From one sea to another
Sublime Magazine was 48 hours behind the wheel of the Jaguar F-Type 75 Edition
It's a nice farewell tour that Jaguar has just organized in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Almost 1,000 km between Sitges and San Sebastian at the wheel of the new F-Type 75 Edition. Enough to test the most beautiful roads of Catalonia, Aragon, Navarra and the Basque Country with more than 500 hp under the foot!
The British carmaker Jaguar is on the verge of a major revolution in its history. From 2025 onwards, well ahead of the schedule imposed by the European authorities, the manufacturer will only offer 100% electric products. This is a radical change of direction, especially in view of the current catalog, which still includes a majority of combustion engines, and not the least. We are thinking in particular of the powerful V8, codenamed "AJ133", a 5,000 cc direct injection supercharged block that delivers 450 or 575 hp under the hood of the F-Type. An exceptional engine that will disappear from Jaguar but will continue to be used for a few more years under the hoods of Land and Range Rover.
Rear-wheel drive or AWD
To mark the end of the F-Type's career, the feline brand is offering a new special series, simply called 75, in tribute to the 75 years of sports car production by the British manufacturer. As a reminder, the F-Type is available as a coupe and convertible. Launched in 2013, it underwent a facelift in 2019. The model is now offered with a four-cylinder of 300 hp in the entry level and a V8 declined in 450 or 575 hp. The special 75 series is only available with this eight-cylinder, with the letter R appearing to distinguish the most powerful model. The latter comes with all-wheel drive by default, while the "classic" 75 offers a choice between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.
Two exclusive colors
Visually, the F-Type 75 is distinguished by a series of elements that are unique to it, starting with a new metallic color called Giola Green that suits the car particularly well. Other features include 20-inch wheels in gloss black, the Jaguar all-black logo on the front, and badges that represent the coupe's silhouette on the lower front fenders, door sills and top of the dashboard. Inside, the Windsor leather upholstery is very attractive and is available in black, cream, red and tobacco. Finally, for those who opt for the convertible, the soft top can be ordered in beige, red or black.
From the Mediterranean to the Atlantic
What could be more appropriate than open roads to put these two new cars to the test? And when the itinerary allows for the assault of twisting and turning roads, it's even better! Jaguar's teams invited a handful of journalists to test the F-Type 75 and F-Type R 75 on the asphalt of northern Spain. A grandiose route that started in Sitges, a posh seaside resort on the Mediterranean, and ended in San Sebastian, a coastal city on the Bay of Biscay, facing the Atlantic.
In between, mountain passes, natural parks, breathtaking landscapes and, above all, dozens of deserted roads in an unspoiled nature where we could appreciate all the qualities of the machine. This is especially true of the R and its all-wheel drive, which looks like a dragster in a tuxedo. It has to be said that the model inherited the running gear of the late F-Type SVR, a spirited machine that was always ready to make its rear end dance. A generous leg that, combined with exceptional mechanics, allows it to pulverize the 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds (4.6 seconds for the F-Type 75 with 450 HP)!
An ideal partner for grand touring at a civilized pace, the model also excels when pushed hard, even if you do without some of the electronics in a perfectly balanced Dynamic mode. This safety net, combined with the rear-wheel drive system, is never intrusive and allows you to have fun on demand without getting scared.
Playful pleasure
We had the most fun in the valleys of Navarra, along the winding local "rios". The muscular driving of our F-Type R 75 was more or less like a hill climb, mixing the roar of the engine with a series of well-controlled slides followed by strong acceleration. Thanks to the incisive front end and very direct steering, the driver is able to get the most out of the machine in complete safety. In addition, the 8-speed automatic transmission is perfectly managed, mixing smoothness and speed with superb skill. It's a daily treat that gives way to a certain bitterness when it's time to hand over the keys... Giving up such an endearing toy is always a heartbreaker. To buy this special series in Belgium, you will have to pay a minimum of €106,600 for the F-Type 75, and almost €30,000 more for the R 75. A supplement is applied for the convertible variants. Note that the four-cylinder Jaguar F-Type is still available in the catalog (but without this special series) from €72,900. The order books are already open.
