Stop everything - there's a Jag XKR-S GT for sale
There were only 10 of these very special XKRs for the UK - time to get excited
Just occasionally in the recent past, Jaguar has gone a bit mad - with spectacularly brilliant results. The Project 7 was the classic hot rod reinvented for the modern world, fit to burst with unbridled V8 muscle and rear-drive, road racer attitude. The Project 8 was similarly silly and no less lovable; there was to be no mere M3 for the rival for the XE, instead a Nurburgring-crushing, 600hp, all-wheel drive monster that could be optioned without rear seats. Both were hard to justify, lots of money, superb to drive, and will live forever as some of the best homes for the venerable supercharged V8. But they weren’t the only ones…
Remember the XKR-S GT? Paving the way for the later 5.0-litre Special Operations cars, it too was very limited run, extremely powerful, fairly OTT - and absolutely brilliant. Some of the raw stat didn’t paint the GT in a tremendously favourable light 11 years ago, as it was no more potent than a standard 550hp S, more than £30k costlier than the then-new 991 GT3, and was built from a car that had been on sale since 2006. Still has the old six-speed auto, too. It didn’t look to be off to the most auspicious of starts.
But there was plenty more about the GT. Despite a production run of just 40 cars (10 for the UK), substantial changes were undertaken, including fitting Jaguar’s first ceramic brakes, widening the front track, overhauling the suspension with fiercer spring rates and Eibach hardware, pinching some steering bits from the upcoming F-Type and adding carbon aero devices as well. For 40 cars! The result of all that were some much more encouraging stats: despite a negligible weight saving over standard, the GT was 11 seconds faster around the Nordschleife than an XKR-S, recording a 7:40. No doubt helped by the additional downforce and wider Pirelli tyres, it was (and is) an impressive time for a car not really known as a track slayer.
That’s exactly what it proved to be, though. ‘I think we did 60 flat-out laps and it felt fresh as a daisy’, was the PH verdict from Chris Harris, and that must have been the first time that was written about a roadgoing Jag. ‘The ride quality is good, the car is just as easy to live with as a cooking RS… anyone who fancies going very fast on track in a Jaguar will have a stunning time in this car. For trips to the 'ring it would be sensational.’ Even with a less-than-stellar automatic, it left a very favourable impression.
With so few made and the F-Type arriving soon after, the limelight wasn’t on the XKR-S GT for long. But with new Jag imminent, so the recent greatest hits are being revisited with increased nostalgic fervour; the GT was a very special new car, so it’ll be no surprise to find it much loved now. 21st-century Jags don’t get much more desirable, it could be argued.
Or more expensive. Given the reputation it earned and the tiny numbers, appreciation shouldn’t be unexpected. When we last wrote about a GT in 2017, the asking price was £149,995, a modest if useful uplift from the original £138,000 RRP. But plenty has happened since then, so now a similar car (2015 instead of 2014, again with 4,000 miles) is for sale at £200,000. Or the price of two low-mileage Project 8s. But those cars are commonplace by comparison to the GT, as is pretty much every other alternative you care to mention. You’re more likely to see an XJ220. If the Jag collection has an obvious absentee - or perhaps someone out there wants to see what the fuss was about - this looks an amazing opportunity. Hardly going to become less interesting or rare over the coming years, is it?
SPECIFICATION | JAGUAR XKR-S GT
Engine: 5,000cc V8, supercharged
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 550@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 502@2,500-5,500rpm
MPG: 23
CO2: 292g/km
First registered: 2014
Recorded mileage: 4,000
Price new: £138,000
Yours for: £149,995
This looks like a very xkr will all the good things about the xkr removed to turn it into a hideous, heavy, automatic track day car.
I think you would be better off spending the money on a nice standard wafty xkr + a caterham + a landcruiser and race trailer and still have plenty left for tyres and track days.
I think you would be better off spending the money on a nice standard wafty xkr + a caterham + a landcruiser and race trailer and still have plenty left for tyres and track days.
As you say, it plays to the weaknesses of the XKR and removes most of it's strenths. I bet none of them got used properly after the press cars anyway, they'll have been hoarded by Jaguar Geralds and never seen more than 3k RPM on the dial.
As something to actually drive though, a standard XKR sounds like a much better grand tourer and as others have said there are many things that would make better track cars. Heck if my track car absolutely had to be a modernish Jag and I had this kind of money to spend, an XE Project 8 seems a much better bet.
As you say, it plays to the weaknesses of the XKR and removes most of it's strenths. I bet none of them got used properly after the press cars anyway, they'll have been hoarded by Jaguar Geralds and never seen more than 3k RPM on the dial.
My assumption is it's because they feel they need to visually express this extra performance by adding more bits
Let's correct this.
Jaguar introduce a version of their sport coupe (F-Type or whatever) that has been modified.
There's little on the exterior that signals this. You have to look.
The exterior has, in one or two places a bit of colour. Exceedingly subtle. Black and aquamarine: colours that happen to be identical to those on the Special Air Service insignia.
Under the bonnet there are considerable enhancements. Upgrades to the chassis as well.
In the cabin, the usual luxury-sport interior has been augmented with one or two hidden buttons and compartments. These do actual things. Additionally inside the glove box is an inscription. You don't notice this; you have to look again. It says, Who dares wins.
Jaguar build just 22 units, a number that reflects the status of the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment as the core of the SAS.
But these 22 cars are not available on the forecourt. Instead they are auctioned.
To qualify, bidders must be UK citizens domiciled within the UK proper. And they are not allowed anonymity.
A reserve price is published. All monies received over the reserve price are donated by Jaguar to UK charities that support UK veterans.
NB: If the preceding isn't enough for you, posh punters can bid for the right to lease the car for 12 months. Not own it. Thus the auction occurs annually - as do charitable donations. And the cars will surely be seen on public roads.
I'm not normally one to wade in on pricing but that really, REALLY is insane. Think what you could have for the money. Hell, you could have a decent 911 AND a McLaren for the same money. Or even three-quarters of a heritage Defender.
If you want a track special, the xk is not a good starting point in the same way that a Cessna isn’t a great starting point for a stealth fighter. The equivalent priced 911 gt3 makes a better case for a track special at this price point.
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