| First Drive | North Wales, UK | Jaguar XKR 75 |
We rendezvous in a McDonald's car park in North Wales where Jaguar has arranged to hand over the keys to its new XKR 75. Built to celebrate 75 years, only 75 will be built, each riding on lower suspension, sounding even more fruity thanks to a sports exhaust and offering more performance from its 5.0-litre supercharged engine. Before Jaguar's PR has had time to order a Big Mac and fries, we're off to the Horseshoe Pass, to see just how different the 75 feels compared to the standard XKR.
In the Metal
The stickers that come with the 75 are a bit more McDonald's than Mayfair, though thankfully I'm informed they're optional. We'd leave them off, as really the XKR doesn't need any look-at-me add-ons to attract attention. The 75 gets a more assertive aero pack as it is - which can be fitted to the standard car in
Speed guise - along with 20-inch wheels and a 10mm drop in ride height.
All 75 examples will be black - as really all XKRs should be. It looks sensational, though it's a bit disappointing that Jaguar has done nothing to the interior to signify this special edition. We're not asking for a tacky numbered plaque, though perhaps a hint ('75' painted on the dials?) of its enhanced performance and limited availability would help.
What you get for your Money
Along with the aero tweaks and revised suspension the XKR 75 gets more power. The official numbers say that the 5.0-litre supercharged V8's output has been boosted to 523bhp (around 13bhp) and torque is up from 460- to 483lb.ft, but it feels more on the road. Thank the ferocious acceleration, with the 0-60mph time dropping from 4.6- to 4.4 seconds, as well as the far more purposeful note emanating from the freer-breathing sports exhausts. It's around £10,000 more than a standard XKR, at £85,500, but start adding the aero kit to the XKR and that gap narrows significantly. Whatever, it's worth it...
Driving it
What's immediately apparent is that despite the sharper focus of the suspension the XKR 75 still rides with the fluidity of its
standard relative. It's obviously tauter, but it's never harsh, the firmer, lower suspension and revised damper rates endowing the XKR 75 with more precision and feel. The steering remains light, but it's quick and accurate, with the leather-rimmed wheel even delivering some feel to your hands. The brakes are hugely strong, which, combined with the steering and the greater control in the bends, results in far higher cornering speeds than you might explore in a standard XKR. Yet all the GT credentials remain. Switch out of dynamic mode and the 75 quietens down, demanding less from you, it feeling every bit the composed, refined grand tourer. You rarely feel inclined to drive it like that though, as the XKR 75 goads you into being more of a hooligan than you might in a regular XKR.
Blame the exhaust note, which is deeper, raspier and a whole lot naughtier. Lift off and there are burbles, cackles and the odd pop, the noise when you're accelerating with your foot pinned to the floor being delightfully uncouth - like an aristocrat screaming among the hoi polloi in the football stands. It's like the XKR has dropped its refined guard, revealing its true, gritty, character. The power and torque increases look relatively mild on paper, but the reality on the road is an XKR that's far more aggressive, the engine's enhanced performance matched by the detailed chassis revisions.
Worth Noting
Only 75 people will be lucky enough to buy this special XKR, with the majority of those buyers being in Britain. Jaguar's chassis guru, Mike Cross, suggests that the XKR 75 is a car that buyers might want to drive down to the Nürburgring and do a few laps in. We heartily recommend you do.
Summary
It's a shame just 75 will be built, as the Jaguar XKR 75 is a brilliant sports car. Taking all the fine points of the existing car and adding more precision, feel and pace add to the already giant-killing appeal of the XKR.
