauter. You sit lower, feel more enclosed. The message is clear: this isn’t just transportation. This is your fighter jet.

10. Emotional Character: The Romantic vs. The Predator

Ultimately, the F-Type S and F-Type R don’t just drive differently — they feel different at their core.

The F-Type S is a car for those who love the journey — who want to hear the wind in their hair, feel the sunshine on their face, and enjoy every curve with a grin. It's THE perfect car for a romantic getaway It’s the car that reminds you why driving can be pure pleasure.

The F-Type R, meanwhile, is a machine that taps into your most primal instincts. It doesn’t want a casual relationship — it demands commitment. Every drive feels like a challenge, an invitation to push harder, brake later, and savor the rewards of mastery. One charms your soul; the other tests it.

Exterior view Interior view

🏁 Conclusion: Two Big Cats, One Destiny — Thrill You

Both Jaguars represent the very best of British engineering: stunning looks, thrilling performance, and soul-stirring soundtracks.

If you crave the romance of open skies and elegant cruising, the F-Type S Convertible will steal your heart. If you hunger for raw speed, brutal acceleration, and track-ready aggression, the F-Type R Coupe will unleash your inner racer.

👉 Join Motorshare today and experience both sides of Jaguar's wild soul.


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