Test drive Jaguar XKR-S compartment since 2011

Jaguar XKR-S. On soft paws

Jaguar XKR-S. Price: Not defined. On sale: Autumn 2011

Jaguar brand itself is a legend. And let many say that modern Jaguar does not correspond to the image of a sports car too much and comfortable ... But here it all depends on which car you need

Test pilot
Roman Rusinov, 29 years old, motorist, driving experience 11 years, personal car - Audi TT

If you want to get a car that looks cool and is controlled, but at the same time so that you can comfortably move along our roads and stand in traffic jams daily, Jaguar XKR-S is a great option. A stunningly comfortable proporting car with a huge margin of vital energy under the hood! Add here quite acceptable fuel consumption and a huge trunk, incomparable with the swollen glove compartment of classmates. The car has everything that is needed for every day. And finally, this car is just very pleasant to others, causing a huge number of positive emotions. It is aggressive and at the same time elegant. And how nice it is to ride it!

XKR-S The most powerful serial Jaguar in the entire history of the brand. Compared to the usual XKR, the engine was forced from 510 to 550 liters. with. The car became easier, adjustable and very comfortable buckets of sports seats, a self -locking differential and an active stabilization system were put in it.

Jaguar XKR is already an amazing car with cool forms, but XKR-S is just great! Even more aggressive forms, carbon, rear anti -wing, aerodynamic elements at the front bumper powerful 550 -horsepower 5 -liner 5 -lifter V8 turbo engine with a torque of 680 Nm, huge 20 -inch wheels, wide tires, which are literally glued to the asphalt, allowing them to accelerate to a hundred In total 4.4 s. The maximum speed is limited by electronics at 300 km/h.

Of course, we were lucky that our first acquaintance with the XKR-S took place on one of the best test tracks of the planet on the Paul Ricard highway in the French Le Castle, which allows us to evaluate all the charms of this car. Although we only go along a short ring, the straight line is almost twice as short as the Grand Prix highway, the XKR-S is to accelerate to 270 km/h. A sharp braking, and at a speed of 200 km/h, our raspberry arrow is already flying into a high -speed turn. It seems that at such a speed, a massive 1753 -kilogram wild cat from the cowwear can’t resist a turn, but Jaguar with a truly cat's softness and grace, like claws, clings to the asphalt, holding on a large arc! There is a simple explanation for this: in addition to the new aerodynamics elements, in comparison with the XKR, the sports version received a rigid front -line stabilizer of the pure stability and a tougher suspension, which made the car much more stable in corners. At the entrance to the turn at high speed, when braking in a bend, Jaguar XKR-S is obedient and responsive. But even if you get carried away, the computer playfully corrects all the blots. Allows a small demolition of the rear axle, the stabilization system in sports mode at the same time does not let go of the reins. As a result, in turns, the car is literally glued to the roadway. The hook is very good!

Of course, compared with the BMW M3, which allows you to just press the gas pedal to go through any turn in a controlled drift, it is a little more difficult to do here. Jaguar is more demanding on the driver than BMW, but when an auxiliary electronics XKR-S from a wild cat is turned on, it is transformed into a delicate pet on soft paws in a highly comfortable and safe car. If the BMW M3 is a compromise towards speed, then the Jaguar XKR-S compromise with an emphasis on comfort.
 
We do not love
The dashboard resembles computer simulators of sports cars. Sports
The selection of a 6-speed automatic transmission is perfectly laid in the hand. Conveniently
British style in everything: from modest nameplate to a mesh radiator grill. Stylish
 
Driving
It accelerates amazing! But overweight does not allow you to put XKR-S in terms of controllability in one row with full-fledged sportsamy.
   
Salon
High -quality, moderately conservative British decoration.
   
Comfort
Great sound insulation and very comfortable suspension for supercar.
   
Security
In the most strict mode, the auxiliary electronics completely suppresses the possibility of skidding.
   
Price
Not determined.
 
Advantages and disadvantages
+ The possibility of complete disconnecting electronics, excellent acceleration dynamics, the highest, by the standards of supercars, level of comfort, solid trunk
-for a full-fledged sportsar XKR-S is still hard
 
Specifications
Dimensions - 4794x1892x1312 mm
Engine-gasoline, 5000 cm3, 550 l.C./6000 min-1, 680 nm/25005500 min-1
Transmission - automatic, 6 -speed
Dynamics - 300 km/h, 4.4 s to 100 km/h
Fuel consumption - 12.3 l/100 km in mix. cycle
Competitors - Audi R8, Aston Martin Virage, BMW M3

Our opinion
XKR-S is a large and luxurious sports car with Bentley charisma, only at a lower price. Most Jaguar buyers are unlikely to ever go to the racing track on it, although XKR-S allows you to decently light even at such a high-speed autrome as Paul Ricard. Great supercar for both the racing track and for the city.


Author: Roman Rusinov
Photo: Eric Fabre

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [August 2011]