Autoblog

One of the hottest Jags to roll out of Coventry isn't coming to our shores. The highly-tuned 420-hp Jaguar XKR-S sports coupe features stiffer springs, firmer dampers, thicker anti-roll bars, quickened steering, and lighter forged 20-inch alloy wheels wrapped in performance rubber. Aerodynamic changes, including a new rear spoiler, reduce lift up front by 60 percent, and 17 percent at the rear, while overall drag drops by three percent. The supercharged V8 is unchanged. Limited to a run of just 200 cars, Jaguar North America doesn't feel it can run head-to-head with the likes of tuned Porsches and other sports cars in the States so the automaker is limiting sales to just Germany and Britain. What? You don't think we can handle it?

[Source: Autoweek]

The 2009 Jaguar XK-R has been spotted and shot doing the rounds in Europe. With so many other pots on the boil, like the XF-R and the new XJ, the XK-R is going the subtle route when it comes to changes. Up front, new intakes will be fitted under the headlights, while out back LED tail lights will be fitted in place of the standard units. One change we are most excited to hear about is the swap from a telescoping aerial to a shark fin on the deck lid. On the convertible, the raised aerial caused all kinds of wind noise, which, frankly, was unacceptable on a $100K car. Inside you'll find, ta-da, Jaguar Drive. The final version of Jaguar's hottest kitten will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show.

[Source: World Car Fans]

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]

It appears that the XKR caught with Jaguar's new JaguarDrive gear selector was also accompanied by a group of test mules for the upcoming XF sedan. The convoy was encountered in Austria where Jaguar has rented a house and garage behind a gas station to work on the cars in private, or so they thought. While we've seen XF mules before, it's always fun to check in and see how the production car's development is progressing. One of the mules, in fact, is an S-Type with widened wheel flares, which could be a test car for the high-performance version of the XF. We reported a while back that Jaguar is planning on releasing two supercharged versions of the XF, one of which would use the current S-Type R's 4.2L V8 producing around 420 horsepower, and the other using a supercharged 5.0L V8 producing in excess of 500 hp. The XKR Coupe with which these XF mules were spotted, the one with JaguarDrive gear selector, is likely housing the supercharged 5.0L V8 that will also be used in the ultra high-performance XF sedan. Needless to say, the current horsepower wars have invaded the luxury sedan segment with both Jaguar and Cadillac readying their own 500+ horsepower four-doors.

[Source: Motor Authority, pic from Riicharrd and Crispijn]

click above image for more pics of the Jaguar XKR with JaguarDrive

The spies at KGP Photography have been trying to capture Jaguar's new JaguarDrive transmission selector interface all week, and until today the best view they got was almost completely covered by an engineer's hand. Finally, however, the engineers in charge of keeping the XKR test mule under wraps slipped up. These shots show the production version of the JaguarDrive transmission selector that was first shown on the C-XF Concept and was though to be destined for just the productoin XF sedan. These spy shots seem to indicate that Jaguar is planning to introduce the new interface on other models, including the XKR.

Exactly how the shifter works isn't clear, but the flat face contains a round dial that we think will somehow raise into the palm of the driver's hand when the car is started. In fact, the dial may not so much rise up as the rings around it retreat so that surface remains flat. A turn of the dial, it would seem, selects the PRND of your choice. There are four buttons below the dial that presumably allow one to change the suspension and shift settings of the car. The two lowest buttons are difficult to make out, but of the two upper buttons, one is clearly marked DSC and the other displays a checkered flag that likely denotes a setting for track use.

Follow the jump for more...

[Photos: KGP Photography]

We must admit that we were a bit surprised that MotorWeek's award for "Best Car of the Year" went to the Honda Fit. But, we suppose that it, uh, fits. We know, that was way too easy - feel free to mock us in the comments, we can take it. Here is the complete list of winners:

• Best of the Year: Honda Fit
• Best Small Car: wait for it... Honda Fit
• Best Family Sedan: Saturn Aura
• Best Minivan: Hyundai Entourage/Kia Sedona
• Best Convertible: Volkswagen Eos
• Best Luxury Sedan: Lexus LS
• Best Sports Sedan: Infiniti G35
• Best Performance Car: Ford Shelby GT500
• Best Small Utility: Honda CR-V
• Best Large Utility: Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
• Best Crossover Utility: GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook
• Best Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra
• Best Eco-Friendly: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Best Dream Machine: Jaguar XKR, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Porsche 911 Turbo

We can't say that we agree with many of these choices, but we didn't choose them, MotorWeek's editors did. We just typed them for your benefit, 'cause we're cool like that.

At the 1977 Geneva Auto Show, Porsche introduced the world to the 928, a – gasp – front-engine GT car that would compete with some of the great touring cars of its day. The portly Porsche achieved limited popularity over its 17-year run, but served as a sign of things to come when the Cayenne was introduced seven years later. Porschophiles the world over decried this latest offering as another bastard product that would water down the heritage of the automaker. No matter how much profit may have been generated by the Cayenne, or the Boxster for that matter, respect from Porsche's die-hard fanatics waned.

Fast-forward to 2006 and the controversy of Porsche's ever-expanding line-up comes to the fore again, this time in the form of the four-door Panamera. The new FR platform will allow Porsche to compete with other German manufacturers in the burgeoning $100k+ sedan market and also allows the automaker to resurrect the 928 moniker by shortening the wheelbase and lopping off its rear doors. Porsche wants a dog in the most prestigious of fights and in the realm of the high-price GT, stiff competition from BMW's M6, Merc's CL (now with AMG muscle), Aston Martin's DB9 and Jag's XKR proves that the market exists.

Car and Driver has put together what limited information is available about Porsche's new GT to come up with the above rendering and some technical speculation. As mentioned previously, both the Panamera and the 928 will share a platform, with the GT expected to share approximately 60 percent of the sedan's parts. A shorter wheelbase, coupled with a stiffer, multi-link suspension setup and the loss of a few pounds should lend a great deal to the 928's sporting pretenses. Motivation will come from a NA V8, producing upwards of 350 HP, with the option of cannibalizing the Cayenne's twin-turbo V8, making well over 500 HP and placing M.B.'s and BMW's high-po offerings directly in its sights. Gear selection will be similar to what's offered in the Panamera, with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox channeling power.

Pricing is expected to begin just above the 911's $90k, then head due north towards the mid-$100,000 market. If all goes according to plan, Porsche will debut the 928 sometime in 2011, with sales beginning the following year.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Jaguar announced this morning that its new supercharged XKR high-performance coupe will make its world debut next month at the British International Motor Show in London. The automaker is keeping mum on the car's specifics for now, but expect additional information to trickle out as we get closer to its July 18 unveiling. That the big reveal is happening on the company's home turf only adds to the building anticipation and makes it an early favorite to be the star of the show.

What we do know is that the new XKR was designed at Jaguar's Whitley Product Development Centre in Coventry, and will be built at its Castle Bromwich facility in Birmingham. Like it's XK sibling, the XKR should be lighter and faster than the vehicle it's replacing.

As for how it looks, all we've got is a teaser for now, but as soon as we get our hands on more pictures, we'll share them with you. 

[Source: Jaguar]