The New XKR Jaguar

In coupe or roadster attire, the XKs are stunning. And more than just pretty faces, because lurking under the hood is Jaguar´s latest 4.2-liter, 32-valve, 4-cam aluminum AJ-V8, with cam phasing to stoke response at all speeds. In the XKR, an Eaton supercharger is added, ramping horsepower to 420 and propelling the Coupe from 0-60 in 4.9 seconds. The engine defines power, just as the silky 6-speed ZF sequential-shift transmission—it allows gear changes via steering wheel-mounted paddles—characterizes control.

Nimble and light, the XK accelerates, stops and handles effortlessly. Its aluminum alloy bodyshell is rivet-bonded, a monocoque design that increases stiffness, reduces weight, improves road performance and delivers class-leading highway fuel economy.1 And its enhanced Computer Active Technology Suspension (eCATS) reads road conditions and automatically adjusts damping for optimum balance of ride and control.

Safety in the XK may be less apparent than the car´s performance, but it is there, readily helping the driver. Performance-rated 4-wheel ventilated anti-lock disc brakes—with oversized discs in the XKR—are sized to match engine power. In demanding conditions, TracDSC electronically uses the anti-lock braking and traction control systems to improve directional stability when cornering. Individual tire pressure is continuously monitored. Adaptive Restraint Technology deploy front airbags according to occupant position, weight, and crash severity, while side airbags help protect front occupants in certain side collisions. And for the convertible, sensors deploy high-strength aluminum hoops in case of rollover, creating a shield zone to help protect passengers.2