What's all this about?

The current Jaguar XJ has been around now for eight years, so it's into its final act. It's a great car, though, and we are particular fans of the XJR range-topper , which totes a 550hp/680Nm supercharged 5.0-litre V8. So what better way to send the old boy off than to give it the uprated version of the same motor, as seen in the F-Type SVR ?

Really?!

Yup. This is the Jaguar XJR575, and that badge number indicates it has 575hp, as well as a goliath 700Nm of torque. Cue two-tenths being slashed off the 0-62mph time, which now stands at 4.4 seconds, and an increase in its (limited) top speed, from 174mph to 186mph. That, out of interest, is the 'triple-ton' if you render it in km/h.

I won't, thank you. What distinguishes the XJR575?

It gets its own design of rear spoiler, side sills and front bumper, plus gloss-black lower air intakes, twin bonnet louvres and discreet '575 R' badging in places. Under the arches are gloss-black 20-inch Farallon alloys, with red brake calipers peeping out from behind. Inside is intaglio and diamond-quilted leather, plus a set of embossed tread plates. You can also paint it in one of two exclusive colours, which are Velocity Blue and Satin Corris Grey.

How much is it, and when can I place my order?

Well, if you've got £93,710 burning a hole in your back pocket, you can stroll into your nearest Jaguar UK retailer right now and place an order for an XJR575.

Knowing JLR, I'm surprised there wasn't a wild PR stunt accompanying this car's launch...

Ah, but there was. In the space of 44 seconds - the time it takes the XJR575 to storm from rest to its 186mph top speed - poor Wayne Burgess, a Jaguar director heavily involved in the development of the ultimate XJ, was subjected to a rapid-fire interview while in the back seat of the big Jag. You can watch him being grilled as the XJR575 races along a UK runway right here.

Matt Robinson - 14 Aug 2017