2015 Jaguar F-Type S Coupe review: When a V-6 is more desirable than a V-8

Usually it’s unthinkable to spring for a V-6 over a V-8, like preferring the Jar-Jar-infested Star Wars prequels to the original trilogy. In the pony-car world, you’re driving grandma’s Mustang if you settle for anything less than a 302. I can’t remember the last time I preferred six cylinders over eight with any car — that is, until Jaguar dropped off a V6 supercharged Jaguar F-Type S Coupe at Yahoo’s doorstep.

That’s not dismissing the superlative V-8 version; the supercharged 5.0 burbles, howls, and pops with unbridled aggression, and hits 60 mph from a stop in a scant 4 seconds. Yet the V-6 feels more balanced weight-wise, with a power band that’s more reasonable for driving without brazenly breaking the law at the touch of the throttle — and yet is only 0.8 seconds slower to 60 mph. Although it “only” makes 380 horses in S trim, it’s lively yet composed at the same time, with the same snappy eight-speed ZF transmission as its burlier counterpart. The 19 city / 27 highway mpg is roughly 20 percent more fuel efficient than the R trim, making it a more practical option. Plus, there’s a nostalgic throwback with the exhaust; like the E-Type, the exhaust tips poke out of the center, and it even has a raspy buzz that evokes the old XK inline-six. It’s a retro touch fitting for a successor to one of the most iconic sports cars of all time.