That was explained in the post, routing to a cooler source of air and creating a ram air effect. Can all help keep the ECU happy (lower IAT) and thus keep the car making full power.
Something went wrong, ordered a Mustang, yet ended up in a British hotrod, I blame OcUK!
That was explained in the post, routing to a cooler source of air and creating a ram air effect. Can all help keep the ECU happy (lower IAT) and thus keep the car making full power.
The snorkels are at the front of the car, no real source of heat to close to them, one could remove them and route directly to the air boxes via the lower grill, but that would block some of the lower radiators, also lower down could always run the risk of water intake. The stock snorkels run down the sides at the front and are not blocking flow to radiators or been heated up by them.
The other option is to run open cone filters behind the two side bumper grills you see, this dramatically increases SC noise which would be nice but on flip side you lose any chance of ram air effect and you will definitely suck in warmer engine air, plus they'd get very dirty as a lot of dirt and dust gets in that area and as air filter changing/cleaning is a bumper off job, that is not really ideal. Plus I've always found open cone filters generally lose power on a car and have negative impact on drive ability, generally a lot of design goes into a cars stock air intake system and to think you can just slap some cone filters on and gain 20HP is generally untrue.
The stock system is well designed, even more so on the SVR as the snorkels can catch even more air standard over regular V8 models which run the snorkels even higher up and no front opening. As such it just makes sense to improve on the already good design to send more cooler air in but also catch and ram the air down its throat so to speak with momentum, I also took the opportunity to change out the air filter at same time as they had done 20k miles and were a little dirty, so put in a pair of new stock fresh filters. Did think K&N but on a supercharged engine with dual maf sensors I feel it would be unwise to use oiled filters, plus I seriously doubt they'd offer any gains in power or flow and I really want the filtration the paper filter offers and want no issue from Jaguar.
I did wonder if an SC engine can take advantage of ram air, but more air is never a bad thing and I did notice on the Project 8 that car runs a ram air setup both on the prototype car (ITG air intake) and also on the production car, so Jaguar clearly felt there was a benefit of doing so. Plus when we change my friends intake on his 800HP Mustang from open cone filter, to an enclosed cone filter but with the bonnet vents both routing cold air to the filter box the difference was so noticeable it could be felt on a pull from 70-150mph and datalogging also showed more maf lbs flow and increased spark advance due to lower IAT it created, so even a supercharged engine can benefit.
Plus it was something to do, so why not.
So many people modify cars to gain more power, when the first steps should always be about doing everything you can for your car to make more of the power it was designed to make, hence using good fuels and trying to reduce air temps to prevent spark retard.
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5000 miles so far, zero issues, only dealer visit was for a software update to the sound system (make it sound better) and for 1l oil top up as in 5000 miles it has consumed 0.7l of oil and the biggest consumption 1/2 litre seem to be after making several 200mph attempts at vmax.
So far all good, no mechanical issues whatsoever, just a car that is far quicker than I ever expected.
Now I am getting dry weather, its a pretty incredible car, let me try and summarise:
Looks / Interior / Noise
Obviously this will differ for everyone, but the car gets huge amount of attention, easily on par with the Saleen Mustang I had years ago in that regard, the colour helps as its one of the nicest blues you will see on any car, I think only the Porsche blues of similar shade are as good, was parked with a brand new GTS on Monday which was a very similar blue, just marginally lighter. But looks I really like it, the car has incredible presence both parked and on the road, always get request from other motorist to give it a rev, which is not the easiest as it means putting the auto into N, but I generally oblige which always gets approval and a major thumbs up. The F-Type is a stunning looking motor, but are almost a bit to classy looking, like say an Aston Martin. The SVR corrects this issue and makes the car more hardcore looking, after seeing SVR's without the wing, I have to say the wing is an absolute must, it just makes a good looking car look an incredible car and an incredibly rare site on the road, I've never seen another SVR on the public road. For rarity and positive public response its on par with my Saleen Mustang, its a proper petrol heads car but one the whole general public seem to positively respond too.
Interior is pretty damn amazing, lovely soft leather and alcantara everywhere, the infotainment and dials are for my liking a bit dated, I'd rate the Mustang as better, but in all fairness in a sports / supercar they really are an after thought. As long as I can see my speed, see what gear I am in I am happy.
Noise, ah its mental, first car I've ever owned where I don't want an exhaust, it grunts, growls, purrs, pops, bangs, explodes, gunfire, brappp, farts, gargles, its like they managed to dial in such a wide array of tones and you never know what you might get on an up shift or over run, but full throttle is ear piercing loud but with incredible tone to it.
Engine / Performance
The whole car feels over-engined, by that I mean great, no matter what RPM, you put your foot down at 1000rpm, the front-end raises and the car accelerates and that power continues to build in a perfectly linear fashion right to around 6500rpm, so though its not particular rev happy like my previous cars, because its got so much power and torque down low the power band is just as great as a high revving NA car, because 1500-6500rpm this car accelerates very well.
Also the way the car responds to throttle inputs and accelerates makes you feel like its more a 700HP car or a much lighter car (1500kg) as it just gets up and goes in such a ferocious manner.
The only downside I'd say is silly speeds, the acceleration drops off around 170mph, due to entering 6th (1:1) gear, Jaguar could have done shorter ratio's, but in fairness its not slow by any means, but when your mates have tuned 670HP GTRs and 800HP Mustangs the on the roll performance into triple digits the SVR does become outgunned in the dry, of course those are modified cars and in all fairness on a 3rd gear roll from 50-130mph my mates 800HP Mustang pulls ahead by 2-3 car lengths which is quite a good result for the SVR and his Mustang has totally eaten alive R8 V10's, AMG GTR's and R35 GTR's, been a RWD 800HP manual, its 3rd, 4th and 5th gear acceleration rolling is devastating to pretty much any car, so to only lose out by 2-3 lengths is not end of the world and nothing a smaller pulley and tune won't fix which also on the plus side comes cheap at £1000 or £1500 if you do both pulleys for even more power.
But right now even stock power is really exceptional in this car because it feels so ferocious and so over engined, its like a combination of driving a sports, muscle and super car all rolled into one, good work Jaguar!
Lets remember in damp conditions it recorded a 3s 0-60 and 7.3s 0-100 and has done quarter mile in 11.2@124mph essentially stock and I firmly believe its got more in it still.
Handling / Brakes
This for me is where Jaguar seem to have achieved something not many other cars can achieve, its just as capable as say a GTR on the road or track, but a hell of a lot more fun. Having driven a lot of proper fast stuff on both road and track, the problem is nowadays is so many cars are not so enjoyable on the road unless you doing twice the speed limit.
A perfect example is a Caterham is the most fun you will ever have on the road below the speed limit. Whereas a GTR for comparison is numb and dull legal speeds, you really have to wind them up, do more than double the speed limit to feel like your driving fast and been engaged, they made the chassis so capable, but with no element of danger so to speak. The RWD F-Types I found were too twitchy and really needed an incredible driver to pilot them at what they are truly capable of doing, which is fine if you just want a fun, alive car and not too bother about all out ability and your an average driver, but I also like the fun but also the ability to go really fast as I am an average driver.
The SVR and I am sure its same for other AWD models have the ability of covering ground just as quick as say a GTR, in fact better on rougher UK roads as the suspension has a lot more compliance to it when in normal mode compared to a GTR's comfort mode, so it has a level of compliance not many other cars offer. But where the F-Type AWD really shines is you feel a bit nervous, the car feels alive without you approaching its chassis limits, but because of this can make it very engaging at speeds around the speed limits, as that short wheel base dials in an element of fun so its a lot of fun and challenge to drive without having to drive stupidly fast, particular in the dynamic mode which makes the car feel RWD biased. Now if you drive the car really hard on the road, let the back end step out but keep your foot planted you can go insanely fast in it and allow the AWD, torque vectoring and E-diff do their job which means it can cover ground at an exceptional rate.
So it can be fun around legal speeds, but its also more than capable of doing double the speed limits should you so wish, the chassis just has an element of fun/edginess to it, which means you don't need to push so hard. Even though it is AWD it is very rear biased, so getting sideways off a roundabout or corner exit is very possible in the dry and for the more professional driver if you grab it my the scruff of its neck it will handle like an EVO and power slide.
Also the ability to lock the AWD close to 50/50 with snow/wet mode is also very nice and I use it for drag racing and in the wet as the car has a more planted feel.
Brakes are average, hence me upgrading to get more stopping power and brake feel, which is now much better, only issue is too much brake dive and its under braking where the car shows its porky weight (1700kg), otherwise in acceleration and handling it feels a much lighter car, but under braking with suspension in normal it drives a lot. (Am sure a ceramic equipped car stops spot on by the way).
However now its warm, dry I find myself on better roads putting suspension in dynamic which solves the brake dive as it sets the dampers firmer and makes the car even more fun and direct. Its a very direct car, incredible front-end, marginal understeer at limit that is very easy to make neutral or over steer with power.
I really love it, really quite the car.
Now Jaguar should make an SVR CSL/GT4 edition, so take my car, 600PS, RWD, carbon buckets, reduce infotainment (less speakers / amps), cup 2 tyres, ceramic only brakes or 2PC iron, 19" forged wheels with more tyre wall, additional downforce and with say 600PS and lets say 1500kg it would be one totally insane car, but of course more aimed for track work than road work. Where my SVR truly shines is how its such a capable all weather super car that is a true amazing all rounder and a true daily super car.
Cracking car, no plans to change it and they seem to be even appreciating in the blue/carbon/bigwing specification, so could have maybe even been a smart purchase too, though the plan is to keep it pretty much long term, nothing else quite takes my fancy, shall just tune this upto 700HP.
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Yes but what you need is available, remember this 5.0 and SC is in all the V8 F-Types and also a large selection of the Range Rovers too, so its a well supported engine and in short if you have a F-Type 5.0 V8 SC or same engine in the Range Rover, you can expect:
- Just a tune: 610HP (So fantastic if your a V8S owner, you gain 100HP with a map!
)- Tune & Upper Pulley: 640HP
- Tune & Lower Pulley: 660HP
- Tune & both pulleys plus colder plugs: 680HP
- Tune & both pulleys, colder plugs, highflow cats: 700HP
- Tune & both pulleys, colder plugs, highflow cats, chargecooler: 720HP
- All the above plus SC porting, de-cats, custom mapping: 750 plus horsepower!
There are quite a few tuners, best way for me shall be a lower pulley and just a tune, shall be enough, maybe some highflow cats and chargecooler for extend longevity and running these cooler is good for them.
Word on the street is Jaguar / SVO track tested the F-Type with upto 750HP and it passed.
Few guys US side running them with ported SC's, smaller pulleys, tunes, de-cats, charge coolers, methanol, 100 shot of nitrous for over 800HP and mid 9s quarters, without issue, I'd keep it simple around 700HP with the cooling system improved.
Great engine, just totally bonkers
I do hope they make a new engine for the next generation of their performance cars though... the 5.0 SV8 is getting a little predictable now what with it being in FFRR, RRS, RR velar, RR SVR, F type R, F type SVR, project 7 XE, XJR, XKR-S etc etc etc
I am sure they will but you can bet it will be turbocharged and sound rubbish in comparison and not have as nice throttle response. I feel they could only improve on this engine by keeping it and even more power or going a new V8 with SC or V8 NA but I seriously doubt it and suspect the new F-Type shall be i4 Turbo, i6 twin turbo and then either a tuned up i6 twin turbo + hybrid or AMG or BMW M V8 Twin turbo. Great for all out performance but hey Porsche went the same way and well give me their flat 6 NA anyday over the new turbo crap sounding editions.
Could delete the snorkels all together and just run hosing in the lower grill, suspect a lot more water would get in though and other dirt/crud.
The pipes are not covered at the top as I've set them about an inch or so behind the front grill so the hole pipe can pull in air right from behind the grill as it a big open area back there and at speed that entire front grill area will be having a lot of air enter it and the hole diameter of the piping can suck in air, 2/3 can be seen from the grill and the other third is not blocked it just higher than the grill opening.
Yeah been in Asia just over a week, back to the UK and straight to a JP day it’s all paid for so why not, living the dream.
Yeah that is Dale who drives that he and he really rates it having driven the other ring taxis as well saying to me it is actually a more fun car and generally more capable than the other taxis bar the GT3 and McLaren and of course the new Project 8.
He has helped me a lot with questions about mine, too bloke and he can certainly drive.
I absolutely love Asia 3-4 days working and 3-4 days relaxing and partying whilst catching up with friends.
Next year I’ll probably do as I did previous year which was taking a holiday in Thailand which was kindly paid for by the boss, yep Caseking are awesome, thinking of Vietnam for next year. Got a few more trips between now and then though!
But my job is awesome!
Myself and my buddy Mac went to Pod this weekend, he was hoping to break into the elevens now he has some Mickey Thomson sticky tyres which he achieved and even when he had me off the line the SVR still got the win. No PB today as there was a viscous 28mph headwind which I was gutted about otherwise a low 11.2 or maybe even 11.1 would have been possible I reckon, still as always some great photos:
Very consistent results, the middle run I tried in dynamic vmax mode with suspension on soft and gear change on normal and it hooked up well, though wet/snow mode still yielded best 60ft times.
Very consistent results, the middle run I tried in dynamic vmax mode with suspension on soft and gear change on normal and it hooked up well, though wet/snow mode still yielded best 60ft times.
Because it is, car is setup for street and track driving, not drag racing. You know how he drives.
His car also looks so mean running the 20" in the rear and 19" in the front.
Hi there
Though the car is not due a service for another six months or roughly 6000 miles, as right now the plan is to keep the car, simply as I cannot think of a replacement the right side of 100k I am simply going to keep the car and all been well also pay it off this year in full.
As such due to several quarter mile runs and a few goes at 200mph I wanted to get the oil changed considerably earlier than scheduled as I've done nearly 6000 miles since purchase and in that time the car has consumed 0.8l so not a lot, as such it is with Jaguar for an oil service and all the audio TSB's to get the door's dyna matted to reduce bass vibrations under warranty. I feel £130 for the oil change from Jaguar is a fair price too, as that includes oil, filter etc.
Generally service has been very good and the car has been 100% reliable and as a loaner they gave me this absolute barge of a car:
XF R sport, slow as a slow thing, but what a wafter it is and so comfortable:
As the plan is to keep I am now looking into custom tuning, as I don't want an off the shelf map but the plan is to do it right, so bigger intercooler even though not required, high flow cats, lower crank pulley and a tune, but one that just sorts power, no throttle mapping, no messing with gear box, just want it to drive like stock but with the additional torque and power. The intercooler and cats will do wonders for reducing temperature to the point that even once mapped it will still be running cooler than it was stock. I am just going to go with lower more expensive crank pulley for ease of fitting and it putting the supercharger in the most efficient range.
The above should in theory take the car to 680-700HP with around 560lb/ft, I probably won't do it just yet as its Summer now and I've got a few trips abroad planned but later or early next year, once done I probably won't bother with warranty extension either as once tuned drivetrain/engine warranty is gone, so any warranty would be less useful.
Though the car is not due a service for another six months or roughly 6000 miles, as right now the plan is to keep the car, simply as I cannot think of a replacement the right side of 100k I am simply going to keep the car and all been well also pay it off this year in full.
As such due to several quarter mile runs and a few goes at 200mph I wanted to get the oil changed considerably earlier than scheduled as I've done nearly 6000 miles since purchase and in that time the car has consumed 0.8l so not a lot, as such it is with Jaguar for an oil service and all the audio TSB's to get the door's dyna matted to reduce bass vibrations under warranty. I feel £130 for the oil change from Jaguar is a fair price too, as that includes oil, filter etc.
Generally service has been very good and the car has been 100% reliable and as a loaner they gave me this absolute barge of a car:
XF R sport, slow as a slow thing, but what a wafter it is and so comfortable:
As the plan is to keep I am now looking into custom tuning, as I don't want an off the shelf map but the plan is to do it right, so bigger intercooler even though not required, high flow cats, lower crank pulley and a tune, but one that just sorts power, no throttle mapping, no messing with gear box, just want it to drive like stock but with the additional torque and power. The intercooler and cats will do wonders for reducing temperature to the point that even once mapped it will still be running cooler than it was stock. I am just going to go with lower more expensive crank pulley for ease of fitting and it putting the supercharger in the most efficient range.
The above should in theory take the car to 680-700HP with around 560lb/ft, I probably won't do it just yet as its Summer now and I've got a few trips abroad planned but later or early next year, once done I probably won't bother with warranty extension either as once tuned drivetrain/engine warranty is gone, so any warranty would be less useful.
Here ya go:
https://www.paramount-performance.com/Jaguar-F-Type-Charge-Cooler-Intercooler-V8-F-Type.html
Paramount / Viezu / VIP are all the same company, seem to have a lot of experience with tuning Jaguars in general, they even have water/meth kits they can supply and tune for F-Type too so right now I am strongly conisdering going with these guys for the intercooler and tuning, they only seem to offer upper pulley however and I prefer idea of lower pulley as more boost and easier to fit.
Of course if your aware of any other tuners please do let me know, its a shame SVO themselves don't offer some after market performance upgrades a bit like BMW do for some of the M models.
Hi there
Got the SVR back today, oil change all done and the odd little issues I reported fixed. Nothing major but my drivers seat was squeaking randomly and the door panels had excess rattle with the stereo on certain music, something that cannot be cured fully due to Jaguar using open air subwoofers in the door panels and behind the seats instead of within enclosures. So they removed door cards, re-tightened everything and put sound proofing in certain areas. Along with the previous update and now this fix its as good as it will get.
Can report the seat squeak is gone and the door cards seem rattle free now, about as good as it will get.
Gave the XF back, what a cruiser, very very comfortable, it really was a wafter, very easy to drive, handled surprisingly well for such a big long car. But I'd definitely go for one of the more powerful ones, the 180 is very lethargic off the line and it has no real urgency to acceleration, it just builds speed in a rather none noticeable way.
Got the SVR back today, oil change all done and the odd little issues I reported fixed. Nothing major but my drivers seat was squeaking randomly and the door panels had excess rattle with the stereo on certain music, something that cannot be cured fully due to Jaguar using open air subwoofers in the door panels and behind the seats instead of within enclosures. So they removed door cards, re-tightened everything and put sound proofing in certain areas. Along with the previous update and now this fix its as good as it will get.
Can report the seat squeak is gone and the door cards seem rattle free now, about as good as it will get.
Gave the XF back, what a cruiser, very very comfortable, it really was a wafter, very easy to drive, handled surprisingly well for such a big long car. But I'd definitely go for one of the more powerful ones, the 180 is very lethargic off the line and it has no real urgency to acceleration, it just builds speed in a rather none noticeable way.
Hi there
Went for a drive at the weekend through Snowdonia and eventually ended in Harlech at which point I went for a walk along the beach enjoying the glorious weather.
Dropped the car off at Autobrite this morning for a full machine polish, enhance and seal using their latest Supersonic range, photo from todays progress, car shall be ready Wednesday for collection.
Shall post up more progress images as they send to me and of course post up photos when all done.
Went for a drive at the weekend through Snowdonia and eventually ended in Harlech at which point I went for a walk along the beach enjoying the glorious weather.
Dropped the car off at Autobrite this morning for a full machine polish, enhance and seal using their latest Supersonic range, photo from todays progress, car shall be ready Wednesday for collection.
Shall post up more progress images as they send to me and of course post up photos when all done.
Hi there
Collected the car from Autobrite, got one of the guys in work to grab some photos on a proper camera, the last image shows up the dept of the paint and the pearl effect in the paint most. Supersonic sealant really extracts the pearl effect from paint so well, in the flesh it pops like crazy.
Incredible job by the AB guys, they've got M3 in now for same treatment.
Collected the car from Autobrite, got one of the guys in work to grab some photos on a proper camera, the last image shows up the dept of the paint and the pearl effect in the paint most. Supersonic sealant really extracts the pearl effect from paint so well, in the flesh it pops like crazy.
Incredible job by the AB guys, they've got M3 in now for same treatment.