One-of-50 Jaguar XKR-S for sale
Remember when Jaguar was dead serious about making desirable sports cars?
When cars sell in minuscule numbers, is usually because of two reasons. The ones we care about are those that had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at them by the manufacturer and produced in small quantities in the name of exclusivity. Then there are the cars that are only hard to find because they didn’t sell particularly well due to lack of demand, the company going bust or, more typically, they were rubbish.
Of course, there are exceptions. McLaren had to drop F1 production by a third due to a lack of interest - mostly thanks to the sharp recession endured in the early 1990s. The Lexus LFA, which also came hot off the heels of a financial crisis, was hardly a runaway hit either. But this Jaguar XKR-S is a bit more of a retrospective headscratcher. Like the aforementioned supercars, the X150 XKR-S was built in tiny numbers and, as far as we can tell, Jaguar managed to shift every example with little issue. The fact they're now selling for Ford Fiesta ST money is the curious thing.
To start with, there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye. Developed by Special Vehicle Operations (or SVO), the crack team that went on to create the bonkers Project 7 and 8, the XKR-S featured a raft of chassis upgrades to create the most focused version of Jaguar’s grand tourer to date. The suspension was totally reworked with stiffer springs and dampers, while the anti-roll bars were toughened up to keep the 1,665kg kerb weight in check. The ride height was lowered, too, and tweaks to the steering added a little weight to the XKR’s ultra-light feel.
Judging by the reviews at the time, it’s the brakes where Jaguar made the biggest strides. SVO collaborated with brake masters Alcon to develop a new system for the XKR-S, comprising of 400mm discs up front with six-piston callipers, with 350mm discs and four-pot callipers at the rear. One reviewer hailed the upgrade as “a transformation” over the original single-piston callipers, providing a “much more reassuring feel” under foot and, clearly, better braking performance. Another journalist said the XKR-S was so good they’d “be astonished if it didn’t give birth to a future crop of driver-focussed Jags” – which Jaguar duly did.
But unlike the follow-up XKR-S, with its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 and uncapped production numbers, the limited-run 2008 model made do with the same engine as the standard XKR. That means 4.2 litres of supercharged eight-cylinder thunder, with 420hp and 413lb ft of torque, which is managed by a very Jaguar six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. SVO did, however, up the electronic speed limiter to 174mph. The aero changes supposedly serve a purpose as well, but we’ve not got any numbers to go off here. At least it looks the business, especially with the unique 20-inch forged alloy wheels.
With all of that in mind, it’s even more perplexing that the 2008 XKR-S doesn’t command the premium most limited-run performance specials do – something we all too rarely find ourselves saying at PH. Jaguar made 200 of these, but only 50 of them came to the UK in right-hand drive form, making them rarer than the proverbial hen’s dentures. This one’s up for £23,064 with only 71,000 miles on the clock. Talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth...
Jaguar R-S cars have form at having little or no premium over the regular ones, I had a 1992 XJR-S and other than highly optimistic sellers who run their ads for literally years they sell for the same or less than the later factory 6 litre cars despite being slightly more powerful and handling much better thanks to their TWR tweaked chassis. Watched mine go again at auction last year and struggle to crack £12k, which makes a joke of the £20k+ ads you see.
At least the XJR-S had shedloads more power than the standard car at the time, I wonder if the supercharged 4.2 really was at the limit of what it could do (and meet Ford OEM durability standards, not tuning company standards) at 420bhp.
Edit although at least this one has the better (if not ruinously expensive) brakes, the newer model having poor sliding caliper jobs which I've always thought let the top jags down a bit (at least in looks)
Absolutely - doubly so about those lovely wheels.
I looked at facelift XKR-S but wanted a convertible and felt the S is trying to make a “sports car” out of a car always designed as a GT.
Post 2010 facelift cars with the 5.0 V8 supercharged engine, with around 510 bhp are a hoot. Mine has optional dynamic exhaust and speed pack. So limiter raised to 174 mph.
Throaty V8 and instant throttle response. Easy sub 5 seconds 0-60mph.
Clean examples of these are holding their value well and are likely to increase over time. They really do represent excellent value. Mine costs about £360 a year on a classic insurance policy.
Not a daily driver though at 14 mpg and 20 mpg on a long motorway run with a very light right foot…..
These are overlooked for now but will rise in value over the next 10 years. Fun, reliable and depreciation free…..
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