First look: Jaguar previews XJR super-limo

OFFICIALLY it is simply a show car designed to celebrate Jaguar’s 75th anniversary this year, but the XJ75 Platinum Concept clearly previews the British brand’s upcoming XJR range-topper.

Jaguar says the one-off XJ75, revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in California over the weekend, is also the first demonstration of the “design customisation potential” of its new XJ limousine, which was launched in Australia in July.

The long-wheelbase Platinum Concept is the latest model to commemorate Jaguar’s 75th year in 2010, following production models in the XF V8 75th Anniversary Edition, XK Coupe 75th Anniversary Edition and XKR 75, which will not be sold here.

It features aggressive new front, rear and side bodywork in the form of unique front and rear bumpers, beefy side skirts and a subtle rear spoiler, which echo the high-performance look of the smaller XFR sports sedan.

Like the massive 22-inch black alloy wheels with brushed contrast finish and subtle rear spoiler, the XJ75’s body kit is likely to be standard on the XJR but may be available as a sports package on lesser models in the same way BMW and Mercedes-Benz have developed M Sport and AMG styling options for many models.

Other exterior features include dark chrome and gloss black trim and Satin Matte Pearlescent White paint, while inside the XJ75 there is ‘Jet Softgrain’ leather trim, suede and leather cabin highlights, a gloss pearlescent white finish for the air-vents and diamond-stitched suede inserts for the seats and headlining.

The XJ show car’s bespoke interior is completed by an analogue clock on the centre console, which Jaguar said it designed and developed with British watchmaker Bremont Watch Company. Naturally, the XJ75 also comes with a 20-speaker 1200-Watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

Jaguar XJ chief designer Giles Taylor said the XJ75 Platinum Concept emphasising the striking proportion and presence of the new XJ, with a distilled black and white theme that conjured up “the sense of precious platinum.” “At the same time, the pure sporting character of XJ is brought to the fore by keeping the car's clean graphic approach and further lowering its stance,” he said.

“On the inside, we played up the XJ's combination of high-end materials and British flair to really have some fun. The XJ75 Platinum Concept is a design exercise that shows our vision of customisation as an inspiration for those enthusiasts who have a taste for strong individuality and visual confidence in their luxury automobiles.” Under the bonnet of the XJ75 lurks the same lusty 346kW/575Nm supercharged 5.0-litre V8 that powers the XJ Supercharged Portfolio, but expect a higher-performance version of Jaguar’s latest direct-injection blown V8 – with power and torque to eclipse the 375kW/625Nm outputs of the XFR, XKR and XJ Supersports – to motivate the production XJR.

Jaguar Cars managing director Mike O’Driscoll said the new Jaguar XJ Platinum Concept celebrated Jaguar's 75th Anniversary, highlighting the uniqueness of the XJ.

“The XJ is thoroughly modern, and captures the innovative and daring character that our founder Sir William Lyons built into every Jaguar and the design team clearly had some fun making their first one-of-a-kind XJ design concept in that spirit,” he said.

Expect the production XJR to be revealed at the Paris motor show on September 30, before joining the new XJ line-up before year’s end.