Jaguar F-Type R 75 5.0 Litre V8 AWD 575PS Review

The Jaguar F-Type R 75 is a refined luxury two-seater sports tourer, but is it fast, comfortable and stylish enough for the £103 K price tag?  We took it gallivanting around Gloucestershire, staying at the Tewkesbury Hotel for a little golf and fine dining to find out.

The R 75 comes with the 5.0 litre supercharged V8 with 567 bhp powering from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in just 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h) and an automatic ZF 8 speed gearbox. Its 4.47 metres long, 2 metres wide, weighs just under 1.8 tonnes and does around 26 mpg.

Stylish is the word that comes to mind as you admire the Jaguar F-Type. Walk around it and you appreciate the classic design and soft gentle curves. Everything flows naturally. The front engine bonnet is powerful, well over a third of the length of the car, reflecting that Jaguar DNA. A powerful front grill and side vents with sharp-slitted headlights complete the sporty look.

The fluted waist narrows in the middle over minimalist running boards that channel the airflow. The coupe roof swoops back into the wide rear haunches topped by a razor-sharp spoiler. Four rocket launcher-style exhausts complete this impressive yet subtle aerodynamic shape.

The 20" 10-spoke Gloss Black wheels with the red brake callipers are pretty cool too.

A supercar for those that want to tour in style without drawing too much attention. People know it's a Jaguar, but only connoisseurs will turn their heads. Particularly if you choose a monochromatic colour. In grey or silver it is a "passe partout". Deck it in Firenze Red, British Racing Green or any bright colour and the sublime exterior lines sing out. Though the Ligurian Black Satin Finish is very tempting (£9,990).

As you click the key fob, the aerodynamically recessed door handles pop out with a satisfying movement that feels like a greeting. As you slide into the sporty but comfortable 12-way heated electric performance seats, it is even more gratifying. The interior greets you like an unctuous hotel concierge. You immediately want to caress the suedecloth headliner, dash and doors.  It's like being cosseted in warm velvet.

Run your hands over the heated leather steering wheel and you feel at home and possibly a little aroused. This is an interior designed to please, fulfilling and pleasurable. I can only imagine the interior designer's secret life, but it surely involves lots of soft leather, aromatic scents and black silk sheets.

I particularly like the chunky dash which is pleasing and the bonnet whilst hefty has great road visibility so you know where to plant the car at every turn.

The dash and 10 " centre infotainment screen are, as they say, "driver-focused", but not so much that the passenger is left out. They get an additional centre handle for grip. Useful if you are taking the corners anywhere near the speed this baby can do. Your navigator can white knuckle the handles when you floor it. Everything is decorated in soft leather with contrast stitching. The driver cluster presents the information well and is clearly visible through the mid-size steering wheel.

You are enveloped for safety but there is plenty of space, as the seats are low with plenty of headroom. Three large circular knobs and a few ergonomic buttons enable quick and easy access to cabin temperature with dual temperature zones and other settings. The dash hides the main fans which unfold, rising electronically when required, a pleasant effect.

The engine mode switch is well-placed for quick, no looking down, changes. Push the switch forward for snow, rain and ice and pull back for dynamic mode. You don't have to fumble through too many useless settings. And a subtle F-Type R symbol on the dash confirms you have the top performance Jaguar has to offer.

Hallelujah, the seat adjustment controls are clearly visible in the door panel. An end to press and hope for the best, before ending up folded in two with your head in the footwell. It means more cables from the seat to the door, but much more convenient. Boot space is good too, shallow, but long and wide.

The gearstick is pretty standard, why reinvent the wheel? But it would be cool to have something a little more historically Jaguar. All in all, the interior is plush, with quality materials throughout.

Mine also sported the MeridianTM Surround Sound System (£1040) with crystal clear definition and soft tones. Perhaps all recording studios should be lined in suedecloth. Lastly, the large fixed panoramic roof lets in plenty of light and you can also opt for privacy glass for that smoky look.

Jaguar offers a range of engine sizes, from the P300 RWD Automatic to the P450 RWD and AWD and finally, the R 75 (P575 AWD Automatic) which only comes in AWD (very wise). I love the power that comes with the R75, but you get the good looks and style with every model.

However, the 575 PS does bring you supercar action. The performance is a lovely balance of majestic power when desired or comfortable touring ease for long journeys. All thanks to a supremely intuitive engine and drive system combination.

The eight-speed ZF automatic shift’s seamlessly between the gears. I love that it adapts to your driving style. If you keep accelerating it won’t shift up until you release the throttle a little so you can control the changes with just the pedal. Shift up yourself and it goes into semi-automatic, shifting down and not up, letting you choose your moment. You get all those sweet revs until you are ready. Of course, you can go full manual too. For touring semi-auto is ideal, enjoy that massive 575 PS in comfort.

Acceleration is smooth, as it should be in such a sophisticated luxury tourer. Even testing it as full whack from a standing start we were not jerked back into our seats too abruptly and we managed the claimed 0-62 mph in 3.7 seconds with consummate ease. The power is beautifully managed for well-mannered cruising with oodles of raw torque, especially in Dynamic mode with its punchier gear changes. Drive modes are properly differentiated, and the Ice/Rain/Snow setting noticeably increased the traction control, so you can power out of corners even in the wettest conditions.

The brake pedal response is absolutely spot on, requiring just the right amount of travel and pressure. In fact, when I got back into my own sports car, the braking felt off in comparison. Both at low and high speeds the braking is beautifully tuned.

The V8 engine is sweet and smooth, though pretty quiet compared to many V8s I've had. You don't have to worry about pedestrians leaping out of their skins or birds falling out of trees as you start up. The noise is still throaty and pleasant, vibrating gently into the efficiently soundproofed cabin. For the thugs amongst you, there is a button by the gear stick that will mute or raise the exhaust roar, just in case you do want to wake the neighbours.

Jaguar makes that V8 in-house and it is extremely likely to be the final one as they are pushing electrification. Time moves on, but I would love to have the last Jaguar V8 in my garage. From the SS90 to the F-Type, via the XK120, C-Type, D-Type, E-Type and XK. What an amazing century!

Adaptive suspension achieves an impressive balance between counteracting the body weight in the corners and muffling vicious potholes. Slightly favouring road holding over comfort, as it should for an F-Type. It is planted and firm in the tightest of corners, suspension and AWD working in unison, a solid and confident drive.

AWD is the right choice for the Jaguar R 575 PS. All four wheels assign traction independently, allowing you the leeway to fully use that 567 bhp!

Another plus for the Jaguar F-Type is the rear-opening front bonnet, which also doubles as crash protection for you and whatever you hit. Aesthetically appealing too, another bit of Jaguar DNA. The F-Type also scores high for reliability in various user surveys.

Our tour of the Cotswolds took us to Tewkesbury Park Hotel & Golf where we photographed the F-Type in the lovely grounds. You can see the full review of that wonderful haven in the Cotswolds here on International Excellence.

On our way back we stopped for lunch at The Watermill gastro-pub in the evocatively named Pixham, tucked away in a lush valley of the Surrey Hills. Also reviewed in IX Magazine.

By the way, the song to play in the F-Type R Coupe is Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.

In conclusion, the Jaguar F-Type R 75 Coupe is an attractive combination of style, panache, refinement, character and elegant performance for the price. It occupies its own niche as a genteel luxury tourer with tremendous power and the added sophistication that comes with the Jaguar badge.

Emotionally, the Jaguar F-Type R combines enormous fun with a sense of occasion, something more than just another sports car, a grand tourer with historic pedigree and unbeatable character.

Jaguar F-Type R 75 base price is £103,075
Jaguar F-Type R 75 model with options: £112,750

Jaguar F-Type R 75 5.0 Litre V8 575PS Supercharged Petrol (Automatic) All Wheel Drive
https://www.jaguar.co.uk/jaguar-range/f-type/index.html

Tewskebury Park Hotel & Golf
https://www.tewkesburypark.co.uk

The Watermill gastro-pub
https://www.thewatermill-dorking.co.uk