This agile Jaguar eagerly sinks its claws into the tarmac and bounds away.
Jaguar’s elegant XK coupe is an improbable starting point for a hardcore sports car, but this obviously hasn’t deterred the British marque. Its newest XK variant, the range-topping XKR-S, is by some margin the fastest series production car Jaguar has ever made, and is arguably its most extroverted product ever.
Using the already potent 510bhp XKR as a base, the engineers tweaked that car’s ECU and fitted a freer-flowing (and much louder) exhaust system to squeeze an extra 40bhp and 55Nm of torque from the 5-litre supercharged V8. It now delivers a storming 550bhp and 680Nm, vaulting it into a new performance league that easily trumps established stars such as the Aston Martin DBS.
Performance is predictably keen with this much urge on tap. The century sprint is achieved in just 4.4 seconds, and the car speed-limited to a nice round 300km/h.
Suitably sporty touches in the cockpit include a purposeful pair of buckets and “punchy” colours.
The chassis has been reworked, too, with lowered and stiffened springs, retuned Bilstein dampers, revised stability control and rear differential software and, interestingly, a thicker and stiffer front suspension upright designed to deliver greater steering accuracy and chassis control. The 20-inch forged alloy rims are custom-made and half an inch wider, while the tyres (Pirelli P Zeros specially designed for this model) are 10mm fatter.
But the most immediately obvious changes are aesthetic. The XKR-S benefits from the same facelift applied to the entire XK range, which involves slimmer, sharper-looking headlamps with LED running lights, a newly reshaped front bumper and grille area, a revised rear bumper with diffuser-style rear valance and a tidied-up boot lid chrome garnish.
The XKR-S looks even more wicked thanks to a customised, deeper front bumper laden with extra intakes (including a pair of “nostrils” just before the leading edge of the bonnet).
A couple of unusual vertical air guides (jutting out from the sides of the bumper just ahead of the front wheels) add further aggression and give the XKR-S a particularly square-jawed look.
The front also boasts a carbon fibre-trimmed, splitter-like lower lip. Pronounced side skirts along the car’s flanks and a big wing at the rear balance the effect. The fast cat also sits 10mm lower than the XKR.
Interior improvements include new instrument graphics, and nicer switchgear and materials. The XKR-S gets special treatment with a pair of gorgeous bucket seats (with adjustable side bolsters), leather roof lining and a choice of blue, red or white stitching for the steering wheel, fascia and seats, which sets off the black leather upholstery perfectly. It’s a truly exquisite cabin, and one that would do an Aston proud.
This new Jag is every bit as feral to drive as it looks. Prod the starter button and it thunders to life, the new free-flow exhaust announcing its presence amply.
It also revs more eagerly. With all that power and torque available, the performance feels so crushing that even Jaguar’s quoted 4.4-second century dash time seems rather conservative.
There is instant shove from almost no revs, thanks to the lag-free characteristics of the supercharged engine, and acceleration just gets increasingly brutal until you change up at the 6500pm redline. The engine sounds properly racecar-like, throbbing at low revs and howling at the top end.
The 6-speed paddle-shift autobox is lifted from the XKR unchanged save for a stronger torque damper to cope with the extra output, but in this car it feels completely different, changing up at high revs with a savage immediacy absent from the more subtle XKR.
Working wonders on the Jaguar’s handling are the suspension changes. The XKR is already an impressively rapid device, but where it would have leaned a bit in corners and displayed the effects of its 1.7-tonne weight, the XKR-S storms confidently around, its lower, stiffer setup stoutly keeping this cat on an even keel.
More importantly, the vehicle’s balance is transformed, its rear end seemingly more involved, banishing all hints of the XKR’s slightly nose-led feel. The steering is more immediate and precise (courtesy of that stiffer front suspension upright), there’s excellent feedback through the rim and the animal just feels infinitely angrier and nimbler than the XKR.
Engage “Dynamic” mode (this sharpens throttle response, frees up the exhaust further, firms up the dampers and tones down the traction and stability control systems to allow more rear-end slip) and things get seriously manic. The exhilarating V8 soundtrack edges up a couple of notches, and the riotous popping and crackling of the exhaust as you lift off or downchange is unbelievably addictive.
With 550bhp, 680Nm and a soundtrack worthy of a racetrack, this factory-modified supercharged 5-litre V8 is a monster.
Under full-bore acceleration, the cat’s hindquarters squat and squirm – a reminder of the immense thrust being channelled through those fat rear tyres. Push beyond the lofty cornering limits under power, and the rear edges wide, albeit in a controlled, entertaining manner.
Jaguar let us loose on the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve at the launch event in sunny Portugal. The XKR-S was simply tremendous over the dramatic, high-speed crests and sweeps of the 4.6km circuit, turning aggressively into bends and displaying impressive poise and tireless brakes.
Outright grip on the bespoke P Zeros was resolute, too. The car remained utterly controllable even with all its electronic stability aids switched off, its responses and reactions super-sharp, yet predictable and forgiving.
Amazingly, this setup – which serves so well on the track – also delivers a controlled, well-judged ride on the open road. It’s undoubtedly firm, but sharp edges are ably rounded off while the damping keeps a tight-enough rein to dial out excess body movement, yet still allows enough compliance and wheel travel to cope with rutted and uneven surfaces taken at speed.
Such conditions do influence the steering, however, so you’ll need a firm hand on the helm to keep the car on its desired course if there are mid-bend bumps, undulations or camber changes. It focuses the mind, but then again this is a car you have to consciously drive.
Not that you’re likely to be anything other than fully alert behind the wheel of the XKR-S, mind you. It is exhilarating to drive whatever the circumstances, and it excites the senses like no other fast cat in recent memory.
Jaguar XKR-S 5.0 (A)
ENGINE 5000cc, 32-valves, V8, supercharged
MAX POWER 550bhp at 6500rpm
MAX TORQUE 680Nm at 3500rpm
GEARBOX 6-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 4.4 seconds
TOP SPEED 300km/h (governed)
CONSUMPTION 8.1km/L (combined)
PRICE INCL. COE To be announced
Check out the Jaguar XKR-S’ successor, the Jaguar F-Type R-Dynamic Coupe
