Exclusive Rarity. Jaguar XKR-S GT

by Dhiyanesh Ravichandran · May 25, 2013

We live in an era where almost every luxury automakers do something rather very exclusive relating to motorsport and tries to bring out something unusual – worth collecting perhaps. Of course the trend is not new to this decade. This is how things have been ever since the evolution of automobiles – motorsport and pure race track engineering has always been the coliseum for car makers to prove their masculinity. Outcome is the exclusive performance division for each luxury marque coming out with rare cars in very limited numbers. For whooping prices certainly! Remember La Ferrari and the Lamborghini Veneno?? There are many more in fact.

The 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT has a similar story.

We saw this car featuring at this year’s motor show at New York to commemorate Jaguar’s R performance brand’s 25th anniversary. Being developed by the company’s ETO (Engineered to order) division, this is said to be the ultimate track-focused yet road legal iteration of the XK coupe. Only 30 cars to be made initially for the North American market. There are reports that the company may increase the number to 50.

The visual appeal is a dramatic, purposeful yet sensuous revisions to the original XK is evident. Extensive aerodynamic applications have been carried out including an extended front splitter, elevated rear wing, and dive-planes all work to maximise the XKR-S GT’s aerodynamic downforce. The carbon-fibre front splitter of race-car wrap-around type, twin dive-planes and wheelarch extensions look very aggressive and aid to airflow management. A comprehensive suspension tuning is reflective to massive aerodynamic science applied to the car. The dampers are now ride-height adjustable, while the damper tune is much more track-focused, providing increased levels of body control and grip.

Scintillating performance is taken care by Jaguar’s proven 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, blowing 550PS and
680Nm, driving through a 6-speed transmission and active electronic
differential. The car roars from 0-100 kmph in just 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 300 kmph. Efficiency is acclaimed tremendous, thanks to technologies incorporated such as spray-guided direct injection (SGDI) and dual independent variable cam timing (DIVCT).

The XKR-S GT is the first production Jaguar to feature carbon ceramic braking system.Combined with six-piston monoblock calipers at the front and four piston
units at the rear – the yellow calipers being branded with ‘Jaguar
Carbon Ceramic’ script – the XKR-S GT assures race-car levels of
fade-free stopping power and brake pedal feel. The car also features a fully active performance exhaust system with valves that open
under load, both enhancing gas-flow and the car’s aural character.

It is inappropriate to speak about fuel efficiency but 12.3 litres per 100 km is as expected. Co2 emission levels stand at 292 g/km. The base price is pegged at $174,895, some $42,000 dearer than the XKR-S. Booking are over I guess. It’s time of the upper class globally isn’t it??