German tuning house Arden, a specialist in massaging British cars for over 30 years, has just taken the collar off its latest effort: the AJ 20 Coupe, a modified Jaguar XJ. As if the svelte panther wasn't adored enough in autodom, Arden is now offering a long list of enhancements to the engine, suspension, exhaust, body and interior to turn the XJ's stealthy purr into a screaming growl.
We'll start by popping the hood (or the bonnet, as our friends in the isles would say), where Arden has squeezed ninety-six extra horsepower out of the XK's 4.2-liter 298-hp V8 by boring it out to 4.5 liters and fitting new connecting rods and pistons, bringing peak output up to 392 horsepower. Buyers can also opt for a who-needs-an-XKR supercharger from Krefeld to bring the power up again to 480. Either way, Arden also upgrades the lubrication and cooling systems to cope with the extra catnip and tinkers with the engine management system. The naturally-aspirated 4.5-liter Arden drops nearly a second off the sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) at 5.3 seconds; the supercharger takes off another half second, with top speeds of 285 and 295 km/h respectively. That places the modded XK squarely in Porsche territory, where its big-brother Aston V8 Vantage had once dreamt to play.
At the four corners, Arden fits new springs to drop the suspension by 30 mm. They're also working on a full sports suspension with custom shocks. The AJ 20 comes fitted with 21-inch "Sportline" competition-style rims. Around back, Arden has installed a new silencer system with either two tips or four, and offers a full exhaust refit with new catalytic converters.
The body also gets its share of tweaks to make clear the car's more aggressive intentions. A new front airdam and spoiler, side sills down the rocker panels and a rear apron are all fitted with bigger air intakes. Arden also incorporated contrasting air vents on the hood (like the XKR) and on the front fenders (like the XJ Portfolio). There's also a pronounced rear lip spoiler on the tail to keep the cat's rear end planted.
Inside, Arden's interior department offers a host of options including reupholstering the seats in leather or Alcantara and a choice of custom wood-veneer or carbon-fiber dashboard trim, depending on the customer's tastes.
All in all, Arden's modifications to the Jaguar XK sharpen this cat's claws in a way that scratches us just right. (If only they could have done something about that unfortunate Ford Taurus nose.)
Follow the jump for a couple more pics.
[Source: Arden]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ggj @ Dec 13th 2006 4:06PM
some one help me, a v8 that only puts out 298 hp. wow thats crazy or am i crazy.
Blooooooooooooood @ Dec 13th 2006 4:10PM
Ahhhhh the infomous Taurus grill.
AK @ Dec 13th 2006 4:10PM
Hey look! the new Aston martin!
GDUB @ Dec 13th 2006 4:32PM
Well I suppose the new sculpted body and power under the hood makes the car somewhat reasonable.
But this car still does not have the soul of jaguars of old
Nico @ Dec 13th 2006 4:39PM
Where do you guys at AB come up with such witty titles?
#2 - I second that. When wil they change that grill up in favor of something more refined, sporty, or anything?!
Greg @ Dec 13th 2006 4:48PM
So disappointing. This 'Jaguar' is an Aston with an oval grill. The Aston Martins look fabulous, but so did the Jaguars without having to look alike. A designer who can't manage to make two different luxury brands have their own identity isn't really all that good, is he?
That One Person @ Dec 13th 2006 5:08PM
#1...how about GM's 4.6L Northstar that only puts out 275 hp. Or Ford's that puts out 239 hp (in the CV).
I wonder if Jag will take note and bore their engine out...392 hp isnt too bad from 4.5 liters.
#2...that joke was old about ten years ago. And it is widely known that the designer of the Taurus (who is the brother of Jag designer Ian Callum) took cues from the E-Type and incorporated them into the Taurus. And the same goes for this car. Gotta love how the media pushes the "fact" that this design was stolen from the Taurus.
I like it. Yeah, it has a little Aston in it but it isnt really surprising. Ian Callum, himself, even said it would have Aston design cues.
chuck goolsbee @ Dec 13th 2006 5:21PM
The Aston grille is the Aston grille because it is what David Brown slapped on the first DB cars back in the '50s. The iconic Jaguar oval grille is the iconic Jaguar oval grille because that is what Malcolm Sayer slapped on the Jaguar D-type back in the '50s.
Not to mention the E-type, the XJ-13, etc etc etc.
Because you boys were not yet born back then, and perhaps even your fathers were not born doesn't make that history go away. Don't parade your ignorance about automotive design folks, look into the history of the marques in question before you dismiss the design elements that are iconic, and touch upon the souls of the people who are old enough, and therefore have the capital to acquire such expensive hardware.
Mind you, I don't fall in that latter category, but at least I know my history.
I see that oval grille and think "Jaguar"... if you see it and think "Taurus" it just means your automotive memory bank is only as deep as 1996.
--chuck
Yaroukh @ Dec 13th 2006 5:26PM
The nose was stolen by Ford Taurus. Period.
MikeW @ Dec 13th 2006 5:27PM
The AJ V8 started out at 86x86, and there was a 3.2&3.5 versions also and the variable valve timing started out as a discrete system.
It is 300hp US, and 294hp EEC, now with continuously variable intake valve timing
and a longer stroke ~90.3mm
The Aston Martin version has a bored out version 89x86.
So take the 89mm bore x 90.3mm stroke, 4.499 liters.
The Land Rover uses an 88mm bore and the long stroke
and Jaguar doesn't have variable length intake runners, hence lackluster power and torque.
smokeydog @ Dec 13th 2006 6:20PM
chuck is spot on. gutter guard had not yet been invented so it was wide open to the radiator.
Merkidemis @ Dec 13th 2006 8:02PM
No doubt. The designer must be out of ideas already.
Andy @ Dec 14th 2006 1:05AM
I was inside an XK. I liked the cabin very much, and the padel shifters were great. This is a coupe that's about driver luxury more than outright speed.
But...
I still don't like the front-end--and I'm an E-Type lover!
richard briggs @ Dec 14th 2006 6:25AM
That "nose" on the jag that many complain about seems to me taken from the xke of the 60's. RB
Romann @ Dec 19th 2006 1:55PM
Everyone might be forgeting that horsepower is almost a useless number in real life. Torque (and at what rpm) and vehicle weight are the real important thing when talking about performance. with 310 lb-ft all of which occur at 4100 rpm and 80% of which is there around 3000 rpm in a vehicle that only weighs 3600 lbs. It is a very impressive ride. If that still isnt enough for you go for the XKR you get over 100 lb-ft more torque at less rpm's. Oh yea, plus the car costs 100,000 less than the Aston.