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Jaguar Sticks An -S On The XKR
What does that mean? 550 horsepower, baby.
Any car maker looking for a great way to pump some vitality into an aging model need only follow Jaguar’s example, and cram the sucker full of horsepower.
In the case of the new XKR-S, which will be making its world premiere at, yup, the Geneva Motor Show, this means sticking a 550 horsepower, 502 lb-ft engine under the hood. What engine that may be will remain a guarded secret until the show, but since the XKR’s current supercharged 5.0 liter V8 already makes 503 ponies and 461 lb-ft, our money says the -S will use an uprated version of that motor. 0-60 happens in 4.2 seconds, according to Jaguar, with a top speed of 186 mph.
This isn’t the first time Jaguar’s done an XKR-S; hell, this isn’t even the first time this model of XKR has received the treatment—Jaguar unveiled an XKR-S back at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. That model, however, made a paltry 420 horsepower, and was limited to European customers. Besides, it didn’t look nearly as likely to hump more feminine-looking cars in the parking lot.
[via Jaguar]
Press Release:
JAGUAR TO LAUNCH XKR-S AND CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF E-TYPE IN GENEVA
MAHWAH, N.J., February 22, 2011 – Jaguar will launch the new Jaguar XKR-S at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1, 2011. With a higher output supercharged V8 engine, revised suspension, and a new aerodynamically-driven design, the Jaguar XKR-S expresses the company’s long held duality of purpose: GT luxury with incredible performance.
“The XKR-S is a bold and exciting new model for Jaguar,” said Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar’s new Global Brand Director. “We expect to attract both loyal and new Jaguar driving enthusiasts who still want the comfort, opulence and class only a Jaguar can offer, combined with inspirational performance.”
The Jaguar XKR-S produces 550 hp with 502 lb/ft of torque, offers a top speed of 186mph (300km/h), and can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds. Full details, images and video of the Jaguar XKR-S will be released at the Geneva Motor Show press day on March 1, 2011.
In addition to this debut, Jaguar will be marking the 50th anniversary of the E-Type with the first in a series of celebrations. Jaguar will be hosting an E-Type celebration at the Restaurant Hotel du Parc des Eaux-Vives in Geneva, where the original car was introduced by the marque’s founder Sir William Lyons half a century ago.
When launched in 1961, the appeal of E-Type transcended the automotive world. So highly regarded were its’ inherent rightness of proportion, stance, and purity of line, it was installed as an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It remains in their permanent collection to this day.
The influence of the E-Type is still apparent in Jaguar’s modern range – products that offer a peerless blend of performance, comfort, cutting-edge technology and award-winning design.
“It is impossible to overstate the impact the E-Type had,” said Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director. “Here was a car that encapsulated the spirit of the revolutionary era it came to symbolize. We’re looking forward to celebrating achievement and looking forward with our all-new sports cars in Geneva.”
I feel this is a truly needed upgrade with Cadillac running wild on them here in North America.