2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT
You
might be wondering what’s going on here, why Jaguar hasn’t pensioned the XK off
(it’s now seven years old) and focused its racier efforts on the F-Type, instead
of seeing just how many more initials they can add before the XK runs out of
rump space. Fair
point. Especially seeing
as the XK dines out at the GT end of the automotive food chain, where servings
arrive with double helpings of lux and cruise.
So
let’s deal with the reasoning first, before we head on to see what’s been
done and what the end result is like. It’s about brand building. Jaguar won’t
sell more than 50 of these XKR-S GTs globally (30 in the USA, 10 for the UK, a
handful more in Canada), which means that even if they all sold at the asking
price, we’re talking a maximum income of R130m. Small change to a car company,
and one is pretty certain that amount won’t have covered the investment put in.
Jaguar XKR-S GT - Rear
Angle, 2014
But
a bit of engineering practice never goes amiss as a means of keeping the boys
in the work-shops entertained, and the whole Jag-builds-a-GT3 story is a potent
one, pointing to a future where Jaguar might have a tinker with an F-Type
Coupe, for instance. So let’s view this as a starting point to a life beyond R
for that car.
Now,
here it’s worth pointing out that the new F-Type sits on a shortened (and
significantly modified) version of the XK’s platform, which has
allowed Jag to re-engineer some bits from the new car back onto the old car.
And then alter them some more. You could almost see the GT as a test bed.
Because if you were thinking this was no more than a visual reworking, you
would be sorely mistaken. The whole rear axle is new. At the front, only the suspension’s
upper arm has been carried over. The steering rack is faster, there’s more
camber on the wheels, plus a set of carbon-ceramic brakes make their debut
here. They’re enormous – 398mm in diameter at the front, 380mm at the rear –
and despite their size, reduce the all-important unsprung weight by 21kg.
Recycling centre Hmm, bit plainer this way. Dash layout
is largely standard (and old), plus an Alcantara wheel
That’s
a huge difference. Removal of the rear seats, some sound-deadening and sticking
in a pair of lightweight front buckets contributes to a total weight loss of
around 40kg. Jaguar claims a weight of 1713kg, but is a bit cagey as to whether
that includes the roll cage or not – probably not, given the US car won’t be fitted with it.
But
what’s 40kg here or there when you have 404kW to do the pushing? And yes, that
figure probably does sound familiar. The supercharged V8 engine and
six-speed automatic gearbox have been carried over from the standard XKR-S. As
have the keyless entry system and heated steering wheel. No, the GT is not a
car that has shed the options extravagance completely – you’ll find no
Porsche-style fabric door handles here.
