How do I tell if a 2013 f-type is a 340hp or 380hp

 

The 340HP is the base model, 380HP is the S. It will have S badges, though some people add those.

i think we decided the most reliable way is to open the hood and look at the top of the shock towers. If there are electrical harnesses coming out of them, the car has active suspension and is an S. This wasn’t an option for the base.

Other differences:
Base came standard with 18” wheels, S with 19”, though these could be upgraded.
Base came standard with “performance brakes” (355mm front rotor, 326mm rear), while S came with “high performance” (380/326), but could be upgraded.
S has active exhaust, therefore valves just in front of the muffler. Don’t think base had this option.
I don’t think the base originally had dynamic mode. Not sure what the mode switch next to the shifter looks like in that case.

 

Base DID have the dynamic mode switch (at least, ours does).

 

I believe the S has 'adaptive' suspension', not active. Adaptive suspensions only vary shock absorber firmness to match changing road or dynamic conditions.
​​​​​​​Active suspensions use an actuator to raise and lower the chassis independently at each wheel.

 

The only things I'm aware of that the S/P380 has and couldn't be optioned on a base car are the extra 40 horses, the adaptive suspension, the LSD and the S badging. Many 380 hp cars came without any S badge and later cars weren't even called S anymore but P380.

So as said, the easiest visual way to check is to check that there are cables on top of the shock absorbers under the hood. There's no other reliable visual way since all other visible S features could be optioned on base cars.

 

Optional on the base.

 

In the US the S model became the R Dynamic in 2018.

 

You could also get the 2018 380 hp version without the R-Dynamic package in the US. R-Dynamic is just a trim package which in other parts of the world also could be added to other F-Types and most other Jags. Pretty sure you could also get it on base V6 versions and the four banger F-Types in some markets.

Mine is an R-Dynamic too and I never liked that naming. It's just confusing. I guess Jaguar tried to mimic the BS trim package naming from BMW's M-Sport packages, Audi's S-Line packages or Mercedes's AMG-line packages. M should be for M cars, and R should be for R cars without mixing in some M-Sport or R-Dynamic badges on other cars. Since I ditched the rear R-Dynamic badge the only place it still says R-Dynamic on mine is on the door sills.

 

Thank you so much. I am looking at a car the owner says is a S, but I don't think he knows the difference. I will now look at the car. I am in New Zealand.

 

Did you remove the R-Dynamic badge in the front grille?

 

Trevor,
I check the used F-Type ads on Carsales every few days and I have found that base model V6 F-Types are VERY commonly mis-advertised as V6 "S" models, I would say about 25% of all V6 ads.
My WAG is that often the fact that they are supercharged is referred to as "S" (for supercharged) and this then carries through to the ad.
So it pays to carefully check if an F-Type advertised as a V6 S really is an S or is just a base model, especially as a true S does or should command a few thousand $ premium over a base, particularly down here in the Antipodes.
Coincidentally when I was looking to buy an XFS back in 2013 the very first one I looked at turned out to be a base not an S although it was advertised as an XFS, and the seller explained that they thought it was an S because of the red S on the rotary gear selector dial (where that S actually means "Sport").

 

I think the VIN can give that info. Base models have different Vins

 

Painted it matte black so it's barely visible. So there is actually an R-Dynamic badge left on the outside of the car but it's so discrete now that I forget it's there.

 

Good luck with checking out the car anyway. A quick look under the hood is all you need to determine if it's an S.

 

Hi Trev, if you need any help on determining if your prospective buy is a 340 or a 380 V6S give me a call 0275352491 l live in West Auckland.
Coxie
NZ

 

Thank you. I have decided a f-Type is not for me. My 86 year old frame would have difficulty embarking and departing the vehicle. I will keep my lovely red 2008 XK. I can manage that.

But thanks for your reply,
Cheers
Trevor

 

Picking up on this thread, I have a 2017 V6S coupe I bought used 6 years ago. I am pretty certain my car's a proper S as there are wires leading into the top of the front suspension covers. One interesting thing is that my vehicle build does not have a switch to turn on variable exhaust and does not have an option to bring up the screen dedicated to the dynamic mode where one can pick out different settings. In light of the above, a few questions:

• In this configuration, what does turning on the dynamic mode change in the vehicle?
• Is there a way to update the software to activate the dynamic mode screen?

 

These were both options, Switchable Acrive Exhaust and Configurable Dynamics (I think it’s called.) My car has neither.

Off the top of my head, dynamic mode…
Suspension is slightly firmer
Steering is heavier/tighter/firmer, however you want to describe it (less power assist)
Throttle pedal (or gas pedal, accelerator, etc) is more sensitive
Exhaust valves open under moderate/heavy acceleration, plus blips, cracks, farts and other noises
Dash and some interior lights turn red

 

I have both options and use the exhaust switch a lot because I mostly keep the exhaust valves open also in normal driving.

I never touch the Configurable Dynamics though and think it's pretty pointless. The main point of that option is that you can configure the steering, throttle response, suspension and gear shifts to stay in normal mode even if you turn on dynamic mode. It's all described in the manual. If I turn on Dynamic mode I want all of those things sharpened, but if I lived in a part of the world with really crappy roads I might have appreciated to be able to keep the suspension in normal mode. It might also have been more interesting and useful if there were more levels to the settings than comfort/normal and dynamic.

If I recall correctly, the G-meter, stop watch and gas/brake pedal meter/logging features are also part of the Configurable Dynamics. Kinda nice gimmicks but I never really use them either.

I believe it can be enabled on cars that don't have the option from factory if you have the right equipment and knowledge. There's a company in the UK called LR Retrofits which do that kind of mods.

 

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