XKR-S

Making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2011, the XKR-S is the most extreme expression yet of Jaguar's passion for building beautiful, fast cars. For the first time with a series production car, Jaguar gains entry to the exclusive '300km/h club' thanks to the effortless performance of the supercharged 5.0-litre AJ-V8 engine. A revised fuelling map means the direct-injection powerplant now produces 550PS and 680Nm of torque.

Extensive recalibration has ensured that power delivery and performance are seamless, contributing to a 0-60mph time of 4.2 seconds. The Performance active exhaust encourages and rewards the enthusiastic driver with dramatic, motorsport-inspired aural feedback.

The XKR-S is not merely the quickest Jaguar ever but also the most agile, responsive and driver-focused. The pinnacle of the XK range builds on feedback gathered from the supercharged XKR and has been developed to extend the performance parameters of the car. This new harder-edged character allows the enthusiastic driver to explore the outer limits of the car's dynamics without losing the refinement and usability for which Jaguar is famous. The structural integrity of the lightweight aluminium platform allowed the suspension to be reworked using bespoke components for increased stiffness without a commensurate loss in either refinement or Jaguar's legendary ride comfort. A reworked aluminium front suspension knuckle and revised rear geometry are allied to stiffer springs and dampers, lightweight forged alloy wheels and recalibrated steering effort to minimise any response delays and produce a more connected and agile driving experience. 

The performance of the XKR-S is reflected in both its interior and exterior styling, the latter featuring exclusive new paint colours that reflect Jaguar's racing heritage. As with competition Jaguars of the past, the exterior of the XKR-S adheres to the principle of form following function. In addition to the styling changes and in order for it to achieve 300km/h, the XKR-S was the subject of extensive Computational Fluid Dynamics development work. The resulting changes reduced front and rear lift by more than a quarter and optimised lateral aerodynamic stability.

The sporting intent of the XKR-S is clear from the moment the driver enters the cabin thanks to new cosseting Performance seats with prominent shoulder wings for close support during hard cornering. The seats feature 16-way adjustment, memory and heating functions while a new three-spoke steering wheel provides the perfect interface between car and driver.

Styling

• Unique, new front-end design with twin nacelles, side intakes and carbon-fibre splitter.
• Extended side sills emphasising the 10mm lower ride height.
• New rear apron incorporating a carbon-fibre diffuser.
• Unique to the XKR-S is a rear wing with carbon-fibre centre section.

Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars: "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 first Jaguar designed entirely under the aegis of Design Director Ian Callum, the XK has received awards worldwide for its elegant appearance. Now further styling changes keep the XKR-S at the forefront of modern sports car design. Slimmer, LED headlights, a more compact main air intake and vertical side power vent all contribute to a more purposeful front-end appearance. At the rear of the car the famous Jaguar 'Leaper' now takes pride of place in the centre of the bootlid.

The XKR-S also required aerodynamic modifications to achieve its 300km/h top speed in the unruffled manner expected of a Jaguar and has been designed solely with an eye for purity of line and singularity of purpose. As the XKR-S approaches its top speed, there is a requirement to channel air cleanly over, around and under the car in order to maintain stability and ensure balanced downforce front and rear. An overall reduction in lift of 26 per cent has been achieved.

The necessary revisions were made after extensive Computational Fluid Dynamics work, proven through wind tunnel testing and are unique to this flagship of the XK range. The most dramatic changes have been applied to the front of the car, radically altering its appearance and lending it a more assertive look. A new bumper design incorporates near vertical feature lines running down from the edges of the oval air intake and supporting the new carbon-fibre splitter and lower spoiler. At the extreme edges of the front fenders, vertical slots channel air down the sides of the car and along the wider sills for increased high-speed directional stability.

In order to balance front and rear lift, the XKR-S features a separate rear wing, a first for the XK range. This addition, with its carbon-fibre centre section, works in concert with the similarly constructed Venturi structure underneath the rear bumper.

The assertive new appearance of the XKR-S is subtly highlighted by some carefully chosen details exclusive to this model. Exterior trim is finished in gloss black, complemented by 20-inch Vulcan lightweight forged alloys in a dark technical finish.

The XKR-S is available in a range of five paint colours, two of which evoke Jaguar's competition heritage: Italian Racing Red and French Racing Blue.

In 2012 Jaguar then released the XKR-S convertible. Exterior changes consisted of gloss black paintwork, a dark technical finish to the forged 20" Vulcan alloy wheels and high performance brake callipers finished in either red or gunmetal. The convertible was available in a range of six colours, including Polaris White and British Racing Green. The hood came in black as standard with a further six optional colours available.

Also exclusive to the XKR-S models were carbon-leather trimmed heated seats which featured integrated head rests, racing harness cut-outs and increased side and squab support to hold driver and passenger securely during high speed cornering.

Interior changes included a multifunction three-spoke leather steering wheel and Jaguar-embossed stainless steel pedals, soft-feel paint for the switches and gloss black centre console. An exclusive dark aluminium finish was available as standard with an optional Piano Black finish.

Pricing began at £103,000.