Just when it seemed Jaguar had run aground with their complement of emotive letters to bookend the XK sports car range, it appears they’ve found a second-wind and created an even more extreme road-going, track-honed, XKR-S: the Jaguar XKR-S GT. The ultimate XKR sports car has made its world debut at the New York International Motor Show.
From our own experience, the Jaguar XKR-S didn’t need more power or impetus to make it any more visceral a driving experience than it already was. Building on that already ferocious reputation, the XKR-S GT was developed by an in-house group call the ETO specialty vehicle group. Just like the XKR-S, this GT version uses the familiar 5.0-litre supercharged V8, which churns out 405 kW and 680 Nm of torque through a 6-speed ZF automatic gearbox and on to the rear wheels.
Jaguar’s ETO division constructed the car on an all-aluminium body and assembled it using aerospace derived aluminium bonding and riveting techniques. Then it is drizzled in light weight carbon fibre from nose to tail.
The new XKR-S GT sprints to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds thanks to its new aerodynamic upgrades and a reprogramming of the traction control unit. Jaguar limits the vehicle to 300 km/h. On the aerodynamic front, the XKR-S GT has a carbon fibre front air splitter, carbon fibre canards (also called ‘dive planes’), wheel arch extensions, as well as an aluminium front under tray to further harness the wind in Jaguar’s favour. At the rear, a carbon fibre rear diffuser joins a carbon fibre rear wing that has been fitted for increased down force.
Underneath, the XKR-S GT includes all-new front and rear suspension arms, uprights, wheel bearings, bushings and a revised rear subframe. The automaker’s active damping system has been revised with new height-adjustable dampers and spring rates have been stiffed by a massive 68% (front) and 25% (rear).
Up front, the XKR-S GT sees its track widened and the steering has been changed for a faster ratio for crisper response. To make the most of the chassis revisions, Jaguar has modified its Adaptive Dynamics control, which tailors drive-by wire, suspension, transmission and traction/stability control functions. Braking is entrusted to carbon ceramic brakes featuring 398 mm and 380 mm front/rear rotors, clamped by six- and four-piston monoblock calipers respectively. This is the first time such a brake system has been fitted to a production Jaguar.
The XKR-S GT is only available in Polaris White with black racing stripes and black 20-inch alloy wheels, fitted with sticky Pirelli Corsa tyres. A very limited number will enter production and the price in the U.S. is $174 000, or R1.55-million at today’s rate of exchange.
