Jaguar top 225 mph at Bonneville Salt Flats

Jaguar have pushed the new XFR to its limits in a secret test at the Bonneville Salt Flats, and in doing so broke the record for the fastest ever Jaguar.

The modified XFR reached a staggering 225.675 mph on its run, powered by a tweaked version of the newly launched 5.0 litre engine in the supercharged Jaguar XF. The engine was almost standard, save a new air intake, revised supercharger settings and new exhaust system, boosting the power from 503 to 600 horsepower, but all the engine internals were untouched, as was the standard gearbox, boding well for tuners to come along and liberate even more power. Jaguar also modified the bodywork with a new front skirt and a huge rear wing to give downforce and stability at speed, as you can see below:



All this work was done in conjunction with American racing company Rocketsports, and the car was driven by Paul Gentilozzi, who raced the Jaguar XKR to 5 series wins in the US Trans Am series between 2001 and 2006. He was quoted as saying "During my career, I've raced worldwide from the southern tip of New Zealand to Le Mans, Along the way, I have been privileged to drive and own so many exciting cars but I've never driven one that was as exciting to drive fast as this Jaguar."

The previous Jaguar speed record was set by Martin Brundle in 1992 in a Jaguar XJ220.

New 2010 Jaguar XKR Released

Following on from the XFR, Jaguar has also released the all new XKR. Featuring the same massive 5.0 litre supercharged engine also seen in the new Jaguar XFR, with 510 horsepower and direct injection making it cleaner and more fuel efficient than the smaller 4.2 litre V8 it replaces.

To highlight the model changes, Jaguar has made some interior and exterior modifications to the familiar but still gorgeous Jaguar XKR shape. first of all we have the all new "supercharged" 20" wheels with a turbine design that echoes the internals of the supercharger seen below:



We also get a new front bumper with aluminium effect cooling vents replacing the previous fog lights, taking the look closer to the original Advanced Lightweight Coupe concept that the XKR was first shown as at Detroit 3 yrs ago. Following that the rear lights are now LED's too.



On the interior, more changes are to be found, with the drive selector from the Jaguar XF that rises out of the central transmission tunnel when the starter button is pressed.



But visual changes aside, the real news is what going on underneath. That vast extra performance has turned the XKR into a true super car with Ferrari levels of power, so the suspension has been beefed up to cope, with new continuously variable dampers replacing the tradition CATS suspension meaning new owners should expect a rather firmer ride, but with vastly increased handling capability, thanks also in part to the new electronic rear differential, which also means that big power slides are on the menu should you want them, and we do!

The all new XKR is at dealers in late March in the UK, and we cant wait to test it. Jaguar is also producing a non supercharged version of the 5.0 litre engine for the standard normally aspirated Jaguar XK models, which takes its performance to a similar level to the old XKR. Power is up from 300 bhp in the 4.2 to 381 bhp in the new car, with a 5.0 second 0-60 time. Prices are up a surprisingly small amount, making these new Jags both absolute bargains! We are yet to hear whether these engines will make it into the current Jaguar XJ saloon car, or whether Jaguar is saving them for the all new XJ, due to be shown in concept form at the end of the year.

Jaguar Launches XFR

New Jaguar XFR Launched

Jaguar has finally launched the all new supercharged version of the XF - the XFR.

Straight into the technical details for you: an all new 510 bhp 5.0 litre V8 motor, (known as the AJ V8 Gen III) with direct injection keeping CO2 and other nasty emissions down whilst boosting fuel economy. There's 625Nm of torque available from very low revs means the XFR will have the M5 beat in most driving conditions, due to not just more power but more accessible power 0-60 takes only 4.7 seconds.

Alongside this monster of a motor, the Jaguar XFR has some advanced chassis improvements over the standard Jag XF: a quicker steering rack gives a more responsive feel, and the standard CATS suspension has been replaced with expensive electronically controlled continuously variable Bilstein shocks which are linked to the new active rear differential as seen in the latest Ferraris, all controlled on board, meaning if you want to take the XFR to the track and produce some 100 yard powerslides then no problem.

The pictures look good, but it looked even better in the metal at the Detroit show, What you can see in the pictures are the trademark R bonnet vents from the Jaguar XKR along with a much deeper front bumper with huge chromed air intakes to help the engine breathe and conduct air to cool the front brakes, and a deeper protruding front splitter-like lip to give front down-force. Sculpted deep side sills help the mean looks, as does a discreet boot spoiler and trademark R quad exhausts under the new rear bumper. finishing off the look there's a gorgeous set of big 20" alloy wheels in the style of turbine rotors.

The XFR replaces the 4.2 supercharged SV8 in the XF range, and is described by Jaguar's chassis Guru Mike Cross as taking the SV8 and increasing everything by 30%, but it still retains the trademark supple Jaguar ride and is meant to be more usable in everyday conditions than the BMW M5.

We cant wait to try this beast of a car ourselves...