New Jaguar XJR makes global debut

Jaguar has today given the new the XJR its global debut at an exclusive event for media in New York. From Wednesday 27 March the new XJR will be displayed at the New York Auto Show alongside the new Jaguar XKR-S GT*, which also premieres in North America.. “The new Jaguar XJR epitomises the three pillars of technology, performance and seductive design which the Jaguar brand stands for in the twenty-first century, while delivering new levels of dynamic ability in a luxury saloon.” Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar JAGUAR XJR IN DETAIL The 550PS XJR – Jaguar’s new flagship sports saloon – combines supercar performance and assertive looks with the high levels of luxury already associated with the XJ range. It is capable of sprinting from zero to 60mph in 4.4 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 174mph.Seamless performance is provided by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine producing 550PS and 680Nm peak torque, with power delivered to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission The first ‘R’ model in this generation of the XJ, the new XJR is the latest in a long line of high-performance, luxurious Jaguar sports saloons. DESIGN “This XJR is the flagship XJ and I’m delighted we’ve got it back into the range. This is a premium luxury supercar that also has an extremely purposeful look to it .This car will surprise, there’s no doubt about it.” Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Subtle exterior styling cues, which also optimise the flow of air over and around the car, have given the XJR a distinctively assertive appearance. A front splitter, special ‘R’ bonnet louvres and quad tailpipes add to the car’s stealthy yet purposeful demeanour. The car’s dynamic intent is underlined by the technical palette of materials used on the interior. This includes optional semi-aniline leather and veneers in either Carbon Fibre or Piano Black. Providing a further unique touch is a choice of contrasting colour stitching to emphasise the design of the seats. The design team wanted to create a graphic link to the performance credentials of this car, as well as delivering the optimal balance of aerodynamic downforce front and rear. The chrome-rimmed intakes on the front bumper have become an ‘R’ model ‘signature element’, acting as a visual reference to the car’s twin superchargers, while the front aero splitters are complemented by the rear spoiler. We really dialled up the visual content on the XJR compared to its predecessors; it’s where our customers now expect it to be.” Wayne Burgess, Studio Director, Jaguar Design Reflecting the changes under the skin, the appearance of the XJR has been subtly modified in order to allow the car to achieve its full potential. The ‘R’ specification side sills, unique to the XJR, serve to create a sharp break-off point between the bodywork and the road surface in order to keep the airflow attached to the car’s sides for as long as possible. Rear lift is also reduced through the fitment of a bootlid-mounted lip spoiler to manage the airflow off the top rear surface of the car, while the special ‘R’ bonnet louvres aid aerodynamics and engine cooling. The five-spoke, lightweight, 20-inch ‘Farallon’ forged alloy wheels provide the XJR with a purposeful, broad shouldered stance and feature as standard either Sparkle silver or Technical grey finishes. The assertive appearance of the XJR is further enhanced with a Sport Pack grille with chrome surround and black mesh. XJR customers can choose from an exterior palette comprising ten colours: Polaris White; Ebony; Ultimate Black; Stratus Grey; Lunar Grey; Rhodium Silver; Cashmere; Caviar; Carnelian Red; and Black Amethyst. This colour palette is complemented inside the XJR with a unique combination of colourways. Jet leather trim is available with a choice of Ivory, London Tan or Red Zone inserts on the seat facings. The seats are embossed with the ‘R’ logo and can be finished with a choice of stitching in either Red or London Tan. The standard headlining is Jet suedecloth with Jet leather an option. VEHICLE DYNAMICS “The XJR offers greater steering precision, higher levels of control and enhanced high speed stability, with the trade-off in refinement being very small. The increase in power and torque give this car truly effortless, seamless performance.” Mike Cross, Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar Front and rear suspension systems of the new Jaguar XJR have been carefully tuned at Jaguar’s testing and development centre at the Nürburgring as well as in everyday driving conditions. In order to achieve the maximum benefit from the suspension, the XJR has new lightweight, forged 20-inch ‘Farallon’ alloy wheels. Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres are 265/35 and 295/30 front/rear and have been selected to deliver optimal cornering grip, traction and stability over a wide range of speed and performance parameters. The difference between the wheel rim and tyre width has the effect of pre-loading the tyre sidewall to improve handling and steering response without adversely affecting refinement. Additionally, the steering system has benefited from the fitment of valving developed for the F-TYPE sports car. A number of advanced electronic stability controls work in harmony with the suspension, wheels and tyres to deliver the XJR driving experience. Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics system actively controls vertical body movement, roll and pitch rates through the use of continuously variable dampers. The system monitors driver inputs and road conditions, adjusting damper rates in response up to 500 times a second to optimise stability and agility. The driver’s selection of Dynamic Mode offers enhanced body control by moving the damping rates to the firmer end of the available range. The Jaguar active electronic differential – which can apply full locking torque almost instantaneously when necessary – has been calibrated in order to exploit the high levels of grip offered by the wide rear tyres, the more precisely controlled suspension and the engine output. Working in parallel with the differential, the ‘Trac DSC’ setting of the Dynamic Stability Control system offers an enthusiastic driver the opportunity to further explore the car’s dynamic potential. Providing equal levels of confidence is Jaguar’s High Performance Braking System, which offers an unmatched combination of power, stability and fine modulation. The 380mm front and 376mm rear discs are internally ventilated for assured, repeated stopping power. “The XJR is the sporting pinnacle of the XJ range. This car has been dynamically set-up from the outset to deliver stunning performance, while still retaining the luxury and comfort common to the entire XJ range. The XJR has all the breadth of capability you could wish for in a high-performance luxury saloon car.” Andrew Dobson, Chief Programme Engineer, Jaguar XJR POWERTRAIN The XJR features Jaguar’s acclaimed 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine in its most potent form, matched to a responsive eight-speed transmission system. This all-new combination provides an exceptional blend of pure performance, driver involvement and exceptional levels of control. “The challenge with developing the powertrain for this car was to place it in character with the rest of the vehicle. It needed to have the necessary refinement for use in town while giving all the performance anyone would need everywhere else, without being overwhelming. With the XJR we achieved that balance.” Ron Lee, Director of Powertrain Engineering, Jaguar The all-aluminium quad-cam engine delivers exhilarating performance and tremendous efficiency thanks to spray-guided direct injection (SGDI) and dual-independent variable cam timing (DIVCT). The high-pressure die-cast lightweight aluminium engine block is stiffened with cast-iron liners and cross-bolted main bearing caps, which combine to provide refinement and astonishing power. The engine’s four-valve cylinder heads are constructed from lightweight aluminium; between them sits a Roots-type twin vortex supercharger fed by two intercoolers that feature their own water-cooling circuit to reduce the temperature of pressurised air to optimise power and efficiency. TRANSMISSION The XJR’s eight-speed automatic transmission has been calibrated to complement the sporting nature of the car, delivering rapid shifts under power when required but still maintaining composure in town and in low-speed driving environments. When operating in automatic mode, the transmission can detect the manner in which the car is being driven by monitoring acceleration and braking, cornering forces, throttle and brake pedal activity, road load and kickdown request. On detecting a more enthusiastic driving style, the transmission will automatically make the gearshifts more aggressive and move the shift-up point higher in the rev range. Steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles also give the driver higher levels of control. Corner Recognition senses when the car is negotiating a bend; the transmission holding the correct gear for the exit. The transmission can also recognise if the car is performing a series of overtaking manoeuvres requiring rapid changes in throttle position and rather than change up, remain in a lower gear ready for the next demand for acceleration. The XJR is offered with Jaguar’s Intelligent Stop/Start system as standard. In appropriate conditions, this system automatically shuts down the engine when the car comes to a halt and the brake pedal remains depressed. When the brake is released, the system will restart the engine in less time than it takes for the driver’s foot to move to the accelerator. The twin solenoid system allows for ‘change of mind’ functionality; this brings the engine back up to speed even during its run-down phase if, for instance, the car is at a junction and the driver sees an opportunity to join the traffic flow. IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT The XJR is fitted as standard with a 380W, 12-speaker surround-sound system from British audio experts Meridian. Recognised by audiophiles as a leader in audio reproduction and fidelity, the system uses digital signal processing to create a sound field that is second to none. An optional 825W, 18-speaker system features Meridian’s proprietary Trifield System which places every occupant at the centre of their own perfectly focused surround-sound arena. from: motoring - news