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Jaguar injects heady power into new XKR coupe, convertible
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Meandering along Sunset Boulevard through Beverly Hills, swank California home to movie stars and media moguls, a sensuous new Jaguar XKR with the top dropped on a curvaceous body draws the eye even on a street clotted with exotic and expensive automobiles.
It's so beautiful you can't help but notice.
External visual clues distinguish the XKR from less potent XK8 coupe and convertible cousins -- a wire-mesh grille up front, functional louvers on the hood and a low spoiler rising from the curt decklid in back.
Yet it's the latent power concealed beneath an exaggerated front hood which sets this racy variation apart in the XK series.
The XKR, it seems, carries a supercharger and twin intercoolers fitted to the dual-cam 4.0-liter V8 engine used in other XK and XJ Jaguars. This extra equipment, which forces more cool air into each cylinder to enrich the mix of fuel and oxygen required for combustion, generates more power with each cycle of ignition.
Output leaps from 290 hp for the naturally aspirated V8 of XK8 to 370 hp with supercharging for XKR, and there's up to 387 lb-ft of torque available to spin those wheels.
To handle all of this muscle, the enhanced AJ-V8 engine mates to a special heavy-duty five-speed automatic transmission out of Germany through Mercedes-Benz, and there are sporty shock settings in the suspension system, plus speed-rated tires mounted on enormous alloy wheels.
It's so fast (only 5.3 seconds from zero to 60 mph in time trials of the convertible) that the XKR easily becomes the fastest Jaguar in production, and such quick times suggest that this cat can outpace a Porsche.
No one watching the car pass along Sunset Boulevard realizes its potential, however, because the XKR makes such a dazzling visual statement that time-trial speeds and engine numbers become mere secondary considerations.
Recognition comes only from discreet exterior badging, with a red background applied to the hood growler and front-fender labels. The XKR letters in stylized type also decorate the trunk panel and door sills.
Styling for the sleek machine resurrects visual cues from Jaguar's 1960s two-seat icon, XK-E, due to the extended hood and an aerodynamically-efficient round prow.
Hood of the XKR varies from the XK8 with the addition of those functional twin panels of louvers etched midway back between the front grille and windshield. This location is where a low-pressure zone occurs when the car moves forward due to aerodynamics of the hood design.
Air, drawn through the front radiator and out the louvers, flows at a quicker clip thanks to the low pressure, resulting not only in improved engine cooling but also a decrease in aerodynamic lift in front at ultra speeds.
Counterbalancing this aerodynamic action up front, the functional rear spoiler at the trailing edge of the trunk exerts a downward thrust of air current on the tail of the vehicle for further high-speed stability.
As a premium personal luxury car geared for high performance, the XKR design scheme tucks between the long prow and short tail a passenger compartment with only two doors and seats for four.
Space inside is modest in the rear but up front on broad buckets clad in rich Connolly leather there's virtually every conceivable feature for luxurious comfort.
Slabs of polished hardwood in burl walnut veneer trim dash and console, and a 320-watt premium audio system links to a six-disc CD changer.
Front seats stand on either side of a central console which houses the transmission shift lever, rigged with Jaguar's J-pattern gate for automatic and manual shifts.
Rack the lever back through reverse to drive mode for automatic control of the five forward gears, but hook a lateral left shift at the bottom of the gate for an up-shift to fourth gear. From this position at the bottom of the J-pattern, the lever moves forward manually to drop down one gear at a time to second gear, with the first gear reached automatically as needed.
It's smooth in shifting, simple to use, and entirely forgiving -- shift down from fourth to second while carrying too much engine speed and the device delays the shift until the rpm rate decreases enough to warrant the change.
Computer circuits in the transmission manage torque-converter lockup in all but first gear. The intelligent system can out-think a driver's accelerator action, minimizing shifts during aggressive moves and backing off on engine output during the actual shifting maneuvers.
Designs for the predecessor XK8 and subsequent XKR performance cars originated at Jaguar's headquarters in Coventry, England, where production occurs. Despite a British point of origin, the XKR carries components representing a multi-national coterie of suppliers.
The V8 engine comes together at a factory in Wales owned by Ford Motor Company, which acquired Jaguar in 1989.
Handiwork from enterprises in Germany show up with the five-speed automatic transmission, as well as the convertible's forged aluminum frame from Karmann coachworks, superior shocks by Bilstein, and the ZF rack and pinion steering system. From the United States, ITT Automotive produced the anti-lock brake system, while a lighting system stems from France, the air conditioner comes from Japan and Italy's Pirelli molded the P Zero tires.
An independent double wishbone suspension has an isolated aluminum front cross beam, with unequal-length control arms rigged for anti-dive effect under braking. In the rear, the independent wishbone system uses the driveshaft as upper links and develops an anti-lift effect when braking and anti-squat when accelerating.
Jaguar's Computer Active Technology Suspension (the anagram spells CATS) delivers automatic two-stage shock damping with calibrations to maximize handling and control.
Structural concepts for this suspension come directly from Jaguar's experience in constructing agile racing machines. Like racers, the XKR can cut a quick corner and hold a firm edge through tricky movements, yet still dampen harsh bumps and silence any pavement chatter.
Speed-sensitive variable-assist power rack and pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes with the computerized anti-lock controls enhance these maneuvers. Also, Jaguar's stability control system, which applies brake and throttle automatically to correct potentially dangerous yaw behavior, is in place.
The only option is a computer-based navigation system tied to GPS satellite tracking.
Exotic pricing starts at $77,395 for the XKR coupe and extends to $84,795 for a convertible with navigation system.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2000 JAGUAR XKR Specs |
| Description: |
Mid-size 2-door 2+2 luxury coupe, convertible
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size 2-door 2+2 luxury coupe, convertible
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| Wheelbase: |
101.9 inches
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| Overall Length: |
187.4 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 4.0-L V8 SC
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| Transmission: |
Auto/5
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| Drive: |
Rear
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| Braking: |
Power disc/ABS/TCS/SCS
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
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| Gas Mileage: |
Coupe: 16/23 mpg
Convertible: 16/22 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 77,395 to $ 84,795 |
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