APPRECIATION of Jag’s new supercar is best expressed in sounds not words, so I’ll do my best to convey an experience like few others.

On the road: I’M too long in the tooth to go weak at the knees, but if you don’t experience a little fluttering of the heart on seeing your first F-Type then I think an appointment with your GP should be booked as a matter of urgency.

It is a thing of rare beauty. Even if it had nothing beneath the bonnet, I would be prepared to shell out a significant amount of cash just for the privilege of looking at it.

The all-aluminium body is as smooth as Cheryl Cole’s behind and twice as alluring. It has curves beyond curves and manages to pull off beauty and a little beast in the same instance.

It’s not all mouth and no trousers, though. Under that hood is a fire-spitting 3.0 litre, supercharged V6, one of three units available, the top being a 548bhp V8.

The Northern Echo: Jaguar F-Type V6

Pressing the engine start-stop button unleashes aural hell. Imagine being in the middle of a Spanish bullring, feet from several tonnes of a sweating El Toro, pawing the ground with its hoof. It snorts, it grunts and that’s before a tyre has turned in anger.

However, when you demand it, the F-Type can be hugely refined. It’s entirely possible to drive this around town so quietly that all you can hear is the noise of the leather seats as you adjust your body.

In S mode, as in our test car, flooring the accelerator results in 4.8 seconds to 60mph. Top speed is a highly illegal 171mph.

But while the F-Type possesses the muscle of Arnold Schwarzenegger, it also has the poise and balance of Darcy Bussell, sticking like glue in the corners and making the driver feel at one with his machine.

It also stops as quickly as it starts thanks to its huge brakes.

The eight-speed automatic does appear to be a little behind your thought processes, but ignoring it in favour of the flappy paddles makes driving this car a dream.

On the inside: AS much thought as gone into the inside as the outside, in terms of design. Mind you, you’d expect that on a car costing more than £70,000. While there is room for a passenger the focus is clearly on the man, or woman, behind the wheel.

Everything comes easy to hand and there are plenty of buttons and switches, such as those with chequered flag and exhaust logos, to get your juices flowing. Getting in and out is, as you might, expect not an operation for those who like to protect their modesty, and often their dignity, but once in the seats do hold you in securely while the world goes by in a blur outside.

What do you get: OUR car fell into the middle of the F-Type range and featured sports suspension with adaptive dynamics, active sports exhaust, sports seats, leather three spoke steering wheel, satellite navigation, rear parking camera and touchscreen display unit. In addition, there were about £14,000 of extras including huge 20ins alloys, dual zone air conditioning, panoramic roof and powered boot.

How practical is it: THE practicality of the F-Type is subjective. If you accept that this is a two-seater performance car then you won’t be disappointed. If you expect that to come with acres of space then you’re in for a shock. The cockpit isn’t cramped, but equally you’re not going to be able to stretch out and I imagine a European touring holiday, for example, might require numerous leg-stretching breaks. There is limited storage space in the cabin, but the 196-litre boot is serviceable, albeit for a couple of weekend bags and some light shopping rather than a set of golf clubs or anything else of that ilk.

Running costs: WE managed just shy of 25mpg driving a combination or town, country and dual carriageways. Jaguar say it is possible to better that at 32.1mpg on the combined cycle, but to my mind that would entail compromising your driving experience and that would be a shame. CO2 emissions come in at 209g/km.

Verdict: STUNNING doesn’t really do the F-Type justice.

Alternatives: Porsche 911, Mercedes SLK