Last ICE engine for Jaguar F-Type

ACROSS the automotive world, iconic ICE models are entering their last production run in the face of EV replacements. Such is the case with Jaguar’s sensuous F-Type arguably one of the most attractive cars on the market.

The iconic British (Indian owned) company has just announced the final edition F-Type 75 and F-Type R 75 sports cars in coupe or convertible variants built to commemorate a rich bloodline spanning 75 years and including some of the most iconic models ever built.

The 2024 F-Type 75 coupe is priced from $183,200 plus on-road costs with first Australian customer deliveries beginning in April 2023 – the year marking 75 years of Jaguar sports cars. Other variants will cost more.

Jaguar said of its sexy sports cars: “In coupe or convertible form, the F-Type offers a perfect balance of visceral performance and driver reward with a muscular, assertive design and a cabin defined by luxurious materials, exacting craftsmanship and exquisite details.”

For the final version the range Jag is simplified and more focused, making customer selection easier. 

Jaguar has made this last offering even more purposeful and assertive than ever slotting on 20-inch wheels as standard on all models along with ‘discreet’ detail changes such as the wheel centres and grille badge changing from red to black, and the R badge accent colours that are now black and grey instead of red and green.

Differentiating the standard F-Type from the R are model-specific interior and exterior design elements, carefully ‘curated’ specifications, and the supercharged 5.0-litre Jaguar V8 engine synonymous with F-Type.

These models are a fitting celebration of internal combustion engine performance before Jaguar becomes a pure electric modern luxury brand from 2025.

Jaguar Land Rover chief exterior designer, Matthew Beaven, said: “For 75 years Jaguar has been renowned for producing extraordinary sports cars that deliver performance, agility and maximum driver reward”.

“The F-Type special editions hold true to these principles, adding unique interior and exterior design details to celebrate this lineage before Jaguar becomes an all-electric brand from 2025.”

Pleasingly, the F-Type looks just as dramatic as ever and is the definitive Jaguar sports car as befits a model with a bloodline going back 75 years.

The powerful proportions of the front-engine two-seater – with its sculpted, light aluminium body – are instantly recognisable and the focused and aggressive presence references the flowing forms from Jaguar’s rich sports car heritage, which began with the XK120 that was launched way back in 1948 as the world’s fastest production car.

With super-slim LED headlights featuring Pixel technology as standard, and also with Calligraphy J signature daytime running lights and sweeping direction indicators, the F-Type’s visual width and a hint at its performance potential is accentuated.

The lights blend elegantly into the ‘liquid metal’ surfacing of the clamshell bonnet which sweeps back to the windscreen base inspired by iconic models such as the C-type and D-type.

The F-Type 75 and R 75 – specific badges grace the front guards depicting the F-Type’s unmistakable silhouette.

As part of the simplified range, every F-Type now comes with model-specific 20-inch wheels 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 pumped out rear haunches enhance the F-Type’s inherently dramatic, purposeful form and sweep downwards to the slender rear LED tail lights with Chicane signature.

Quad, outboard exhausts that emit a distinctive and powerful note– featuring subtle etched R branding on R 75 models – emerge from the rear diffuser, clearly signalling F-Type’s performance intent.

A driver-focused interior is a what Jaguar terms: “A pure expression of the car’s elegance and performance combining Jaguar craftsmanship, exquisite, details and rich materials and finishes deliver a heightened sense of luxury and sportiness.”

The 1+1 cockpit features a 12.3-inch reconfigurable Interactive Driver Display, offering a choice of display themes –  the default mode is characterised by the large central rev-counter.

This feature and the gearshift light readily convey the F-Type’s character and performance potential, “digitally enhancing the mechanical theatre of the pulsing red ‘heartbeat’ of the start button and the deployable centre air vents”.

The F-Type 75 and R 75 models are distinguished by the silhouette motif on the Engine Spin centre console finisher and stainless-steel tread plates, while the Interior Black Pack is another subtle enhancement. Both variants combine an ergonomically-optimised seat form with ‘outstanding’ comfort, further enhanced by heating and cooling options.

Rich materials such as Windsor leather add a further touch of luxury, complemented by details such as the crafted monogram stitch pattern and Jaguar Leaper or R motifs in the headrests. An Ebony Suedecloth headliner enriches the interior.

In ride and handling terms F-Type and R continue to set a benchmark for involving, engaging, driver-focused sports cars. The cars feature double wishbone front and rear suspension, meticulously tuned electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and torque vectoring by brake to deliver agility and a connected feel.

These attributes Jaguar said: “are fundamental to the car’s immediate and intuitive responses to every driver input”.

The chassis of the F-Type 75 and R 75 is enhanced by rear knuckles made from light, stiff aluminium die castings, which, together with larger wheel bearings deliver absolute precision control of the tyre contact patch, translating to even more connected steering feel.

For the R 75, this attribute is further optimised with revised upper ball joints that significantly increase camber and toe stiffness. Both models feature a rear electronic active differential (EAD) to optimise traction.

The torque on-demand all-wheel drive system with Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD) technology standard on the R 75 – enhances traction and dynamics on all surfaces and in all weathers while maintaining the car’s characteristic rear-wheel drive feel and handling balance.

All versions are equipped with Jaguar’s adaptive dynamics system with configurable dynamics. Using electronically controlled, continuously-variable dampers, adaptive dynamics optimises both low speed comfort and high-speed control, while configurable dynamics enables the driver to tailor the settings for suspension stiffness, steering weight, throttle response and gearshifts.

The R 75 can be specified with Jaguar’s Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) braking system featuring 398mm and 380mm front and rear discs with six- and four-piston monobloc callipers with a distinctive yellow finish. Jag’ says the system delivers exceptional braking performance with outstanding fade resistance.

Power in the ‘standard’ car comes from a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine paired with an eight-speed Quickshift transmission with full manual control using either the SportShift gear selector or the steering wheel-mounted paddles. The 331kW unit has been developed to offer exploitable, useable and rewarding performance with a maximum torque of 580Nm generated from 2500rpm.

This engine is for purists and is offered with rear-wheel drive boasting an electronic active rear differential to optimise traction which enables 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds and a maximum speed of 285km/h.

Step up to the R version for the benefits of all-wheel drive and an uprated supercharged 5.0-litre V8 to 423kW and a robust 700Nm of torque. This allows the sleek Jag to clock a benchmark sprint to 0-100km/h in 3.7 seconds, while V-max is an electronically limited 285km/h.

Each engine is matched to a switchable active exhaust system as standard. The distinctive crackle and pop on the overrun synonymous with F-Type, remains, with sounds tuned to suit the distinctive character of each model.

Customers can specify Quiet Start function for a less intrusive start-up exhaust note. Quiet Start can be over-ridden by selecting Dynamic Mode or by pressing the switchable exhaust button before starting the engine.

2022 Jaguar F-Type 75 pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.