The Jaguar car company celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Of course, it has gone through a lot of iterations since it was founded as the Swallow Sidecar Company by Sir William Lyons in 1922. Now it is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors Ltd.
The name was changed after the second world war because the initials ‘SS’ were not very popular in those days, although the Jaguar name had already appeared in 1935 on a 2.5 litre saloon, hence 2010 being deemed as the 75th anniversary. The company merged with the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1968 and then became a part of British Leyland. It was taken on board by Ford in 1989 and then by Tata in 2008.

Over the years the Jaguar name has become synonymous with luxury combined with performance, and its cars have enjoyed considerable success on track, particularly at the Le Mans 24-Hours.

In order to celebrate its 75 anniversary, Jaguar is to produce a limited edition model of its XKR model with, yes you’ve guessed, just 75 examples being built. If you want one, it will set you back £85,500. Pity they couldn’t have made it £75,000 - that would have been a nice touch.

The XKR 75 will differ from the standard model by having increased engine power and revised suspension. To ensure that it remains stable at high speeds, a new aerodynamic body pack with a front splitter, side sills extensions, a rear diffuser and larger rear spoiler provides increased balance and a reduction in lift.

Jaguar’s engineers have increased the power and torque of the five-litre supercharged engine to deliver a 0 - 60 mph time of 4.4 secs and an electronically limited top speed of 174 mph (again, wouldn’t 175 have tied in well?). Meanwhile, a sports exhaust with ‘an improved acoustics package’ will ensure that it sounds as good as it goes.

Just so that everyone knows that your XKR is different to the chap next door’s, the 75 edition features a new ‘Stratus Grey’ finish (shouldn’t that be status grey?). Red brake callipers contrast the eye-catching 20-inch gloss Vortex forged lightweight alloys with a dark technical finish and diamond turn (it says here). Customers will have the option to apply a unique body graphic that runs from the front bumper to the rear haunches. (You can tell that I’m quoting from the press release, can’t you?)

The car, which made its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, will be available to order from July this year with deliveries starting in October.