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Jaguar XKR-S

XKR-S supercoupé takes the big cat into Aston Martin territory, and we put it through its paces

Jaguar XKR-S front track

Text: Sam Hardy / Photos: Otis Clay

May 2011

  • Rating:
Two hundred miles per hour. They might not openly admit it, but talk to the men behind the new Jaguar XKR-S, and if the 
most powerful big cat since 
the XJ220 wasn’t electronically limited to 186mph, it would 
be knocking on the door of 
that magic speed barrier. And having driven it, we can reveal it wouldn’t need much road to do so.

 

The XKR-S is billed as the 
fastest, most driver-focused Jaguar ever made (excluding 
the XJ220), so it has some responsibility resting on its shoulders. Can it do almost 
everything a Ferrari 599 GTB 
can do, but for over £100,000 less? Or is it simply a faster 
version of the XKR? Auto Express took a test drive to find out.  

The Coventry firm showed there was even more potential 
in the supercharged XKR when 
it produced the limited-edition XKR-75 last year – but this car turns things up a notch. Every XKR-S appears ready for a 
punch-up, and our metallic 
black example looked about 
as menacing as Jaguars get. 

Tweaks to the exterior 
start with a fresh nose, which incorporates twin air scoops above the grille, plus a deeper spoiler. Wider wheelarches, extended side sills, a carbon 
fibre rear wing and quad exhausts poking out of a new diffuser give the XKR-S incredible aggression.

Adding to this are LED daytime 
running lights, new tail-lamps, a host of R-S badges and 20-inch Vulcan alloys. All this isn’t simply to turn heads on the high street, though; the spoilers and skirts help reduce lift by 26 per cent. 

That’s important when you consider the mighty 5.0-litre supercharged V8. A standard 
XKR boasts 503bhp, the limited-edition XKR-75 had 523bhp, but this version gets 542bhp thanks to improved fuelling, a revised ECU and a new exhaust system. 

On paper, it means 0-60mph 
in 4.2 seconds (four-tenths faster than a standard XKR), 0-100mph in 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 186mph. That’s enough to 
out-accelerate a £109,995 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale, a £135,760 Bentley Continental GT and a £179,022 Aston Martin DBS. And it’s nearly enough punch to knock out even more expensive supercars from Ferrari and Lamborghini. 

What’s it like on the road? Slide into the luxurious sports seats – which feature neat embossed R-S badges in the 
integrated headrests and extra side bolsters – and you’ll be met by a classy cabin that’s subtle 
yet beautifully made. Thumb the starter button, and the V8 roars into life, but as you pull away 
it settles to a hush and the 
six-speed automatic gearbox shuffles the ratios smoothly.  

Even though the suspension has been lowered by 10mm, and the springs are stiffer all-round, the ride barely feels any firmer than the standard XKR’s. Indeed, with refined motorway manners, the XKR-S is still every inch a grand tourer. Floor the throttle, though, and all hell breaks loose. With 680Nm of torque, the big V8 throws the 1,753kg coupé at the horizon, and as the rev counter sweeps past 4,000rpm, the soundtrack has a harder edge than any XKR before it. You can hear some supercharger whine, but it’s drowned out by a race track-style V8 roar, accompanied by some wonderful pops and bangs when you lift off.

Slick changes from the six-speed box ensure the XKR-S just piles on speed. Third and fourth gears prove the real party trick ratios, boasting such flexibility and seemingly endless, Airbus A380-style acceleration. 

But the newcomer isn’t only rapid in a straight line. “This is a car that will transport you to the Nürburgring and then complete 
a sub-eight-minute lap,” said the man who’s done just that, chief chassis engineer Mike Cross. 

Changes to the suspension include new aluminium steering knuckles to increase precision, revised rear geometry and an updated Active Differential and Adaptive Damping system. 

The result is increased steering urgency, sensational damping at high speeds and brilliant body control. The chassis balance is beautiful and adjustable – with so much power, it’s easy to arouse the traction control, but set the XKR-S to Track mode and you can slide the rear within a reasonable safety net. It’s hilariously good fun, and full of character. 

The car doesn’t feel quite as keyed into a bend as a Porsche 911 GT3, but few rivals are as fast and capable. A Mercedes SL63 AMG, for example, just isn’t as involving. And there’s always the knowledge that if it was let fully off the leash, the XKR-S would be a proper 200mph car.

For an alternative review of the latest Jaguar XKR visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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17 Comments

not too keen on the front looks there is too much going on. the XK's beauty was a minimalist look, which worked really well and admire it in standstill traffic. rather than this they should have made a track day car, which had wider wheel arches, a better looking front and if your going to put a spoiler at the back then lets do it properly with a track day car with less luxury inside to reduce weight. they're too focused on making a driver's luxury car that they can take home and race on track days. the engine can clearly squeeze out 600bhp from that new e-type so they can do better. this time in racing green!

By corsamani on 2 June, 2011, 7:04am

I like it

Shame the bodywork hasn't had a more radical makeover, it looks a bit like a plastic add on kit - but hey, mustn't grumble.

...That is, unless, by the time it gets in the show room, they've put a completely different engine in it, like the XJ220 and now the C-X75. Fail.

By craiglife on 2 June, 2011, 11:29am

@ craiglife

The bodywork is all for aero so whether it be just added to exisisting bodywork. It has a purpose and that is to keep this car stable at higher speeds. Id prefer it to be stable than to be subtle.

Also the C-X75 was a concept and therefore they have not failed in bringing a highly boosted small capacity engine.

Do many concept cars come with the engine there shown off with at motorshows? No

By kendo on 2 June, 2011, 1:37pm

Very Nice

I like it a lot. It would make you think hard about buying a Ferrari.

By badboyrocco on 2 June, 2011, 2:39pm

The Big Cat Pounces...

BM Who? That is absolutely bloody gorgeous, but why only four stars AE if you like it so much?

By sgtgrash on 2 June, 2011, 7:09pm

A typically British car.
Elitist & over priced.
Unusually for Jaguar,its ugly.
Can anyone tell me why Jaguar is now making money after Years of being a loss maker?
The cars look just the same.

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By sowangzhe1 on 3 June, 2011, 2:43am

seaeye

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING!?!. I HAVE A FOUR DOOR THAT SEATS FOUR - THIS CAN ONLY SEAT TWO - IT IS AS UGLY AND IT'S NOT NEARLY AS QUICK AS A PANAMERA TURBO WHICH IS A BETTER BUILD AND HAS A FAR SUPERIOR INTERIOR WHICH MAKES UP FOR IT'S POSTERIOR!!!.

By Callie15 on 3 June, 2011, 8:10am

Video din

Pity about the front end, it looks like something from Korea, I'm sure that the car will do what it is designed to do, but the video and horrible loud music does nothing to promote the car at all, probably added by an arty farty limp wristed director that knows nothing about cars.
Have they not learned yet that motor enthusiasts want to hear the engine wailing away, not a crap pop band? And why does Auto Express promote this kind of nonsense and let them get away with it?

By Bobbybev on 3 June, 2011, 2:25pm

..JAG..

Will have to ask my boss for a pay rise! But compared to the German built equivalent's it's not expensive...One hell of a lot of car for your money and a bloody stunning JAG with unique street cred
Those who don't like it are either German or blind.. Jaguar thanks to the input by ford has a new life ... I love it Jag is taking on the mighty German car industry with it's own Aggressive engineering and holding it's own..
From a lame Jaguar to mean, clean beautifully clean fighting machine...in one mighty jaguar leap..

GO FOR IT JAG! your doing us proud ..

By liverpool on 5 June, 2011, 1:39pm

Impressive but..

Major ugly!

By drive on 6 June, 2011, 2:36pm

What an ugly car!

This looks like something knocked up in a shed - more akin to a boy racer's Nissan than a Jaguar. A great pity as I am a big Jaguar fan and owner.

By penncv3 on 8 June, 2011, 1:48pm

Absloutely stunning

This a absolutely gorgeous. I live near the MIRA test facility and I keep seeing them driving to it for testing. God they are beautiful in the flesh. As for the "plastic bits", they are all carbon fibre and needed to high speed stability and weight reduction - maybe you should hae a look a recent Lambo's and Pagani's.

Hate to tell you this Callie15, but the XK RS is actually faster than the Panamera Turbo. And it costs £10k less. Your right about the rear seats though. Wrong about the looks - the Panamera is pig ugly in my opinion.

The CX75 will beactually made with the turbine engines... not sure why people are suggesting it won't be??

Lots of silly haters on here with their facts badly wrong. Sad individuals.

By Steve100 on 8 June, 2011, 11:46pm

A job well done

Spectacular car - a rolling superlative. That said, and it is a criticism of a lot of sporty cars these days, is why do they have to fit dark grey/black painted alloys? What's wrong with good old silver? I used to spend a fortune to buy brake dust remover for my alloys, and now people think dirty looking wheels are fashionable?

By BigMartyn on 14 June, 2011, 12:16pm

A job well done

Spectacular car - a rolling superlative. That said, and it is a criticism of a lot of sporty cars these days, is why do they have to fit dark grey/black painted alloys? What's wrong with good old silver? I used to spend a fortune to buy brake dust remover for my alloys, and now people think dirty looking wheels are fashionable?

By BigMartyn on 14 June, 2011, 12:17pm

Awesome car! Misguided views from some people though....

I love this car! Fighter-jet looks and performance to go with it!

Since when has any car been uglier than a Panamera???

People are entitled to their opinion, but how can you say this is an ugly car? This is designed to be a hot version of an already hot XKR, so it stands out! As with everything in car design, everything you see is surely there for a reason. All the additions are aerodynamic and I bet you could easily get 200mph out of this car! Try doing that in a boy racer Nissan you built in a shed...

As for being elitest and overpriced, pleeeease. We don't live in the victorian era any more, This is British engineering and manufacturing at it's cutting edge, securing thousands of jobs throughout the country. Car companies develop cars for specific target markets and this is no exception I'm sure. As for being overpriced, how can you say that when an Aston Martin costs twice what the Jaguar does?
This company makes money because it actually dares to make something different to all the blandness coming out of Europe and Asia! We should be proud of what the UK can produce :-)

By peteyman1 on 14 June, 2011, 12:29pm

What a car

Great car, it's certainly a winner in my eyes

By dan123 on 22 June, 2011, 4:34pm

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Jaguar XKR-S front track
Jaguar XKR-S pan
Jaguar XKR-S rear track
Jaguar XKR-S mike cross cabin
Jaguar XKR-S mike cross
Jaguar XKR-S brakes
Jaguar XKR-S sills
Jaguar XKR-S racing seats
Jaguar XKR-S interior

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FIRST OPINION

    Jaguar has produced a coupé with the pace of an Aston V12 Vantage and the agility of a hot hatch, while retaining the luxurious refinement of the standard XKR. It’s an incredible achievement. It could be more hardcore, but by adding a dose more driver appeal to the XKR package, the firm has created its best performance model for years. It’s not cheap, but few rivals at this price can touch it.
 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £97,000
    Engine: 5.0-litre V8, 542bhp
    Transmission: Six-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
    0-60mph: 4.2 seconds
    Top speed: 186mph
    Economy: 23mpg
    CO2: 292g/km
    Equipment: Performance leather sports seats, climate control, sat-nav, Bowers & Wilkins stereo, Bluetooth, 20-inch Vulcan alloys
    On sale: Now
     
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