This is it. The end of an era. Seventy-five years of petrol-powered sports car manufacturing drawing to a close. Production of the F-Type will end in 2023, as Jaguar says goodbye to petrol-engined sports cars, ahead of a push towards an all-electric line-up.
The move signals the end of a lineage stretching back to the XK120 of 1948. To mark the occasion, Jaguar has announced the launch of the F-Type 75 and F-Type R 75 special editions. These cars are distinguished by unique interior and exterior design upgrades, along with a choice of two supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engines, producing 444bhp in the F-Type 75 and 567bhp in the F-Type R 75.
A four-cylinder F-Type will remain on sale, but if you’re marking the end of petrol-powered sports cars, you really ought to choose the V8.
Highlights of the 75 makeover include discreet badges, Windsor leather upholstery and the availability of a unique Giola Green metallic paint option. The 20-inch wheels are gloss black – five-spoke on the F-Type 75 and diamond-turned 10-spoke on the F-Type R 75.
The chassis is enhanced by rear knuckles made from light, stiff aluminium die castings and larger wheel bearings. Meanwhile, the R 75 benefits from revised upper ball joints to increase camber and toe stiffness. A carbon ceramic brake package with yellow callipers is available as an option on the R 75.
In its most potent form, the F-Type R 75 will hit 60mph in just 3.5 seconds, before reaching a maximum speed limited to 186mph.
The final model year cars are available to order now, with customer deliveries expected to begin in January 2023. In convertible form, the F-Type R 75 costs £108,065, with the coupé variant priced at £102,870. Other anniversary variants are more affordable, but you’ll save the most money by choosing the four-cylinder F-Type, which costs £62,235 as a coupé.
When Jaguar axes the F-Type in 2023, it will signal the end of a lineage stretching back to the XK120 of 1948. Since then, Jaguar has built some of the world’s most iconic cars, including the C-Type, D-Type, XKSS and E-Type, but it remains to be seen what will happen in the new all-electric era.
Hopes of an electric F-Type came to nothing, so we just have to hope that there’s room in Jaguar’s future for a new sports car.
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I think they are axing petrol cars prematurely. Let’s see what they propose as an alternative but the future isn’t electric that’s for sure.
What are Jaguar without the lineage of finely designed sports cars that have carried their name over the years and made the company stand out against rivals. All they will be producing is the same old boxy looking clones that cant be separated from likes of Volvo and Hyundai and all the other sit up and beg cars that may be OK motors, but all look the same. Sad really especially as all these boxes on wheels will end up being made elsewhere but Britain and then that’s the end of the story! The graceful Cat is in danger of becoming extinct and sadly wont be revived!
If you want to sit at the service station waiting for 3 hours to charge up , crack on will go the same way as British Leyland who made cars nobody wants!