Jaguar F-Type R 75 Driven | Tribute-Shaped Farewell
In commemorating the final Model Year of the F-TYPE and marking 75 years of Jaguar's icons in 2023, we're offered an exclusive choice on the options list with the Jaguar F-TYPE R 75 Edition. A car we love in a new jacket, do we need another reason to drive it?
As Jaguar paves the way to becoming a purely electric modern luxury brand by 2025, these editions stand as a tribute to the visceral, and accessible performance of combustion engines Jaguar has been offering for 75 years. These commemorative offerings, available in both Coupé and Convertible body styles, are still propelled by Jaguar's supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, still presenting options in 450PS and 575PS variants like before. So what is different? The cars are imbued with details unique to the 75 Edition (obviously), such as a silhouette motif scattered around the car.
But there's also an optional and unique Giola Green metallic paint option – a homage to the celebration of combustion engine prowess. In addition, choosing the 75 Edition gets buyers a well-equipped car to start with, such as lightweight slimline seats, and black packs for the in- and exterior of the car. Despite the idea of giving buyers well-specced cars, the list doesn't include ceramics nor does it contain the Climate Package.
Evolution
Sadly, our test vehicle didn't come with the unique Giola Green option. Instead, it came with a Liguarian Black Satin finish, a paint setting you back a hefty € 11.490 (BE). But damn does it look good with the R-logo blacked out, a different color scheme on the logos is a key feature of 75 Edition.
But how does 75 years of Jaguar look when not slapped on a car as a special edition package? Delving deeper into Jaguar's rich history of petrol-powered V8 sports cars over the past 75 years, the iconic XK120 emerges as a trailblazer in the post-war era, setting speed records. Infamous and perhaps even legendary is their sixties E-Type. The XJ-S, introduced in the 1970s, continued the legacy with a distinctive design and powerful V12 engine, laying the foundation for subsequent V8-powered models as the car with a V12 would become history after this. The XKR and XJR models from the late 1990s and as the marque progressed, the XK and XKR, introduced in the early 2000s, solidified Jaguar's reputation for crafting potent and refined V8 sports cars, paving the way for the modern F-Type R.
Where the history and the R75 perhaps mostly intertwine is the engine. Dubbed the Jaguar AJ-V8, the predecessor of the V8 in the R75 started its life back in 1996(!). Flash forward to the third-gen launched in 2009 and you're looking at the block that was the base for the 575 horsepower engine we've fallen in love with.
Blend
Perhaps the best, yet unintended, link between the 75 years of history and R75 is the fact that the heart of the car has been around for a while. In the modern age of electrification, being able to buy a car with a supercharged V8 almost seems unfathomable. Unfathomable in the sense that it feels like something from a bygone era. Match that with the aesthetic changes the special edition comes with and you have the Jaguar F-TYPE R 75 Edition. Or the F-TYPE R75 as it's also called. Another synonym to make my point? The R75 is like a cigar: once socially acceptable to desire, yet now you still want one but the acceptance is gone.
Albeit that acceptance there or not, the F-TYPE and its 575 horsepower, mid-front-engine layout, and brutal exhaust note still make for an absurdly good form of entertainment. Ever since we drove the R in various chassis shapes, we've given the car a special place in our hearts. Visceral from the moment you press the ignition button and every single kilometer before you get to your destination.
Brilliant (while it lasts)
No, the Jaguar F-TYPE R 75 Edition isn't something truly unique. The car hasn't been reinvented into some coachbuild project, limited run fancy series. We're talking about a well-executed edition of a sportscar that has earned its stripes. Is it enough to wave goodbye to the heritage? I wonder if anything could ever be enough for that. But this R in the 75 flavors is a tribute to days some people might think are already behind us. And any edition or spec of the Jaguar F-TYPE R is already something to desire. Add those up and you'll undoubtedly understand why the R 75 could simply never disappoint. The pricetag of this all? In Belgium the prices start at € 136.300 for the R75.
