Driving the 2015 Jaguar F-Type Coupe, England's buzz bomb at Germany

Not so long ago, I did a story about a pre-production track drive I experienced in the $99,895 supercharged Jaguar F-Type R coupe in Spain. I’m back now for more, albeit on a different Spanish track, and this time it’s with the actual production car set to hit U.S. dealerships next month.

As for the 542-hp R trim, featuring 502 lb.-ft. of torque and 20-inch rear tires that emit smoke on a whim, nothing on it has altered from my January drive. So, for this second test opportunity, I was looking forward to two things: long drives on happy little roads in the $77,895, 375-hp supercharged V-6S middle model, and then more track time with the V-8R. You know, to see if I could make the beast dance nice and dirty for me.

Sorry if this is a rehash of glee, but…isn’t the thing just gorgeous? I feel like a teenage girl at her first One Direction concert. Design maestro Ian Callum did a great job on the convertible F-Type, winning the World Car Design award for 2013 [full disclosure: I am involved in this award]. But, as with the Porsche Cayman that followed the Boxster, the coupe’s solid roof completes the F-Type's proportions to a T.

Do you want a burnout maven of a Jaguar in your garage? Get the 3,670-pound F-Type R coupe with twin-scroll supercharged 5.0-liter V-8. Also get the 20-inch forged Storm wheels that are specific to (and included with) the $12,000 Brembo carbon ceramic matrix brake upgrade; controlled oversteer through quick curves, smoking rubber at launch, and window-shaking exhaust noise are all standard.

I was encouraged to drive the F-Type Coupe to its limits: however, I discovered exactly why I needed to focus my attention to the F-Type S with the supercharged 3.0-liter V-6. Despite my love for the V-8R, this V-6S is the one I would buy, and it will be the biggest seller in the F-Type range.