The twisting mountain roads that crisscross the mountains and hills around Portimão, Portugal, proved to me that Jaguar, with its new XKR-S, is taking performance more seriously than ever before.
Although it’s based on the luxurious and athletic XKR coupe, the XKR-S features changes that make the car even sportier. The aesthetic changes are obvious: a carbon-fiber front splitter, rear wing and diffuser, plus a new front fascia with a blacked-out grille and turning vanes.
Modifications to the supercharged and direct-injected V-8 raise power and torque to from 503 bhp and 461 lb.-ft. to 550 bhp and 502 lb.-ft., respectively. The primary changes involve engine mapping and exhaust updates. A new bypass-equipped exhaust reduces restriction to enhance power and sound. Based on engine load and rpm, the flap is normally in the closed position to keep neighbors and federal regulators happy at cruising speeds. In Sport, though, the exhaust is open throughout the rev range. To show off the sounds of the 5.0-liter V-8, the flap stays open at idle speeds no matter what mode the engine is in...a nice touch.
Suspension changes reflect a similar upgrade path. Front uprights are stiffened, ride height is reduced by 10 mm and spring rates are increased by 28 percent up front and 32% in back. The XKR’s electrically adjustable dampers are retained, but have been re-calibrated with stiffer damping curves in both standard and Dynamic mode to better control the pitch and roll of the all-aluminum chassis.
The addition of an electro-mechanical locking differential rounds out the performance-enhancing revisions to the XKR-S. A stepper motor can act on a clutch pack to adjust the amount of lock between the rear wheels from 0 to 100 percent, thus mitigating the dreaded one-wheel burnout upon corner exit.
All told, these revisions make the XKR-S behave more like a true sports car than a sporty luxury coupe.
Experiencing the car on Portugal’s technical Algarve race circuit proved the point. On the track, the traction provided by the Pirelli P Zero tires—255/35ZR-20 up front and 295/30 ZR-20 in back—could be sussed out from the chassis and steering. Although very light and with a somewhat vague on-center feel while driving on the street, the steering would get progressively heavier as you approached maximum front grip. With Dynamic mode enabled, you could tell not only when you rode onto the apex curbing, but how steep the angle was. The active differential worked well, as we never experienced any inside wheelspin on Algarve’s numerous tight turns, nor the sinuous roads surrounding Portimão.
TracDSC, the track-specific stability control setting, is surprisingly fun. The limits of traction are easy to read, and if you’re smooth with the accelerator, the computer will allow leeway when negotiating and exiting tight turns. This gives a welcome safety net, while still demanding skill to make the car go fast.
On the road, the taut ride and raucous exhaust remind you that the S is no standard XKR. The interior may look similar, but different materials and a revised color palette set the S apart. A unique leather headliner, stainless-steel pedals, and supportive, yet comfortable, race-style seats (with unique stitching) round out the interior.
Overall, an impressive effort. Hearing the engine burble and backfire as you quickly grab downshifts via paddles is a unique experience in a Jaguar, especially when you then bend the car into a turn and feel the steering respond progressively with the weight of the cornering force. Following a smooth application of the throttle and a couple of neck-snappingly sharp upshifts, you’re ready for the next turn.
The new 2012 Jaguar XKR-S is expected in dealerships soon, priced at $132,000.
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