seeing the Sussex countryside glide by the
privacy glass windows without
much effort.
My internal surroundings didn’t disappoint
either, enhanced by the panoramic glass
roof along the full length of the F-PACE
offering a feeling of increased space and
allows the interior to be flooded with light.
Then there are the very comfortable heated
leather seats bathed in black and cream,
as well as the chrome Centre Console
featured an array of buttons including the
All Surface Progress Control button which
enables low speed cruise control on low
traction surfaces such as grass, snow and
the wet – essentially this allows you to
confidently steer whilst maintaining grip at
a low speed. Then there is the enormous
10.2 inch display screen for the (obligatory
for me!) touch screen Sat Nav as well
as a host of other multimedia platforms.
Add in the Digital DAB Radio, for which
Kisstory was the order of the weekend,
supplement this with a key less stop start
system and you have a very simple, yet
refined car to drive! I was reliably informed
that this particular model also included
a lane departure warning system though
I confess I wasn’t particularly thrilled at
the prospect of scaring ‘er indoors to find
out whether this was true or not! Include
the Electric Parking Brake and the Hill
Launch assist and this means the name
for a new album by The Cars (a band from
the 70’s/80’s!) album should be called ‘No
Handbrake Required’.
Step outside and you can do nothing
but simply admire the sporty, yet classy
design, supplemented by the magnificent
20 inch (aptly named) Venom 5 twin-spoke
alloy wheels. From the front, the F-PACE
looks like a smug ‘Desperate Dan’ without
the stubble; from the rear it looks sharp
and assertive with a mean streak, while
from the side…simply gorgeous with the
curves in all the right places. In essence,
sexy AND serious both at the same time!
This F-PACE also has front and rear
parking sensors (an absolute must for
me!) and with a speed of 0-60 mph in
8.2 seconds, overtaking was graceful
and powerful in equal measure. Include a
very economic 53 miles per gallon and a
top speed of 129 miles per hour, and this
F-PACE comes out a mere £45,000. There
are other models to look at and this is only
one of five. So with prices from £35k for
the ‘Prestige’ at one end, described as
“a performance SUV with the luxury of a
beautifully crafted interior”, to the F-PACE
first edition offering “exclusive design
details and high specification features
available with the 3.0 litre V6 Turbocharged
Diesel” from £65,000, you have to admit
this is a pretty good star t for Jaguar’s first
attempt in the SUV market; in my opinion,
one that’s here to stay.
2 seater F- Type in the window of the show
room, I swear she was staring and winking
at me. If I get to drive her…you’ll be the
first to know (behind Mrs E of course!)
Finally I feel I have to admit something, that
for some time now, I have had a bit of a
crush on somebody else’s car, a sexy silver
Jaguar S Type, immaculately presented,
you know the sort that’s quite obviously
been well looked after by its owner. Well
i know where she works AND where she
lives. I’ve often thought about leaving a
note on her, but shhhh!, don’t tell my Audi!
By Laurence Elphick
When it came to returning my weekend
fling, I didn’t want to hand the F-PACE
back, but whilst reluctantly walking away,
my eye caught a glimpse of a BEAUTIFUL
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