2012 Jaguar XKR-S

 

                2012 Jaguar XKR-S

 

Your jaws will drop and hit the ground if you are ever lucky enough to see a Jaguar XKR-S on our roads. The car is a traffic stopper and an absolute British brute to look at. Jaguar didn’t want to stop just at the looks and wanted its premier sports car to be fabulous to drive and at the same time be a little more comfort-orientated than a Porsche 911. In short, Jag wanted the XKR-S to be one of the most exciting cars to drive that Jaguar has ever made. After all, it is Jaguar’s most powerful roadster. Technically this is a 2+2, but this weapon of joy forJaguar enthusiasts has the magical pairing of ‘X’ and ‘K’ which has for long equaled excitement and has been on people’s most-wanted lists for decades. Based on the XK which came at a time when Jaguar was battling to escape the axe and falling sales, the XKR-S succeeded in restoring the manufacturer after the Ford’s debacle. The XKR-S is now on sale in India and is priced at Rs10,500,000 ex-showroom New Delhi.

Design

The XKR-S is a tuned version of the XK coupe and retains much of the basic design dominated by an evocative shape. The lines on the XKR-S are inspired by the flowing lines of the E-Type and the XKR-S is a sterling effort as both a coupe and convertible. Its good looks guarantees attention and envy and the headlamps and tail-lamps are both handsome. The front fenders stretch out and you immediately notice the oval grille. At the rear too the fenders extend character and also divert air to the front brakes. The front air dam and rear splitter are made from carbon fibre and even the fixed spoiler at the rear is made of carbon fibre. The side profile makes it look like a two-box like silhouette and from most angles it looks just gorgeous. This design uses classical coupé proportions with strong Jaguar styling. Through the forged 20 inch Vulcan design alloy wheels you can see the Jaguar High Performance Brake callipers finished in red or discreet gunmetal colour.

Interiors

Exclusive to the XKR-S is the carbon-leather trimmed version of Jaguar’s Performance seats which have integrated head rests. You get racing harness and pronounced side and squab support to hold the driver and passenger during high speed cornering. The 16-way adjustable heated seats use micropiping unique to the model. The multifunction three-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel has a Jaguar logo embossed and you also get bright stainless steel pedals. The steering also comes with R-S badging and there are contrasting stitches and piping on the seats. Press the chequered flag switch on the centre console and the speedo dial turns a dull red which only adds to the cabin feeling more luxurious and sporty.
The interiors mesmerizes you with chrome and rich leather and the cabin is brilliantly built and is pleasing to the eye. There is space enough for four grown up adults which is not the case with most of the XKR-S’s competitors. Passengers get decent head and legroom all around and the cabin feels more spacious but remains cocooning. The boot space however is no more than a hatchback.

Engine and performance

The explosive performance in the XKR-S comes from the 5-litre supercharged AJ-V8 engine which produces 550PS and 680Nm of torque. Compared to the standard XKR, these figures are an increase of 8 percent and torque too has increased by 9 percent. 100kmph is reached in 4.4seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 300kmph. The acceleration is intense and the g’s shove you into the seat. The engine is matched to a six-speed automatic gearbox with Active Differential. The AJ-V8 petrol engine incorporates spray-guided direct injection and variable valve timing. The Roots-type twin-vortex supercharger are placed in the ’V’ of the engine and the power hike also comes from a tuned exhaust system that increases exhaust gas flow. The ZF automatic gearbox has paddles behind the wheel and on the road the engine feels unstressed, refined and extremely potent.

Ride

The XKR-S’s chassis is made of aluminium and so is the engine which keeps the kerb weight to just 1753kgs. Compared to the XKR, ride height on the sports model has been reduced by 10mm and the balanced aerodynamics keep the car perfectly pinned to the road. Jaguar has upgraded the front and rear suspension for improved damping, stiffness and body control. The stiffened front double wishbones improve stability and control and luckily the suspension stiffness isn’t so hard that it makes you feel every pebble on the road. There is a bit of roll which might be a bit unsettling at high speeds. Low speed ride quality however is better than on the German sportcars and the steering is nicely weighed and precise. You can completely switch off the traction control on the XKR-S which makes it rather tail happy.

Competition

The Maserati Quattroporte GT S is neither a coupe nor a convertible like the XKR-S, but does compete with the Jaguar in terms of pricing. The styling lends it loads of character and the saloon has everything going for it, form performance to handling. Space is sufficient for four passengers and because the suspension is set on the stiff side, the Quattroporte doesn’t have the plushest of ride quality.

Verdict

The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible delivers explosive performance and an engaging connection between the car and the owner. The cabin emits a sense of luxury and the beast delivers a wholesome experience. Handling is poised and the damping is slightly on the soft side which makes the ride quality more comfortable than the German sportcars. The styling is attractive and the build quality, along with the snob value that owning a Jaguar brings makes the XKR-S a very attractive proposition. The pricing is steep but this Jag has an identity different to the German and Italian sports cars.
Quotes from other reviews:
Autocar UK: ‘The XK’s strength lies in the breadth of its repertoire: it both cossets and thrills, depending on mood and situation. This usability is enough to overshadow our disappointment at the XK’s kerbweight and the effect that has on its performance. But all things considered, the XK is easily the best GT all-rounder on sale.”