The Jaguar E-Type sports car was one of the great successes of automotive history, much loved by motoring aficionados, even today. Well, a few years ago Jaguar had the foresight to bring out a replacement and a fine job they did on it too. The F-Type’s design was modern yet retained hints of the legendary forebear and was and is great to drive. Nevertheless, all good things must come to an end and this year will see the last run of this great driver’s car: The Jaguar F-Type 75, signifying seventy-five years of Jaguar sports cars.
The key thing here is that petrol-heads need to get in on the F-Type vibe before Jaguar becomes an all-electric brand from 2025. This is petrol’s last chance saloon and at least this special edition F-Type maintains the tradition.
On The Outside
The last Jaguar F-Type looks as dramatic as ever. The powerful proportions of the front-engine two-seater, sculpted from light, stiff aluminium, are instantly recognisable, and the focused and assertive presence is realised by the flowing design harking back to Jaguar’s rich sports car heritage, which began with the XK120 all those years ago.
Super-slim LED headlights, featuring Pixel technology as standard, with ‘Calligraphy’ J signature daytime running lights and sweeping direction indicators accentuate the car’s width and hint at its performance potential. They blend perfectly into the surfacing of the clamshell bonnet, which sweeps elegantly back to the screen.
Unique to the F-Type 75 (there’s also an angry ‘R’ model and the car is available as a coupé or convertible) are discreet badges on the front bumpers (fenders). Every model in the range is now offered with a model-specific 20 inch wheel as standard, with the F-Type 75 and R 75 distinguished by their gloss black, five-spoke- and gloss black diamond-turned 10-spoke designs respectively.
The rear haunches enhance the sports car’s inherently dramatic, purposeful form and sweep downwards to the slender rear LED lights with ‘Chicane’ signature effect. Power-train-specific exhaust pipes emerge from the rear diffuser, clearly signalling all that performance intent. Four-cylinder models (291bhp / 300 PS) feature a single, central, finisher while both the 444bhp (450PS) standard model and 567bhp (575PS) R version 75 are V8 powered and are identified by quad, outboard exhausts – the latter featuring subtle etched R branding.
On The Inside
The Jaguar’s driver-focussed interior is a pure expression of elegance and performance as we would expect from this premium British brand. The whole combining Jaguar craftsmanship, exquisite detailing and rich materials for a heightened sense of luxury and sportiness. Naturally, although the exterior design holds with true sports car tradition, the safety and infotainment under the skin is bang-up-to-date with 21st Century technology.
The ‘1+1’ cockpit features a 12.3 inch reconfigurable ‘Interactive Driver Display’, offering a choice of display themes – as befits a true sports car, the default mode is characterised by the large central rev-counter. This feature and the gear-shift light subtly convey the car’s character and performance potential, digitally enhancing the mechanical theatre of the pulsing red start button and the deployable centre air vents.
The F-Type 75 and R 75 models are distinguished by the unique silhouette motif on the centre console finisher and stainless-steel tread plates, while the Interior Black Pack is another subtle enhancement. Lightweight slimline seats are offered in both Sport or Performance designs, with the latter standard on the V8’s, featuring an ergonomically-optimised form with outstanding comfort, further enhanced by heating and cooling options. Rich materials such as Windsor leather, standard on the special editions, add a further touch of luxury, complemented by details such as the crafted monogram stitch pattern – repeated in the door trim, with the ‘Extended Leather Upgrade’ option – and Jaguar Leaper or R motifs in the headrests.
On The Road
Certainly on the several occasions that we have had the pleasure of driving the recent versions of the Jaguar F-Type it is fair to say that it can be expected that this special edition model will stay true to form, continuing to set the benchmark for truly involving, engaging, driver-focused sports cars. Double wishbone front- and rear suspension, meticulously tuned electric power-assisted steering and ‘Torque Vectoring by Braking’ deliver outstanding cornering, agility and a truly connected-to-the-road feel. These attributes are fundamental to the car’s immediate and intuitive responses to every driver input.
The torque on-demand all-wheel drive system with ‘Intelligent Driveline Dynamics’ technology, optional on the standard car and standard on the R variant, further enhances traction and dynamics – on all surfaces and in all weathers, while maintaining the F-Type’s characteristic rear-wheel drive feel and handling balance.
Will we see its like again? Will there be a G-Type? Probably not, alas. Jaguar do have their ‘Vision’ concept car in the wings but it seems unlikely that it will have much to to with the E-Type story and certainly (as things stand) nothing to do with fossil fuels. All the more reason then to contact us here at MHH International about this fabulous special edition or indeed any of the models in the current F-Type range. Our clients can import this fine sports car from the UK to Kenya, New Zealand and elsewhere; it all begins with a call.
