2016 Jaguar F-Type V6S AWD

By: Alex Forrest

The most beautiful feline in the Jaguar litter now has the claws of all four paws pulling it down the road. 

Yes, Jaguar has managed to squash all-wheel drive under its still-effortlessly beautiful F-Type. 

The F-Type is renowned for its extraordinarily crisp and alive steering feel. Therefore, Jaguar had to be very careful not to dilute this and introduce such abhorrent characteristics as power understeer and reduced steering feel, as can be the case in some AWD sports cars. 

In doing that, Jag has tuned the AWD system so it only engages the front wheels in adverse grip conditions, such as in wet weather or other situations where grip is in short supply. 

Under brisk acceleration exiting a corner, you can feel the additional torque being drip-fed through the front end, but you have to be looking for it. Torque vectoring, by braking the inside wheel while cornering, also helps in keeping the cornering line and reducing its inclination to go wide. 

The only other time the AWD is noticeable in normal driving is a slight twitchiness when manoeuvring at parking speeds, but it’s minimal.        

AWD is available in the 280kW V6S coupé, and 404kW V8 R coupé and convertible. The one we tried was this black V6S coupe. Unfortunately, AWD can’t be had with the manual gearbox – all AWDs get the eight-speed auto.

Importantly, a rear camera is now standard on V6S and R models.

Externally, the differences between the AWD versions and their rear-drive siblings are a slightly larger bonnet bulge in the AWD models, repositioned bonnet vents and some subtle badging.