Can the day start better than standing in front of the entrance of the brand new Maybourne Riviera hotel, which overlooks any Monaco, will receive the keys to the most extreme Jaguar F-Type ever? We don't think so. Certainly not with the knowledge in the back of our minds that after a beautiful drive through the hinterland of Monaco and Nice we will end up in Menton for a sumptuous lunch in Mirazur, a three-star restaurant that was voted the best restaurant in the world in 2019. Jaguar has something to celebrate. Although, celebrating: it just depends on how you look at it. Because at the next Jaguar sports car party, there will be no eight-cylinder roaring to life, but softly humming electric motors, accompanied at most by an artificial hum. That hasn't happened yet, because when we walk out of the hotel lobby, there are six beautiful specimens neatly lined up. The sun is shining and the program first includes a tour of the Monaco circuit that is under construction.
Jaguar has simplified the offering for the last model year of the F-Type. The car now looks more purposeful and confident than ever. 20-inch wheels are now standard equipment on all versions. Discrete detail changes include the color of the wheel center cap and the grille badge, which are now black instead of red, and that of the R and R-Dynamic badges, which are now black and gray instead of red and green. We choose the top model, a 575 hp F-Type R 75 Convertible in the new color Giola Green. The new color is one of the features of this model, which serves as a send-off model before Jaguar becomes a purely electric brand in 2025. The special color is one of the features of the new versions, which are further distinguished by specific design elements, both for the body and interior. Ten years after its conception, the F-Type still looks modern and timeless at the same time. Its focused and confident appearance refers directly to the flowing shapes of the sports cars from Jaguar's rich history. It started in 1948 with the Jaguar XK120, the fastest production car in the world at the time. The addition '75' refers to that car, which saw the light of day 75 years ago.
We hardly notice this on the Monaco circuit, as the speed rarely exceeds that of a fast cyclist. However, the Jag is completely in its element here and we put the Jaguar in its most comfortable position. We do this via Configurable Dynamics, which offers the driver the opportunity to adjust the suspension and damping settings, the weight of the steering, the responses to the accelerator pedal and the shifting behavior of the transmission to personal preferences. We don't have to worry about the grip in the hairpin bends. Our F-Type R 75 is equipped with four-wheel drive as standard. That is nice with a 575 hp supercharged V8 engine. The torque is no less than 700 Nm. This means the car sprints from a standstill to 3,7 km/h in just 100 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 300 km/h. We already know we won't achieve that today, because the roads are also quite busy around Monaco. That is why we focus on the mountains in the hinterland of the Principality, where the Monte Carlo rally is held. The enormous pulling power of the engine quickly catapults us from bend to bend like an invisible elastic band. We start carefully, but gradually it goes faster and faster, especially because the drivetrain doesn't budge. When a colleague approaches at considerable speed, we try to push the limits of the car. It does not work. We conclude that it can be done much faster without leading to significant loss of grip. And so the accelerator pedal moves even further towards the bulkhead.
Fortunately, the design team is not bogged down in retro lines. Historically responsible design elements such as the double exhaust, the oval grille and the shape of the rear light units are inspired by the E-type, but all in an ultra-modern guise. At the same time, Jaguar resisted the urge to create an overly busy line pattern. They even did the opposite, because the lines only became purer and purer over the years. Gimmicks such as recessed door handles, a fold-out rear spoiler and other functional necessities affect the simple lines as little as possible. My favorite detail is something that isn't there: windshield washers in the hood. Instead, they are located on the wipers themselves. Simple but ingenious. When you start the engine, the aforementioned valves in the exhaust system are automatically open for a few tens of seconds. However, this example of auditory macho behavior can now be switched off if desired. Handy when you want to go to work at six in the morning with this Jag. Even when the going gets tough, the F-Type R doesn't fall through the ice. The car steers well and because the damping is less stiff than the suspension, the chassis does not feel restless, but above all safe and stable. The gearbox shifts very quickly, the brakes do their job excellently and the balance in the car is good. This makes the F-Type 75 R a guaranteed classic of the future. An ultimate expression of all the good that Jaguar has ever produced and also the fastest and best version of the F-Type ever. It is a car that will take you back in the coming decades to the time when roaring eight-cylinders were at the top of the automotive food chain. Let electric cars be faster and more efficient. In terms of experience, little can match this monumental model, which can serve for at least another 75 years as a driving antidote to the inescapable electrification. The Jaguar F-Type 75 is for sale from 150.688 euros.
Want to read the entire car report? The summer edition is a fresh cocktail of entrepreneurship and sport. In this edition, several entrepreneurs from the Champions League of business are reviewed. Including Freddy Heineken and hospitality tycoon Richard Caring, whose expanding empire has been called the 'restaurant equivalent of LVMH'. Doing business is top sport, but top sport is also doing business. Take Formula 1: the sport is increasingly developing into an octopus with arms that touch all aspects of our society. Jaap de Groot investigated how millions are converted into billions. Also interviews with gymnast Sanne Wevers, two-star chef Guido Braeken, hotelier Robert-Jan Woltering, designer Maarten Baas and Rico, together with his Naomy. The 'King of Kickboxing' also turns out to be an octopus (with very strong arms): as an entrepreneur he is active in various industries. “When I look back later, I don't want to think 'I wish I had this or that'. I just want to, boom, accelerate, do fun things, enjoy.” Boom, the new MASTERS: enjoy!
Order MASTERS Magazine #54 here
© 2024 MASTERS EXPO. All rights reserved.
