The Jaguar F-TYPE really kicked off the recent Jaguar renaissance in style, but, it hasn’t been sitting idle since, as Jaguar has been consistently adding more and more performance into the mix. This F-TYPE SVR is just the latest.  So we decided we’d better hurry up and enjoy it before Jaguar ups the ante even more. 

The Jaguar F-TYPE, the best muscle car built outside of America, gets the Special Vehicle Operations treatment for 2017, creating the even more muscular F-TYPE SVR. 

So, there’s a lot more here than just the typical sport package upgrade. Yes, more power, but also less weight; aero add-ons to increase downforce, and naturally a revised suspension to take advantage of all of the above. 

Venturing onto Savannah’s Roebling Road Raceway in this animal is like cuddling with a pit-bull; things are warm and fuzzy at first, but you never should let your guard down, as it has the potential to go really wrong really quick. 

It also sounds truly beastly, one of the best automotive sounds to emerge in recent years; its popping and crackling seemingly echoing all around the track and deep within our souls. 

And boy is it fast, though also somewhat sketchy; with an undeniable pucker factor, which makes it as fun as you’re willing to push it. 

It’s incredibly responsive as well, whether you’re ready for it or not. This Coupe does feel more solid than the last F-TYPE Roadster we tested, and you can easily feel the extra grip and power provided by the SVR upgrades. 

But as gnarly as it can get, it’s also very easy to catch when things start to get away from you, thanks to steering that is super light, direct, and predictable. Torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive aids as well. It may be a Jaguar, but it feels nothing like your typical Euro sport coupe.

Around the track, its true 8-speed automatic transmission didn’t hamper it a bit. Though as great as things sound outside, the cockpit remains mostly Jaguar solemn, keeping us from easily hearing our shift points. 

The auto certainly helps with acceleration. Just start feeding in the power, and the Jag squats down and leaps off the line; hitting 60 in 3.3-seconds. It’s one of the easiest to launch big horsepower cars we’ve driven. 

We kept the throttle open, letting the transmission shift when it pleased, and the ¼-mile was over in 11.6-seconds at 123 miles-per-hour. 

And of course we’d be remiss if we didn’t get into what makes all of that happen. The F-TYPE’s supercharged 5.0-liter V8 is still here, but its managing software has been recalibrated; resulting in a 25–horsepower boost to 575. Torque climbs 14 to 516. 

The SVR’s exterior does indeed look more aggressive than before, though it remains very elegant, a gentlemen racer if you will. 

Those added aero treatments include a tweaked front fascia, diverters in the wheel arches to channel additional air out of the fender vents, and a big active rear wing. 

Many of those performance extras are carbon-fiber; to help your SVR stand out from common F-TYPE affair. You’ll see it on the roof, front chin spoiler, hood, side vents, and rear diffuser.

And of course the F-TYPE’s pop-out door handles still exude cool. Oh, and that titanium exhaust that sounds so great, it also shaves 35-lbs. of weight. 

Most notably, as great as this SVR feels on the track, it still feels even more fun in “relaxed and profile” mode. No harsh suspension here; you’ll enjoy every minute behind the wheel. 

Jaguar has also left plenty of luxury touches inside for you and your lucky passengers to enjoy and be coddled by. 

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 15-City, 23-Highway, and 18–Combined. So there’s a poor Energy Impact Score thanks to use of 18.3-barrels of oil yearly and CO2 emissions of 8.3–tons.

This is a big boy toy, so of course it comes with a big boy price, $126,945. If that’s too much, there are a whole host of lesser F-TYPES available starting at $62,395.

Not too many years ago, it looked like motorized Jaguars were indeed an endangered species. But thanks to Jag re-introducing cars like the F-TYPE back into the environment, their population is resurging. The F-TYPE has been a true work in progress since it arrived, and not in a bad way. Rather, in a way that keeps us enjoying every one we drive, like this 2017 F-TYPE SVR; yet also looking forward to what they’ll come up with next.