Let me tell you a love story that started back in 2018 when I first drove a Jaguar F-TYPE SVR. This experience left an F-TYPE-shaped imprint on my heart that I had to fill at every opportunity I could get. Since then, I have driven five iterations of the glorious supercharged V8 powered F-TYPE and it was with great sadness I slipped into the cabin of this Carpathian Grey F-TYPE R 75 Coupé knowing that it will be the last.
That’s because this is the final Model Year of F-TYPE and it also marks 75 years of Jaguar sports cars, and to commemorate customers can choose between the new F-TYPE 75 or this F-TYPE R 75 special edition. These models are distinguished by unique interior and exterior design elements, carefully curated specifications, and of course the supercharged 5.0-litre Jaguar V8 engine synonymous with F-TYPE. These exclusive models are a fitting celebration of internal combustion engine performance before Jaguar becomes, sadly in my opinion, a pure electric modern luxury brand from 2025.
The F-TYPE R 75 is the more powerful of the two final special editions with 423kW of power and 700Nm of torque available from the supercharged V8. All of that power is mostly contained by the all-wheel drive and the Pirelli P Zero 305/30 rear tyres. This F-TYPE will do 0-100km/h in a blistering 3.7 seconds and goes on to 300km/h, should you have a private runway available to test it out. The official combined fuel consumption is 10.3L/100km and showing that my last drive in the F-TYPE was more about its prowess rather than out and out performance I used 11.0L/100km for my week of pleasure.
But it goes without saying that I rather fancy all of the power and noise that the supercharged V8 emits. There are just three drives modes available, Comfort, Dynamic and Snow/Ice/Rain. You can manually raise and lower the rear wing, and for me it should always be down because I don’t like the look of it at all. Under Dynamic mode you can switch engine, steering, gear shift, and suspension between Dynamic or Comfort settings, but I never felt that Dynamic mode in the F-TYPE was too harsh for every day driving.
I chose the week of Valentine’s Day to be my last time with the F-TYPE deliberately knowing how much that I wanted to share my deep feelings about this very special car. The gorgeous lines of the F-TYPE are akin to the leaping Jaguar that proudly adorns the rear wing. From the growling Jaguar on the front grille, the bulging bonnet, to the quad exhausts and rear diffuser, I appreciate it all. Not least, the F-TYPE’s high front spoiler that means you really don’t need to worry about speed bumps.
Thankfully, very little has changed in the cabin on this final edition, with the F-TYPE 75 model distinguished by the unique silhouette motif on the Engine Spin centre console finisher, below the central air vents and on the stainless-steel tread plates, while the Interior Black Pack is another subtle enhancement. This Coupé also has a fixed panoramic sunroof that is fitted as a no cost option.
I have always loved the F-TYPE’s steering wheel and the Aluminium gear selectors that are mounted behind it. The metal feels cool on your fingertips as you pull up and down the gears in the 8-speed automatic transmission. The driver gets also digital dash that can be customised to show various info and the central 10” infotainment screen incorporates wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, which was a bit glitchy to connect at times for me.
The rich leather aroma that fills the F-TYPE’s cabin is thanks to the Windsor leather seats that come standard on the special editions and the Extended Leather Upgrade option ($2,110) fitted to this F-TYPE. The performance seats offer a snug fit and have intricate details like the crafted monogram stitch pattern, repeated in the door trim, and Jaguar Leaper embossed in the headrests. An Ebony Suedecloth headliner, also standard on the F-TYPE 75, further enriches the interior.
The optional ($1,150) 12-way power adjusted heated and cooled front seats have three memory positions. I like that the seat adjustments are located on the door, but I do not like that they are surrounded with gloss black plastic, which gets fingermarks on it. The seat heating and cooling worked well, but I could hear the noise from the cooled seats when they were in operation. I chuckled again when I read that the dual zone climate control is still an optional extra as part of the Climate Pack ($2,760) and it also includes a heated windscreen and heated steering wheel.
Storage space is limited in the cabin with just enough room on the door cubby for sunglasses and the felt lined cubby under the armrest is just big enough for a large smartphone with one 12V socket, two USB-A ports located here. If you have a passenger in the F-TYPE with you, then anything bigger than your smart phone will need to be stored in the boot because the passenger side footwell is very tight.
For that, the F-TYPE has powered boot release with a button in the cabin, on the key fob and under the boot lid and manual close with a tyre repair kit located in boot. The boot space is low, but broad and there is some extra storage space under the boot floor as well.
The F-TYPE does not have an ANCAP or Euro NCAP safety rating and driver safety aids are limited to standard cruise control, lane keep assist, emergency braking and standard rear-view camera. It does have front and rear parking sensors, but you need to remember to turn the front sensors on as they default to off and if you are not aware of this you may bump into something. My F-TYPE also had the optional Blind Spot Assist pack (a no cost option), which includes blind spot assist and rear traffic monitor.
All new Jaguar vehicles sold come with a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty with 5 years roadside assistance. A 5 years/ 130,000km (whichever occurs first) service plan that covers standard service costs during this period is complimentary with the purchase price.
My love story with the F-TYPE may have ended on a high, but this didn’t lessen the pang in my heart when I handed over the keys for the final time. The 24MY Jaguar F-TYPE R 75 Coupé is priced from $283,020 excluding on-road costs and as tested my final F-TYPE was $289,690 excluding on-road costs. You can Build your Own F-TYPE online or visit your preferred Jaguar retailer for more information.
| Pros | Cons |
| That magnificent, supercharged V8 engine | Limited storage space in the cabin |
| Servicing cost is included in the purchase price | Glitchy Android Auto |
| It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all | I may never drive an F-TYPE again |
Photographs by Driven Women Magazine.