Quickest ever Jaguar Produced for the Motoring Public
The Jaguar XKR-S, launched at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, is the quickest-ever Jaguar produced for the motoring public. The potent new model has incredible performance, covering 0-60mph in just 4.2 seconds and reaching 100mph in 8.6 seconds.
The elegant Jaguar XKR-S, with its strong lightweight aluminium bodywork, offers motoring enthusiasts a new choice in the luxury GT class. The agile sports car, which builds on the performance of the XKR, has an uprated supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, bespoke suspension changes at the front and rear, a new aerodynamically-driven design and a reprogrammed adaptive dynamics system which a driver can use to alter the vehicle’s handling responses.
Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar’s global brand director, has high expectations for the new model. He says: ‘The XKR-S is a bold and exciting new model for Jaguar. We expect to attract both loyal and new Jaguar driving enthusiasts who still want the comfort, opulence and class only a Jaguar can offer, combined with inspirational performance.’
When you’re driving the two-door car, sitting in a 16-way adjustable memory sports seat, you won’t fail to notice the racing car-inspired sounds coming from the exhaust. The XKR-S produces 550PS and 680Nm of torque, has a top speed of 186mph (300km/h) and emits 292g/km CO2. The six-speed automatic provides fuel economy of 23mpg on the combined cycle (US C-H Combined, 17mpg).
The car, which is at the top of the XR range, has a new assertive front-end design including slimmer LED headlights, extended side sills which emphasise the 10mm lower ride height, 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels and a new rear apron incorporating a carbon-fibre diffuser.
Design director Ian Callum said: ‘The styling of this car isn’t about image, it’s about true performance. Like other iconic Jaguars before it, the styling has been driven by geometry and aerodynamics for genuine design purity. The physics required to achieve 300km/h have led the aesthetic; if you don’t like the way it looks, you probably won’t like the way it drives either.’
The high-class cabin of the XKR-S provides the driver with a sense of occasion. Leather features prominently, as would be expected in a Jaguar, with the multi-function three-spoke steering wheel also being leather-wrapped. A red start button fires up the engine which produces a rich, deep reverberation in the hushed surroundings. When on the move, the refined XKR-S promises precise handling, unruffled acceleration, responsive cornering and excellent braking, mixing sporting appeal with luxurious comfort. The model is expected to sell for £97,000 when ordering begins in September. Buyers of the Jaguar XKR-S will be purchasing a truly beautiful fast car offering intelligent performance with everyday driveability.
