Ultimate Jaguar XK

It’s the hottest question of the week – ‘R’ you ready for the meanest Jaguar XK ever? These are the latest spy shots of the flagship coupé.

Our spies caught the new XKR-R undergoing winter testing in Sweden. And although it looks like a regular XKR at first glance, closer inspection reveals that this prototype is much more fiery. Just check out the larger quad exhaust pipes, as well as the prominent ‘ducktail’ bootlid spoiler and mismatched wheels.

Under the bonnet lies Jaguar’s new 5.0-litre supercharged V8, which produces 500bhp – hence the enlarged exhausts. Delivering a huge step-up in performance over the XKR, the R-R model will sprint from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds and should hit a maximum speed in excess of 180mph.

That will all require better aerodynamics, and although the XK’s elegant body won’t be changed dramatically, the R-R version will get a subtle but muscular bodykit. This will include the rear spoiler shown here, which is designed to boost stability at high speed. The handling will also be improved, thanks to an increased track and rear wheels that are larger and wider than those of the current XKR – that’s why there are mismatched rims on this test mule.

Other changes will include stiffened suspension, retuned adaptive dampers and uprated brakes, along with a revised six-speed automatic gearbox.

The XKR-R has been made pos­sible by Ford’s sale of Aston Martin, which has left the way clear for a high-performance Jaguar to rival the V8 Vantage. The newcomer is likely to reach showrooms in 2008, carrying a price tag of around £75,000.

But that’s not the only Jaguar scoop we can reveal this week. Our snappers have also bagged another top-secret Big Cat – the forthcoming XJ limo (left). Following on from our illustrations seen in Issue 987, this is the first picture of a prototype of the new range-topper, which is scheduled to go on sale here in 2010.