I have many memories from my storied career as an automotive journalist. From cruising along the winding majesty of the Pacific Coast Highway to the sheer adrenaline of flinging a Lamborghini around the Daytona International Speedway road course and trying to tame a Ferrari on the Nürburgring— that treacherous green hell where angels fear to tread, I’ve collected a library over the decades.
Some of those memories aren’t one-offs. I’ll be back on the PCH later this year and I’ve even added a Lexus to the illustrious list of steeds I’ve driven on Daytona’s hallowed tarmac.
Then there are the memories of the cars themselves – a cavalcade of different models, years, and quirks. It’s an ever-expanding collection, with some models simply updates to previous years. Among that seemingly endless procession of cars though there are some that stand out like a rock star in a sea of groupies.
The Jaguar F-Type R is one such rock star. And I had a 2024 delivered to me recently.
Now every time an F-Type has graced my driveway, whether it was the sensuous lines of the convertible, the sultry silhouette of the coupe, the effortless shifts of the automatic, or the engaging throws of the manual, a week with this feline beauty has always been a memorable one. It makes pedestrians stop and stare, slack-jawed, as it prowls by. It’s a showstopper, a head-turner, and, quite possibly, the last of a dying breed.
You see the sands of time have run out for this particular feline. The curtain is falling on this automotive icon and the 2024 Jaguar F-Type marks the final act in this grand performance. After 75 glorious years, it’s taking its final bow, leaving behind a legacy of speed, beauty, and that inimitable British charm. The feline predator is going extinct, but what a way to go out.
https://www.caraganza.com/reviews/first-drive-2015-jaguar-f-type-r-fornication-on-four-wheels/
https://www.caraganza.com/reviews/first-drive-2015-jaguar-f-type-r-fornication-on-four-wheels/https://www.caraganza.com/reviews/2017-jaguar-f-type-svr-supercar-sheeps-clothing/
Yes, the F-Type R is a proper British bruiser, but with a distinctly American twist. It’s a muscle car in a Savile Row suit, refined yet ferociously powerful. The supercharged V8 produces 575 horsepower, propelling this beast from 0 to 60 mph in a neck-snapping 3.5 seconds. It’s the kind of acceleration that makes you question the very laws of physics, and your sanity.
Inside it’s as plush as an English gentleman’s club, with leather and Alcantara swathing every surface. The seats are more comfortable than a hammock on a Caribbean beach, and the infotainment system is as intuitive as a smartphone. But who cares about the interior when you’ve got that V8 symphony playing under the hood?
With a mere push of the start button, it announces its presence with a thunderous roar—like a lion that’s just stubbed its toe. The exhaust note is pure aural ecstasy—a deep, guttural growl that crescendos into a full-throated roar as the revs climb and snaps, crackles and pops when the accelerator is eased. It’s the kind of sound that makes small children cry and grown men weep with joy.
With its all wheel drive the F-Type charges through corners with the grace of a prima ballerina, and being a true driver’s car gently sends vibrations through the seat like a purring kitten stroking your back looking for a rub and urging you forward. The steering is precise, and the brakes are as reassuring as a firm handshake from your favorite uncle.
At the end of the week there was no joy in this grown man. Instead, I stared at this beauty knowing that it was my last time. No more new chapters would be written in my Jaguar F-Type book. It was like a beloved cat I once had. When he got too old, I took him to the vet for one last, sad, trip. And so it would be with this cat.
So, here’s to the Jaguar F-Type, a car that has etched itself into the annals of my automotive adventures, forever cherished but, sadly, never to be seen again.
If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one of these last-of-the-line F-Types, cherish it. Drive it like you’ve stolen it. Revel in every moment behind the wheel, because this is the end of an era. The Jaguar F-Type will be missed—a symbol of a time when cars had soul, when they were more than just a means of transport. It’s a goodbye, but what a magnificent goodbye it is.
The 2024 Jaguar F-Type R75
MSRP: $115,000
MSRP (as tested): $119,875
Engine: 5.0 Liter supercharged V8, 575 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 516 lb-ft torque @ 3,500 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed shiftable automatic
Fuel Mileage (EPA): 16 city, 24 highway, 18 combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested, mixed conditions ): 20 mpg
Base curb weight: 3,945 lbs.
Exterior Dimensions
Length: 176.0 in.
Overall width with mirrors: 80.4 in.
Height: 51.5 in.
Wheelbase: 103.2 in.
Ground clearance: 3.9 in.
Front Seat Dimensions
Front head room: 37.0 in.
Front leg room: 42.8 in.
Maximum cargo capacity: 7.3 cu.ft.
Warranty
Basic: 5 yr./ 60,000 mi.
Drivetrain: 5 yr./ 60,000 mi.
Rust: 6 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside assistance: 5 yr./ 60,000 mi.
Free maintenance: 5 yr./ 60,000 mi.
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