Wednesday 1st June 2011

Driven: Jaguar XKR-S

Does the 19th letter of the alphabet put the Jaguar XKR onto another level?

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"The most extreme expression yet of Jaguar's passion for building beautiful, fast cars" is how Jag heralded the new XKR-S at its launch in Geneva earlier this year. They promised a top speed of at least 300kph and used language like 'driver-focused' and 'harder-edged character' to describe the driving experience. Could they deliver all of this, or would it be just an XKR with more oomph, stiffer springs, and a body kit?

There we were...with the track to ourselves and both the new XKR and the XKR-S at our disposal. A semi-naked Megan Fox with come-to-bed eyes couldn't have looked more inviting. Well...actually she probably could, but you get the point. That we chose not to go out in the XKR-S first was a lesson in restraint that would have made a Trappist monk blush, but we decided that the best way to see what kind of advances Jaguar had made with the R-S was to sample the new XKR first.

So, out onto the track we went and after a couple of warm-up laps it was time to raise the tempo a bit. Braking for turn one at Portimao is an unforgettable experience, because you do so pointing downhill quite dramatically at the end of a long straight and travelling at about 240kph. Imagine entering a dip at the end of a straight like the one at Brands Hatch's Paddock Hill at 150mph and having to brake hard as the car plunges downhill, and then get tucked-in to a tight right-hand turn at the bottom. Tests of brakes, tyres and suspension don't get much fiercer than that, but the XKR scrubbed off the speed without any drama. It turned in quite well too, but not in a way that would impress Porsche devotees.

The rest of the lap continues in much the same vain; it's a really busy rollercoaster of a circuit and you feel like you're always either climbing or dropping downhill steeply - and almost all of the braking is done going downhill. Jaguar obviously picked this place deliberately to test all aspects of their cars' performance thoroughly, and we were happy to oblige.

After several laps a few things were clear about the XKR (and those who have driven or own one will doubtless know this): The new 503bhp engine is superb (it sounds spine-chillingly gorgeous), as are the brakes. But this is not a track car. Of course, it isn't meant to be one, but even in Track DSC mode and using the 'manual' shift it just didn't feel at home being hustled around on anything more demanding than the average A-road. This last department is where we expected the XKR-S to be a big improvement, so we eagerly approached 'the fastest Jaguar for a generation'.

Opening the door to the XKR-S reveals pretty-much what you'd expect from a top-end Jag', with the possible exception of the carbon-effect fabric on the seats. Opinion was split between observers on the day as to whether this is a bit too much of a blingy departure in an area that Jaguar has always excelled.

That said, once your backside is planted you feel right at home in the 16-way adjustable 'Performance' seats, the instruments are clear, and the use of alcantara as headlining seems so right it makes you wonder why any manufacturer of expensive performance cars wouldn't use it in the same way. Determined scratch-and-prod merchants will eventually find a couple of barely significant uses of less-then-premium materials, but rest assured the interior on the whole is befitting a one hundred grand GT.

Out on the track the first thing that struck us as we approached the braking section for turn one was that the R-S was going at about the same speed as the XKR, despite having 542bhp (versus the XKRs 503). Braking, too, was impressive, but the similarity stopped there. For the first hot lap we turned in at the same speed as we had in the XKR, but as the R-S headed towards the apex there was no tyre squeal and even less roll - it just calmly tucked in as if we'd just asked a concert pianist to play 'Chopsticks.' On the way out it applied the power in a way that allowed you to almost forget just how fast you were accelerating and concentrate instead on where you were going to brake and turn in to the next corner. As good as the XKR was the R-S gave the initial impression of being on a different planet in terms of dynamics; we could point it at parts of the track in a way that would have caused the impressive-enough XKR to cry 'enough' and it would duly oblige without any drama.

With 'Track DSC' (which is set up differently in the XKR-S to all other Jaguars equipped with that function) and 'Dynamic Mode' enabled, the car's enhanced ability to slow down, turn-in, and drive out was astonishing. We pushed a bit harder. As we approached the limits of adhesion, the car began to break away in a neutral, predictable fashion. The Track DSC seemed to be teaching us; 'Brake a bit earlier here, turn-in harder there, you can get on the power a little earlier...' And when you went too far there was no sudden and dramatic electronic bollocking from the system, it just subtly reined-in the event you'd just tried to cause and let you get on your way. Very impressive, very composed.

'It's not a track car' said the Jaguar chap as we sat in pit-lane listening to the exhausts ticking away as they cooled down after a couple of sessions. He could have fooled us. Chatting with one of the track's professional drivers confirmed what we'd suspected. He confessed: 'It doesn't feel quite as sharp as a (Porsche) GT3, and is perhaps a slightly harder car to get the most out of, but the lap times are probably very similar.' Similar lap times to a GT3...from a Jaguar which, with all the driver-aids turned on, can also be as docile as a three-legged elephant suffering from bronchial pneumonia (but much, much more comfortable) is impressive. There's that word again...

Gripes? Well, parked next to the XKR we didn't think that the R-S was a great looker from the front - kind of a cross between an XKR, a Skyline GTR and a Koi carp. Although the front-end treatment does apparently reduce lift by about 30 per cent - perhaps this could account for the same end-of-straight speed as the slightly less powerful XKR?

The gearbox is another area that, while being very good, can still show a bit of weakness in some areas. For example, shifting up a gear while accelerating uphill at full throttle can sometimes result in quite a sudden 'clunk' when in Dynamic Mode. It doesn't really cause any problems, but it was a bit unpleasant and did cause us to lament that a conventional six-speed with a clutch isn't available.

Is the XKR-S is now a full-on, bona fide GT car? In terms of the blend of ferocious performance and on-road refinement it's an overwhelming 'yes.' Despite the enormous power and aggressive looks, it's not the savage track-beast you might expect it to be - but this is a compliment to how careful Jaguar has been in developing such a composed, indecently fast car. Certainly, Jaguar devotees who can asee past the front-end treatment and the odd blingy touch will be utterly blown-away by how this car drives. It's that good. So, now that there's a Jaguar which can turn lap times similar to certain Porsches and other renowned road-going track-stars, would you be tempted?

[Triple7]

Well if ever I could have asked Jaguar to build a car specifically for me, they have done it with this more focused, tweaked XKR-S. I think I'm really going to love it.

[Luca Brasi]

That rear wing really doesn't fit the car. And that colour

[George H]

That body kit and rear wing ruin the entire car for me.

[ZOLLAR]

Luca Brasi said:

That rear wing really doesn't fit the car. And that colour

Really?, I quite like it

[Chicane-UK]

Saw one rumble past me a few days ago whilst I was waiting to pull out of the petrol station in the same blue colour. I absolutely adore it..

[mrclav]

Article said:

it just calmly tucked in as if we'd just asked a concert pianist to play 'Chopsticks'

Being a musician myself I must say that's a great analogy.

Meanwhile, I go against the general consensus regarding the styling; I think it all looks very purposeful really. And before anyone says "Specsavers", I've had laser eye surgery already, ta very much!

[snaelro]

why such a body kit if it is not a track car??

in a french magazine, Bourdais (not a great F1 driver, but a good racer), took an XKR BlackCat to the bugatti-Le mans track. the lap times were really bad. 1 min 59, about the same as a caterham cup 150hp. a GT3RS with same driver does it in...1 min 49 with 60hp less. even the granturismo S was 3 sec faster..
the weaknesses of the car : really bad grip in corner (not even 1G inlateral acceleration), impossible to acclerate without bruning the tyres, slow gearbox, too much body movement (1800kg for an all aluminium car...)

a good GT, but not a sportscar

Edited by snaelro on Wednesday 1st June 08:44

Edited by snaelro on Wednesday 1st June 09:30

[louiebaby]

The article said:

Similar lap times to a GT3...from a Jaguar which, with all the driver-aids turned on, can also be as docile as a three-legged elephant suffering from bronchial pneumonia (but much, much more comfortable) is impressive.

Eh?

[tosh.brice]

Thanks - an interesting and refreshing write up. The non-clichéed metaphors do need a little thought, which is all to the good; I suspect many or most concert pianists would be insulted by your request, rather than complying eagerly, but the point is made.

When you said "Brake a bit earlier here" I suspect you meant "later", but maybe not?

Snaelro, maybe I have misunderstood, but isn't the point that the S deals with the issues that French magazine raised in relation to the R?

Edited by tosh.brice on Wednesday 1st June 09:40

[Caulkhead]

snaelro said:

why such a body kit if it is not a track car??

in a french magazine, Bourdais (not a great F1 driver, but a good racer), took an XKR BlackCat to the bugatti-Le mans track. the lap times were really bad. 1 min 59, about the same as a caterham cup 150hp. a GT3RS with same driver does it in...1 min 49 with 60hp less. even the granturismo S was 3 sec faster..
the weaknesses of the car : really bad grip in corner (not even 1G inlateral acceleration), impossible to acclerate without bruning the tyres, slow gearbox, too much body movement (1800kg for an all aluminium car...)

a good GT, but not a sportscar

Edited by snaelro on Wednesday 1st June 08:44

Edited by snaelro on Wednesday 1st June 09:30

Have you driven an XKR-S?

[snaelro]

tosh.brice said:

Thanks - an interesting and refreshing write up. The non-clichéed metaphors do need a little thought, which is all to the good; I suspect many or most concert pianists would be insulted by your question, rather than complying eagerly, but the point is made.

When you said "Brake a bit earlier here" I suspect you meant "later", but maybe not?

Snaelro, maybe I have misunderstood, but isn't the point that the S deals with the issues that French magazine raised in relation to the R?

maybe, but the car is still +1800kg (measured), still has a torque converter auto gearbox. the front suspension and differential update might help to improve the efficiency, but the car has been conceived initially has a big comfortable GT.
and for £97K, the plain grey iron brake discs with floating caliper painted red like a chaved up Clio, are not serious (even if they seem to work quite well). same philosophy as a muscle car to me. specially in this electric blue that looks very close the 2010 mustang blue

in my opinion, the maserati GT suffers from the same problem : it is a heavy GT. but at least the Stradale version gives you the trackday experience keeping some gentleman driver spirit. the jag tries to hard with some fakery. fake diffuser, fake sport brake discs, fake carbon seats, etc.

anyway, i think Jaguar said they will publish some nurburgring times. it might prove me wrong!

[SSBB]

snaelro said:

and for £97K, the plain grey iron brake discs with floating caliper painted red like a chaved up Clio, are not serious (even if they seem to work quite well).

The first and only criteria for brakes for many drivers is that they work well...

[AdamPT]

awful bodykit. Looks like something out of Max Power....ruins a lovely car I reckon

[DJRC]

snaelro said:

maybe, but the car is still +1800kg (measured), still has a torque converter auto gearbox. the front suspension and differential update might help to improve the efficiency, but the car has been conceived initially has a big comfortable GT.
and for £97K, the plain grey iron brake discs with floating caliper painted red like a chaved up Clio, are not serious (even if they seem to work quite well). same philosophy as a muscle car to me. specially in this electric blue that looks very close the 2010 mustang blue

in my opinion, the maserati GT suffers from the same problem : it is a heavy GT. but at least the Stradale version gives you the trackday experience keeping some gentleman driver spirit. the jag tries to hard with some fakery. fake diffuser, fake sport brake discs, fake carbon seats, etc.

anyway, i think Jaguar said they will publish some nurburgring times. it might prove me wrong!

Are you taking the piss or have I misunderstood you?

It isnt a track car. Its not meant to be. Nobody is claiming it is.

[Cabal722]

People have knocked the nail on the head. The x-type replacement in coupé form would be the obvious next step. What kind of reliability does Jaguar offer these days?

[sootyrumble]

snaelro said:

why such a body kit if it is not a track car??

in a french magazine, Bourdais (not a great F1 driver, but a good racer), took an XKR BlackCat to the bugatti-Le mans track. the lap times were really bad. 1 min 59, about the same as a caterham cup 150hp. a GT3RS with same driver does it in...1 min 49 with 60hp less. even the granturismo S was 3 sec faster..
the weaknesses of the car : really bad grip in corner (not even 1G inlateral acceleration), impossible to acclerate without bruning the tyres, slow gearbox, too much body movement (1800kg for an all aluminium car...)

a good GT, but not a sportscar

Edited by snaelro on Wednesday 1st June 08:44

Edited by snaelro on Wednesday 1st June 09:30

The point was that the times when pushed HARD were comparable to a GT3 not a a GT3 RS for a start, and yet it is still a very comfortable luxurious place to be on a cruise so to me this reads as being a fantastic compromise where it can react when thrashed and still cruise with the best of them, where as the Porsche is a focused car which is one dimensional this will fill many rolls

[jazzyjeff]

Koi Carp???



Oh yes - I see what you mean

I'll still take one though... in Claret or Vapour Grey please, thankyouverymuch

[MrCarCoach]

Looks delicious but it’s a shame they could not have stripped out more weight, in a similar vein to the GT3 RS and it should have ceramic brakes for the money. Making it more of a racer in this way would have further differentiated it from the standard XKR.

Thats the thing, the XKR engine is such a fantastic power-plant its prime for Jaguar to build a proper 2 seater sports car rather than a big GT, lets hope the upcoming F-Type addresses this.

[FWDRacer]

Cabal722 said:

What kind of reliability does Jaguar offer these days?

Check out Which consumer surveys and JD Power.

Not too shabby

[anonymous-user]

Well done Jaguar