As if an XKR wasn’t mean enough, Jaguar’s latest addition exposes an anger I have not yet seen before seen in an English automobile. The XKR-S has no clue what “discreet” means, and frankly, we can all be glad about that.
At this year’s AJAC TestFest, the XKR-S was undoubtedly the most spectacular piece of machinery on the lot, and it’s not because there weren't any other high-powered beasts on the premises (such as the BMW 1 Series M Coupé and 650i Cabriolet, the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG, the Porsche Cayman R as well as a trio of Chrysler SRT8 models).
Spine-tingling engine sounds
The XKR’s supercharged 5.0L V8 gets a power increase for S duty, producing a grand total of 550 metric horsepower as well as 501 lb-ft of torque from 2,500-5,500 rpm. Paired with a 6-speed automatic (with paddle shifters), the XKR-S blasts to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and, according to Jaguar, can reach a top speed of 300 km/h. Blimey.
Beyond whipping the arse of every other 2012 TestFest contender in a straight line, the story here is that the blown V8 is damn noisy – the kind of climax-inducing wail that's so addictive you’ll call your real estate agent during the test drive and remortgage the house. Or the villa. Or the ranch. Whatever; you’ll want fast money.
On the closed course set up at the Niagara District Airport runway, my talent behind the wheel reached its limits way before the car did. However, on a second run around the track the surface was wet, and the XKR-S become pretty twitchy: no revelation here, as the fat 295/30ZR20 rear tires can only do so much when it comes to handling so much firepower.
Around town, the engine does hush down quite a bit allowing you to cross paths with the men and women in blue without causing any fuss. Then again, flying under the radar is pretty challenging when your XKR-S is dipped in French Racing Blue paint.
Gorgeous inside and out
It also gets more aggressive styling, featuring a carbon-fibre front splitter, horizontal vent slots on the hood’s edges, extended side sills, a carbon-fibre rear bumper diffuser, and a rear wing with carbon-fibre trim.
Inside, the visual appeal carries on with 16-way adjustable sport seats that host a patchwork of carbon-textured leather. Blue piping and contrast stitching are found on just about every surface, complementing the car’s already sporty cabin atmosphere. Our tester was also trimmed with Piano Black Veneer, which blends in very well.
The rest of the car’s features pretty much carryover from the XKR including the JaguarDrive Control with winter and dynamic drive modes. Alas, the car’s touchscreen multimedia setup is still slow-witted and unintuitive to use while driving.
The price
While the XKR Coupe checks in at just under $110k, the XKR-S is listed at $139,000. That’s a little more expensive than a 550 hp Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG ($120k) and a 638 hp Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 ($131k), but more affordable than a 430 hp Aston Martin V8 Vantage S ($159k) and a 525 hp Audi R8 5.2 ($173k). Then again, if you’re shopping for a luxury car with a six-figure MSRP, I guess we’re talking about pocket change here.
The XKR-S has easily become, in my hamster-running-in-a-wheel mind, one of the top three most desirable Jaguars to date alongside the XK-E and the XJ220. Actually, on engine sound alone, I know which kitty cat I’d take home in a heartbeat.
