Jaguar XFR

15th July 2008

If you blinked, you might have missed it! Among the classic cars and supercars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed was this discrete but rather mean looking black Jaguar XF. But this is no ordinary XF – it's the all-new hot R version, boasting a 500bhp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine to rival BMW's M5.

As it did with the XKR Coupe back in 2006, the Coventry firm took the crowd-pleasing step of running a prototype version up the famous Goodwood hill, with expert test driver and chief engineer Mike Cross at the wheel – and our spies caught the machine as it was being readied for its fly past.

As you can see, it's subtly different to the standard model with wider wheelarches housing 19-inch wheels, lower side skirts, a lowered suspension set-up and a modified front end, which behind the light disguise, features a larger bonnet bulge and deeper air intakes to cool the engine.

And what an engine. Pumping out 500bhp, the new 5.0-litre supercharged V8 should rocket the XFR from 0-60mph in under four seconds and onto a limited top speed of 155mph. A sophisticated traction control system will keep all this power in check, although test driver Mike Cross had it switched off on the track, allowing for some lurid tail slides.

Jaguar has no plans to reveal the XFR at the British Motor Show, so buyers can expect to see the finished article at the Paris Motor Show in October.

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