New Jaguar F-Type R 75 2023 review

Verdict

In V8 R form this final F-Type is a brilliantly characterful British sports car and a fitting celebration of 75 years of the breed from Jaguar. It’s not without its flaws, but we’ll still miss it dearly when the F-Type finally bows out. Soon all Jags will be electric-only, and in the not-too-distant future we’ll remember its V8-powered models like this with fondness. 

JLR’S new CEO, Adrian Mardell, gave us our best insight yet into Jaguar’s future, with hints of an electric GT. But before we see the first step in Jag’s next era, we’ll wave goodbye to the current petrol-powered phase of the company’s history with this F-Type R 75 coupe.

This is a celebration of three quarters of a century of sports cars from Jaguar, starting with the XK 120 in 1948. It’s an emphatic finish for the F-Type, too, taking the R’s 567bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine and adding some flourishes to the package for this commemorative model.

In fact, if you want a V8 you really should go for this 75 specification. The car is also available in P450 form, but this full-fat P575 model is the pinnacle of the line-up.

It only comes with all-wheel drive, so traction is impressive but not unbreakable; there’s more than enough purchase to believe Jaguar’s claim of a 3.5-second 0-60mph time, plus its advertised (and electronically limited) 186mph top speed.

The F-Type R 75 is about so much more than the numbers, though, as the brand’s sports cars have been for the 75 years before this one. This V8-engined coupe is about how it delivers those numbers. While the F-Type has lost some of its visceral edge aurally (a Quiet Start function means it’s a little more socially acceptable than before, firing into life with a gentle growl rather than loud barks), it still sounds superb under hard acceleration.

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The blurring of the scenery through the window is set to a superb soundtrack of the V8’s metallic roar as the valves in the exhaust open.

Upshifts in Dynamic mode send a raucous eruption from the tailpipes, the V8 still hitting hard despite pulling a higher gear. Just watch the fuel economy fall into the low teens if you drive it like this regularly, though – this big cat likes a drink.

But that again is missing the point of the F-Type R 75. Its steering is weighty, not overly assisted and disconcertingly disconnected. It’s also super-sharp, meaning you can easily direct the Jag’s long nose into an apex, with a reassuring level of grip to fall back on. There’s also feel; we’re hoping the firm retains this dynamic focus for its future EVs, and going by its first – the I-Pace – there’s a great chance it will.

It’s not all good news though. Despite design flourishes for this 75 model that include plenty of bespoke badging, 20-inch 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels, Windsor leather, slimline sports seats and Alcantara headlining, the car’s cabin looks and feels old compared with the best sports cars out there.

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There has been an all-new generation of Porsche 911 since the F-Type launched, and in comparison the Jaguar’s interior feels outdated, despite its 12.3-inch digital dash and central screen still featuring all of the tech you need. The infotainment is fine, although a little clunky in places, but it’s nice that its age means not everything is integrated into the display, with physical knobs for the climate controls.

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The bigger drawback is that some of the materials don’t feel quite up to snuff inside the F-Type’s cabin, especially when this top-spec car starts from £103,075.

The big wheels also mean there’s a lot of road noise on the motorway – always an F-Type issue – but despite this slight lack of refinement the Jag rides nicely. It feels firm, but the damping is fluid. You can tell this is a car from a British manufacturer because it rides British B-roads nicely, offering control and poise – up to a point.

When you reach this point you feel the F-Type’s significant weight (for a sports car, at 1,855kg) and it struggles with fast direction changes. It’s better on faster, more flowing, well surfaced roads, where the F-Type’s GT demeanour emerges as a real highlight among its list of qualities.

Regardless, the days are numbered for cars like this; from all manufacturers, not just Jaguar, and that is a sad thought.