Review of the new Jaguar XKR 75

When people get to 75, they usually start to take things a little easier. Jaguar has adopted the opposite approach. To celebrate its landmark anniversary, the famous brand has fashioned its most extreme and hardcore XK coupe yet. Far from opting for a quiet life, the XKR 75 takes the intense pace of the range-topping XKR models and cranks it up a few notches. More power, sharper handling and added aggression show the years have not quelled the fire in Jaguar's belly.

The first car to carry the Jaguar name appeared in 1935. Back then it was known as the SS Jaguar in a nod to the Swallow Sidecar Company which gave birth to the brand. The whole company rebranded as Jaguar in 1945 (to avoid any negative connotations of the SS initials in post-war Britain) and proceeded to expand its reputation over the following years with a series of beautifully-styled sportscars from the XK 120 to the E-Type.

Five wins at the Le Mans 24-hour race in the 1950s cemented Jaguar's status as a leading name in the sportscar world and despite passing through the hands of British Leyland and Ford, then on to current owners TATA, Jaguar has always remained closely in touch with its roots. The modern XKR 75 looks like a car that's very much in Jaguar's sporting traditions and with only 75 due to be built, it could even turn out to be a collector's item in its own right.

Jaguar has turned up the wick on its 5.0-litre supercharged petrol engine for the purposes of the XKR 75. In a standard XKR, the charismatic V8 develops 503bhp but this 75th anniversary models has a slightly more enticing 523bhp. It makes for a quicker 0-60mph sprint of 4.4s compared to 4.6s in the standard car and the speed limiter is also extended, allowing the XKR 75 to stretch its legs past the 155mph barrier and out to 174mph if required.

"After 75 years of fast and evocative Jaguar cars, here's another one."

An increase in torque from 625Nm to 655Nm in the XKR 75 meant an upgraded torque convertor was required for the six-speed Jaguar Sequential Shift automatic transmission. Further modifications were made to the suspension system which gains increased spring and damper rates for 25 per cent greater stiffness and a ride height cut by 15mm and the front and 10mm at the rear. The Active Dynamics electronic damper control system has been re-tuned in line with the XKR 75's more aggressive intent.

The XKR 75 should leave nobody in any doubt that it's something quite special. A full aerodynamic body kit is added making it look considerably lower and more imposing than the standard XKR. A sports exhaust system cranks up the volume and intensity of the V8 soundtrack and red brake callipers sit behind the 20" alloy wheels. In the cabin, the XKR 75 has its own colour scheme with Charcoal leather seats stitched with ivory thread and black suedecloth headlining. The XKR 75 legend is spelt out on the tread plates that line the door sills.

There are rear seats in the XK but they are not somewhere you'd want to spend much time. Rear seating that's of negligible practical use is nothing new in coupes of this size, however, and at least the 330-litre boot is a useful size and shape. Even with the sporty alterations made to the high performance XKR and this even higher performance XKR 75 version, the XK's cabin retains a luxurious feel. There are plenty of nice touches including the rotary dial, or JaguarDrive selector that replaces a conventional gearstick.

With only 75 XKR 75 models being built, the car isn't lacking in exclusivity. Nor is it particularly cheap with the 75th anniversary upgrades coming at a £10,000 premium over a conventional XKR. As you'd imagine, equipment levels leave little to the imagination with heated and cooled seats, a Jaguar Premium Surround Sound stereo and a heated windscreen thrown in along with adaptive headlights. The car is only available in Charcoal grey but unique stripe graphics can be added as an option.

The XKR 75 is not a notably inexpensive car to run. Any vehicle with a supercharged V8 engine that displaces 5.0-litres and cranks out 523bhp is going to have a rather immodest appetite for fuel and the XKR can slug it back with the best of 'em. The best bet is to concentrate on enjoying the performance and not worry too much about what it's costing.

After 75 years of fast and evocative Jaguar cars, here's another one. The XKR 75 celebrates the marque's 75th anniversary by bringing more power to the already brutally quick XKR coupe. A series of styling modifications and an upgraded cabin underline that fact that this is the most potent XK yet and with only 75 being made, there should be plenty of people willing to pay the £10,000 premium.

This more powerful and more aggressively set-up XKR has still been created to retain its grand touring ability. Jaguar is touting this as a car that's as at home lapping the Nurburgring as it is on the long motorway journey home. If that sounds like an appealing package, best to get on the waiting list because these special XKRs won't be around for long.