The last Jaguar V-8 will live forever—in a library
It won’t be long before every Jaguar will be powered by near-silent electricity, but the brand’s most glorious gas-guzzling legacy is to be saved forever—or at least the sound of it is.
Jaguar has recorded the roar of the very last F-Type 75 R and submitted it to the British Library in London to be stored where it will “enable people worldwide—and for all time—to enjoy the sounds of the last combustion-engine Jaguar sports car.”
The sounds of internal combustion excellence were captured in a semi-anechoic chamber at Jaguar’s Gaydon Engineering Center where the F-Type’s engine was originally tuned. Two recordings were created: one lasting 30 seconds and the other 47 seconds. Each captures the engine firing up with an emotive throttle blip, settling to a 600 rpm idle and then being sonically stretched throughout its rev range.
“Each time the F-Type accelerates, the valves in the exhaust system open to alter the exhaust gas routing and this releases the signature roar that is particular to the F-Type driving experience,” says Jaguar. “Listeners will hear the crisp upshifts and downshifts through the eight-speed Quickshift transmission, and the distinctive, hallmark crackles and pops on the overrun from its quad tailpipes, which are a key element of F-Type’s visceral, driver-focused character.”
The sounds of the F-Type will join other culturally-significant but no-longer-heard sounds in the library’s archive. Charles Richardson, senior sound engineer at Jaguar, says, “The sounds you experience driving the F-Type is something we want to be available for generations to come.”
Cheryl Tipp, the British Library’s curator of wildlife & environmental sounds, adds, “We’re delighted to be able to preserve recordings of the F-Type V-8 engine for Jaguar enthusiasts and listeners around the world. As production of this engine comes to a close, this unique noise takes its place in the nation’s archive alongside other sounds that can no longer be heard today.”
I ‘m willing to bet a substantial sum of money that won’t be the last ICE engine from Jaguar.
I think that’s a fairly confident bet as there is no way we are going to have Net Zero by 2050, if ever!
Not unless they are intent on going into receivership – I don’t picture enthusiast brands fairing very well at going all electric. Not to mention they’ll be halfway toasted when all you can get is an overpriced parking lot princess with the hollowed out Land Rover name on it…
If it’s the end of Jaguar V8 combustion, thus ends my like for Jaguar. Good bye.
Agree.
My 3.4 Twin SU ~ 1963 Sedan will live on forever…May not be a V/8, STILL GOT A GREAT SOUND @ 5000 RPM! 🤔 I WONDER IF I COULD DROP A V8 IN THAT ENGINE COMPARTMENT…???
ICB Forever!!
What a terrible plan to go all (or even any) electric. These companies and customers have no concern for the environment.
As least as a recording, it won’t pollute the air. V8s have had their day. Now you can get cars from Tesla that will effortlessly spank all of them.
thats not the point. Not everything is which car is fastest. The V8 is a legendary engine and has become a staple of the car community. It is a crime, a sin to replace the roaring V8 with a quiet electric motor. Sometimes what matters isnt the speed or the quarter mile time. Instead its about the experience, the rush you get while driving it. That is what us car guys love about cars and in the V8 that will love on forever.
Not everything is about straight line speed. Sound, power delivery, feel, idle, transmission and many more ingredients come together to build a driving experience. You’re not a car guy, you won’t get it. Cars can have souls, the Jaguar is Sean Connery and the Tesla is Justin Bieber.
… perhaps, for an average maximum of 272 -405 miles (with brand new batteries). There is something to be said for having more “freedom of the road.”
Two or three years ago I drove my Miata from Vancouver WA to Moriarty NM in 20 hours, including stops for fuel. Beat that in a Tesla.
GM and Ford are backing off a bit on the electrification.
Simply gorgeous!👍
It isn’t consumers that are driving the conversion to electric vehicles, it is the few ultra-left-wing fanatics and governments that listen to them. Unfortunately, many car makers have invested so much in this engineering that, when consumers refuse to buy them, they will not survive. They will be to broke to make the conversion back to reciprocating engines. Jaguar included, perhaps at the top of the list. Pity. I have owned seven, from a ’71 E-Type OTS, four Vanden Plas sedans, a V12 XJ-S, and still have an XK-R OTS.
Sounds absolutely amazing. I’d put it up there with the GT350.
As a proud owner of an F Type V8 I welcome that this cars sound will be preserved, albeit mournful for the reasons that bring this about. Just when I’m old enough to appreciate the beauty of Jaguars, their contribution to motoring history and cars that I still would love to own (XJ-S) it will cease to be the company that brought us the F Type, XJ, XJ-S. I’ve decided that even if my F type becomes a 1700kg paperweight, I’m hanging on to it for as long as I can for the automotive history it’s associated with.
I got the F Type after realizing years ago that I may never own this iconic piece of motoring namely the V8! In the decades to follow (and it will be decades) the world will experience the vagaries of the fallout from EV’s, the shape, form and consequences of which are yet to reveal it-selves.
If you want to hear the new Jaguar engine, just fire up your Vacuum Cleaner and take it to the carpet in your dining room. Try not to cry!
I have heard the great F-Type sound but never have owned one…….but, I’ve owned and loved an early 1961 Jaguar E-Type OTS for 53 years. My first Jaguar was a 1954 XK120SE OTS. These cars both have and had, that visceral exhaust note and combustive engine heartbeat and power that moves the soul of this car enthusiast. I am 86 years old now and the thrill of hearing that singularly Jaguar sound will live with me as long as I am alive.
I drove my V-8 powered 1955 Corvette last night. While going under an overpass, the sound coming from the exhaust gave me an even bigger smile than I had on my face from just driving it. Sure electric cars can be fast ( I have a Toyota Highlander hybrid that would spank the Corvette in a race) but they don’t give you the same overall experience. I’m not getting rid of my two V8’s!