Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept at Pebble +video

The Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept unveils today at Pebble Beach

At least we’re back to Jaguars with a badge that makes sense.

Following on from the Jaguar XK175 produced by Jaguar USA to commemorate 175 75 years of Jaguar, today we get the Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept bowing in at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the first time we’ve had a concept based on the new XJ. Does it point somewhere?

Jaguar has gone the trendy black and white route with the XJ75 Platinum because “…a striking white and black contrast theme suggests precious platinum metal”. I can’t say that’s the first thing that jumps in to my mind, but no argument on the ‘Striking’ front.

The ‘Striking’ nature of the XJ75 is evidenced by the a butch bodykit with bigger sills and bumpers with Satin Matte Pearlescent White paintjob and chrome swapped for either gloss black or dark chrome. Also adding to the drama are the 22″ brushed black alloys (we’re trying not to think what they’ll do to the ride – but they look good).

It’s not just the exterior which gets the ‘Platinum’ look, the interior gets a makeover too. You get gloss pearlescent white veneers and air vents; the diamond stitched seats in Jet Softgrain Leather get white contrast stitching (with a nod to Mulliner) and there are umpteen suede and leather accents dotted around for effect.

Jaguar has also addressed the one real complaint we had about the already visually striking interior on the new XJ – the tacky clock. Gone is the ‘Christmas Cracker Clock’ to be replaced by a much more visually appealing job from Bremont. Not too sure the stopwatch buttons atop the clock are necessarily the best feature, but a huge improvement nonetheless.

So, a new and funky – or as Jaguar are keen to say, ‘Striking’ – take on the new XJ. But is it pointing somewhere, as we alluded to earlier? We like to think it’s pointing towards a Jaguar XJ Supersport R – a modern version of the XJR – a possibility we reported in December last year.

Visually there is no question this could pass muster as a Supersport R, but Jaguar has chosen to fit the concept with the ‘Low-fat/Not available in the UK/Why do they bother with it’ 470 horses version of the 5.0 litre S/C lump, instead of the full-fat 510 horse version. Which rather mitigates against the theory that the XJ75 Platinum is a taster for the XJ Supersport R.

Or it could be a bluff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJZNrTDr4bg

By Cars UK