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Jaguar F-Type SVR vs Porsche 911 Turbo

Jaguar’s new four-wheel-drive SVR is the ultimate F-Type. We put it against another supercar for all seasons, the Porsche 911 Turbo

According to Jaguar, the new F-Type SVR is ‘the 200mph all-weather supercar’. That’s the bold claim for the most hardcore model in the F-Type range, and it opens it up to some strong competition – most notably from Porsche.

For years, the German brand’s 911 Turbo has laid claim to the title of the supercar you can use in all conditions. But now, it seems, the iconic machine has some genuine competition from the SVR. Both are four-wheel drive, helping to put their prodigious power down on slippery roads to improve their usability, but neither is cheap.

In coupe form, the F-Type SVR will set you back £110,000, while the Porsche is even pricier, at £127,630. It’s also down on power compared with the Jaguar, but the 911 has a few tricks up its sleeves that could put paid to the SVR’s challenge.

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With its 2+2 layout, the 911 Turbo is pretty practical for a 200mph supercar, while clever tech like four-wheel steering means it has the engineering to back up its high-performance claims.

But Jaguar has given the F-Type a thorough reworking as part of the SVR upgrade, so this contest will be close.

• Jaguar F-Type R vs Ford Mustang

Head to head

Noise

A new SVR exhaust means this F-Type is the noisiest ever. The set-up is switchable, so you can quieten it down for town cruising, but push the throttle hard and the engine roars again. By contrast, the Turbo whistles and whooshes over a mechanical flat-six rasp, but there’s no sports exhaust to release a few more decibels.

Design

While the F-Type references the E=Type, Jaguar’s break from out-and-out sports cars in the intervening years gives a clean, distinctive look. The 911 has been in production since 1963: it’s evolved, but the shape and 2+2 rear-engined concept remains.

Technology

Porsche has addressed some key areas as part of this minor update to the 991 generation 911. The latest infotainment system and standard LED headlights certainly help keep the car fresh until a full facelift is carried out next year.

Results

First place: Porsche 911 Turbo

The 911 Turbo has less power but more pace than the F-Type, while in this market costs are less of an issue – although the 911 is surprisingly efficient. It delivers a hugely engaging drive, thanks to trick tech such as four-wheel steering. Factor in 2+2 practicality, decent load space, staggering performance and incredible usability, and the Turbo’s updated infotainment is the icing on the cake.

Second place: Jaguar F-Type SVR

The SVR is even finer to drive than the regular F-Type R AWD. It’s still not as good as the 911, or as well finished, but it delivers the feel good factor in spades and packs even more character into that stylish but subtly enhanced body. You can’t help but smile at the noise, either, althought it might be too much for some to live with – even if the SVR’s more compliant ride won’t be. 

Also consider:

Audi R8 V10

Audi R8 V10 2016 - front cornering 2

Price: £119,520

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Engine: 5.2-litre V10, 533bhp

Audi’s R8 V10 produces similar power to the Porsche – but its thunderous 5.2-litre V10 does without turbos, and sounds glorious. Four-wheel drive and a snappy seven-speed dual clutch box are standard, while a mid-engined layout gives it something extra over the SVR.

Mercedes-AMG GT S

Mercedes-AMG GT S - front tracking

Price: £111,495

Engine: 4.0-litre V8, 503bhp

The GT S’s 4.0-litre V8 shows rivals how a modern turbo should perform, as it has all the thunder you expect from AMG. Twitchy steering and a wide body make the Mercedes a handful on tight roads, but it’s a decent cruiser. Its hatchback gives practicality to rival the Jag.

Facts and figures

 Porsche 911 TurboJaguar F-Type SVR AWD Coupé
On-the-road price/total as tested£127,630/£136,040£110,000/£124,510
Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000)£56,719/44.4%£42,955/39.1%
Depreciation£70,911£67,045
Annual tax liability std/higher rate£9,392/£18,785£8,053/£16,106
Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles)£2,006/£3,344£3,314/£5,524
Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost50/£2,282/K/£29550/£1,965/M/£515
Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service£525/£755/£525£1,495 (5yrs)
   
Length/wheelbase4,507/2,450mm4,475/2,622mm
Height/width1,297/1,880mm1,311/1,923mm
EngineFlat-six/3,800ccV8/5,000cc
Peak power/revs 533/6,400 bhp/rpm567/6,500 bhp/rpm
Peak torque/revs 710/2,250 Nm/rpm700/3,500 Nm/rpm
Transmission 7-spd PDK/4WD8-spd auto/4WD
Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel68 litres/repair kit70 litres/repair kit
Boot capacity115/260 litres*310/408 litres^*
Kerbweight/payload1,595/415kg1,705/445kg
Turning circle/drag coefficient10.6 metres/0.31Cd11.3 metres/N/A
Basic warranty (miles)/recovery3yrs (unlimited)/3yrs3yrs (unlimited)/3yrs
Service intervals/UK dealers20,000 miles (2yrs)/3616,000 miles (1yr)/84
Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos.7th/16th6th/13th
NCAP: Adult/child/ped./assist/starsN/AN/A
   
0-60/30-70mph2.8/3.1 secs3.9/3.0 secs
30-50mph in 3rd/4th 1.9/2.8 secs1.9/2.7 secs
50-70mph in 5th/6th/7th/8th 2.6/3.7/6.0 secs/N/A3.3/4.9/6.8 secs/N/A
Top speed/rpm at 70mph 198mph/1,800rpm200mph/1,500rpm
Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 42.4/32.8/9.3m44.5/31.3/9.5m
Noise levels outside/idle/30/70mph69/54/64/73dB68/53/64/73dB
Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range29.9/6.6/447 miles18.1/4.0/279 miles
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined23.9/37.7/31.0mpg17.4/33.2/25.0mpg
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined5.3/8.3/6.8mpl3.8/7.3/5.5mpl
Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket218/212g/km/37%361/269g/km/37%
   
Airbags/Isofix/park. sensors/cameraSix/yes/yes/yesFour/yes/yes/yes
Auto/stability/cruise/ceramic brakesYes/yes/yes/£6,248Yes/yes/yes/£8,570
Clim ctrl/leather/heated seats/AEB^^Yes/yes/yes/£1,278**Yes/yes/£360/no
Metallic paint/LED lights/keyless goYes/yes/£744Yes/xenon/yes
Sat-nav/USB/DAB radio/BluetoothYes/yes/yes/yesYes/yes/yes/yes
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