This Jaguar is really something else

Just 50 of these very special felines have been built and only 20 of them are right-hand-drive – one of which now resides at the headquarters of Jaguar Centurion. It is the only one of its kind in South Africa.

The car is a celebration of Jaguar’s 25-year heritage of making extraordinary, driver-centric performance machines – the R cars – and the GT represents the pinnacle of this. The XKR-S GT was developed by Jaguar’s Engineered To Order (ETO) division and is the ultimate road-going but track-ready version of the XK coupe. The XKR-S GT is the most extreme iteration of the Jaguar R brand’s performance focus and evolved from the successful XKR-S coupe.

For starters, the XKR-S GT boasts a very special cabin: The Warm Charcoal interior – with red accents – features 16-way electrically adjustable “Performance” seats finished in soft-grain leather and Suedecloth with the Jaguar and R-S GT scripts integrated into the backrests. Jet Suedecloth headlining and a Jet Suedecloth steering wheel, with aluminium paddle shifters, are fitted as standard.

More importantly, the XKR-S GT features bespoke aerodynamic components and suspension developments to increase downforce and optimise high-speed cornering ability. These aids include a carbon-fibre front splitter, extended wheel arch spats, an elevated rear wing, rear diffuser and an aluminium valance. With these, the XKR-S GT achieves maximum downforce of 145kg.

Handling and roadholding get additional prowess thanks to redeveloped suspension, which includes a wider front track (by 52mm), increased camber, revised bushings, a new steering system and faster steering ratio. The front and rear suspension arms, uprights, wheel bearings, bushings and rear subframe are all new and draw on hardware developed for the F-Type.

The overall set-up works to increase lateral suspension stiffness for greater precision and responsiveness. Bespoke adaptive dampers allow for the ride height to be tailored to the conditions while the race-derived twin spring system increases the spring rate by 68% at the front and 25% at the rear compared to a stock XKR-S coupe.

The carbon ceramic brake system – a first for a production Jaguar – features 398mm and 380mm discs front/rear, gripped respectively by six- and four-piston monoblock calipers. The carbon ceramic system also results in a massive 21kg reduction in unsprung weight – further enhancing the XKR-S GT’s handling.

Enhanced braking feel comes courtesy of the electronic Pre-Fill system. Working in conjunction with the car’s DSC system, Pre-Fill pressurises the brakes every time the driver comes off the throttle pedal, resulting in a very short and consistent level of travel on the brake pedal. This maximises braking response, reduces the car’s stopping distance and delivers increased levels of confidence during high-performance driving.

New, wider, 20-inch forged and lightweight alloy wheels are designed to optimise brake cooling and are shod with Pirelli Corsa 255/35 front and 305/30 rear tyres to maximise grip.

Power comes from Jaguar’s proven supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, the Roots-type twin vortex supercharger fed by two intercoolers, which feature their own water-cooling circuit to reduce the temperature of the pressurised air thereby optimising efficiency. The XKR-S GT features a fully active performance exhaust system with valves that open under load, both enhancing gas-flow and the car’s aural character, while optimising power output.

Drive to the rear wheels is via a six-speed transmission and active electronic differential and thanks to 405kW and 680Nm the XKR-S GT reaches 100km/h in about four seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 300km/h.

The XKR-S GT is clearly a car which is exhilarating on the road, but is as capable on the track…