Jaguar notches up 75th birthday with bespoke XK-R

Jaguar will use the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed to throw a 75th birthday party for itself. It's not bothering with a cake or paper hats, preferring instead to wheel out the XKR 75.

Just 75 examples of the limited-edition coupe will be built, so there's a fair chance it will end up as a future collectible.

Jaguar's engine boffins have recalibrated the engine and transmission, and the XKR 75 also cops a sports exhaust with crossover pipe and larger outlets to further boost performance and spit out a fruity note.

The engine upgrades have yielded power and torque outputs of 390kW and 655Nm respectively (compared with 375kW and 625Nm for the stocker). This translates to a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) split of 4.4sec, two-tenths quicker than the standard XKR. Top speed is electronically limited to 280km/h.

The added oomph is complemented by beefed-up suspension (front springs 28 per cent stiffer, rear springs 32 per cent stiffer) that lowers ride by 15mm at the front and 10mm at the rear.

High-speed stability is also allegedly enhanced via a revised aerodynamic body pack with a front splitter, side sills extensions, a rear diffuser and larger rear spoiler. The XKR 75's computerised Active Differential Control also adjusts to reduce steering sensitivity at very high speeds, improving stability and feedback levels.

Visually, the limited-run model can be distinguished by its Stratus Grey finish and red brake calipers peeping through the 20-inch gloss Vortex forged lightweight alloys with a "dark technical finish" and diamond turn.

In case it's all a bit too understated for your tastes, you can specify the optional body graphic that runs from the front bumper to the rear haunches (as featured on the car pictured alongside).

The interior is swathed in Charcoal leather with ivory stitch, and there's lashings of piano black finish on the fascia and centre console.

Explaining the rationale behind the car, chief engineer Mike Cross said: "We conceived the XR 75 as a sports car with a duality of character that makes it perfectly suited to driving across Europe to the Nurburgring, completing some very fast laps, and then driving home again."

Sounds pretty good to us...

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