Spy Shots: Jaguar XK-R with extra kick
Now that Jaguar and Aston Martin are no longer officially related, the leaping cat feels free to pounce on its former corporate sibling. The current Jaguar XK-R isn't enough to really challenge cars like the Aston Martin Vantage V8 or Porsche 911, so Jag is cooking up a hotter version -- an XK-R-R?
With ECU and engine modifications, the forced breather should be good for more than 500 HP and a 180+ MPH top speed. With that kind of heat -- an 80+ HP jump over the current XKR and 120+ more than the Vantage -- the car will get to 60 in 4.5 seconds. It is expected to take cues and more from Jag's GT3 race car, yet while it is thought to get racing-style bucket seats and carbon fiber trim, it will still be appointed like a Jag. Outside, a new front air dam is the only change that has been spied so far.
[Source: Autogespot via Motor Authority]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wolharig badeendje 3:53AM (9/23/2007)
omg
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importjap 1:24PM (9/21/2007)
500 horses, not bad for a Jag, not bad at all
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Juvenille 1:34PM (9/21/2007)
Sweet... but who would want to buy a Jag ?
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Alex 2:24PM (9/21/2007)
i would in a heartbeat.
Quattroporte 1:41PM (9/21/2007)
"the car will get to 60 in 4.5 seconds"
But, the current car does 0-60 in 4.5.
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/download/0701_jagxkr_ss.pdf
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British_ROver 2:04PM (9/21/2007)
You expect Autoblog to do fact checks? They are too busy editorializng for that.
Chris 1:50PM (9/21/2007)
It's about time. Now if they would only kick up the power on the XJR to these numbers then maybe jag will start moving more cars.
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Ligor 1:51PM (9/21/2007)
no matter
still looks like a Cavalier meet a late 90's taurus
for that money, i'll get the Porsche or Aston anyday
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Nick 2:44PM (9/21/2007)
I was just about to say - they need to come out with a special edition grille that removes the logo from the middle so all of the idiots out there who chime in stupid comments like "it looks like a taurus" will get over it and just say they don't like Jaguar (which i'd prefer to hear anyday).
I'm sorry you've never seen a classic E-type. It's only one of the most highly regarded designs of automotive history. Having a grille with a bar and logo in it surely makes it more worthy of comparison to a mid nineties economy car.
eliot mcd 2:01PM (9/21/2007)
to me, the xk looks like an aston martin, i really love it but the only reason i havent looked into getting one was because of the lack of power, if they can do this and not make it cost a lot more, then i would really consider it, and i would imagine the 0-60 time to be 4.3 or so with about .4-.5 knocked off the 1/4 mile
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Joel 3:20PM (9/21/2007)
Looks good, and could be what Jag needs to get viewed as a serious automaker again.
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Eric Biran 4:10PM (9/21/2007)
XK-R-R?
How about, XK-S.
That is, in fact, what they labeled the thing on the plates. Not exactly a covert operation they're running.
The car is sweet, but I'd like to see a squared off grill with deep metal surround more like the new XF on it, and some more purposeful, scowling cat's eye headlamps (something the tallented Ian Callum oddly seems to have trouble with).
The biggest disapointment with this car is really that the rear seat is 100%, totally, unequivocally useless (which speaks pretty well about the Jag, actually). You might be able to fit a baby in a car seat back there, but first you'd have to figure out how to actually get the car seat in there to begin with. The car is really a 2 seater GT coupe pretending to be something more stately. Put some fitted luggage back there, lose the seats and be done with it.
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adrian 6:03PM (9/21/2007)
Sounds good but cars like these won't save the company at it's current size. Jaguar needs to make good looking modern cars that appeal to the majority of drivers like hatchbacks, compact saloons/sedans and maybe SUV's like Audi, BMW and Meceedes, This along with a wider range of smaller engines and price points. Some people may baulk at the idea but that's where I belive the money is.
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British_Rover 7:32PM (9/21/2007)
No building a SUV or hatchback would be the final death throw of Jaguar. The X-Type Wagon was bad enough please god no SUVs or hatchbacks.
The XJ is probably the best car in its class with nearly the perfect mixture of driving, luxury, and reliability. People complain about the XJ styling which puts lots of customers off but you get them to drive one and they are sold. Most of the people complaining about Jag on this site have probably never even sat in a Jag let alone driven or owned one.
I think the only car Jag needs in the near future is a smaller, less expensive coupe/roadster positioned under the XK.
As to the XK back seats being useless well most cars in this class have useless back seats. The 911 and the 650i might have slightly larger back seats but no one uses those either. If you are complaining about the back seats in the XK then you are looking at the wrong car. You need to be looking at a larger coupe like the Merc CL.
ugg.tryptophan 7:39PM (9/21/2007)
Jaguar tried this earlier but didnt make it because it'd be better than the DB7, it was on Top Gear(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_-OXOC-UkY)
cant wait till this comes out, gives me motivation to stay in school.
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adrian 8:36PM (9/21/2007)
@British rover
BMW 3 series or Jag XJ/XK or X Type. Most people in the UK at least are buying the 3/1 Series, Audi A3/A4 or Merc C/A class Saloon/Hatch etc. As sad as that is, the fact's speak for themself's.
The XJ maybe a good car but is a big old fashioned looking car and like the XK it costs a lot of money to buy and run. Nostalgia has it's place in car design but not during these tough times at Jaguar, and they have been riding that wave for too long.
The X type did not succeed simply because it looked like a XJ shrunk in the wash and had Ford Mondeo underpinnings with a limited engine range and not beause it was small.There was nothing modern about it at all. For their first compact saloon it was a lazy piece of design.
I remember when BMW, Audi and Merceedes first launched their small cars and SUV's, Most people put down the ideas as well, But it's working for them now and I see more of them on the roads than Jaguars.
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Dino 10:43PM (9/21/2007)
Looks like someone took Jeremy Clarkson's advice.
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