At this year’s Geneva Motor Show Jaguar will unveil two new special editions of the Jaguar XKR, the Speed Pack and the Black Pack. The party piece of the Speed Pack is the top speed of 174mph due to the removal of 155mph speed limiter, while the Black adds more cosmetic changes. Jaguar only offers this packs for the Coupe, maybe because the XK Convertible still has that front-end lift problem as it goes over 120 or so mph.
To ensure the XKR with Speed Pack remains stable at high speeds, the coupe uses a revised front aerodynamic splitter and larger rear spoiler to provide increased balance and a reduction in lift. The XKR’s computerised Active Differential Control also adjusts to reduce steering sensitivity at very high speeds, further improving stability and driver control.
It also features a few visual upgrades over the standard models such as body-coloured side sills and rear diffuser, and a chrome finish to the window surrounds, upper and lower mesh grilles, side Power Vents and boot lid finisher,and red brake callipers with a Jaguar ‘R’ logo sit inside 20-inch Kasuga alloy wheels.
The Black Pack models will be available in Ultimate Black, Polaris White or Salsa Red and come with 20-inch gloss black Kalimnos alloy wheels, plus some other gloss black finishing on window surrounds and front grilles. AS for the interior you get Charcoal leather hides that can be personalised with a range of colour stitching and grain. Three interior finishes and veneers for the fascia and door trims are also available – Dark Oak, Dark Mesh Aluminium and Piano Black.
Still all of the packages can be personalized. Pricing for 2011 Jaguar XK and XKR models are as follows:
XK 5.0 Coupe £61,955
XK 5.0 Convertible £67,955
XK 5.0 Portfolio Coupe £66,955
XK 5.0 Portfolio Convertible £72,955
XKR 5.0 Coupe £74,955
XKR 5.0 Convertible £80,955
Russ Varney, Chief Programme Engineer, XK Series, explains the philosophy behind the uprated XKR: “With 510PS and 625Nm of torque, the XKR has immense reserves of power and acceleration which impress everyone who experience it. The car has always had the potential to reach speeds far beyond its original electronically limited maximum and many of our customers have expressed an interest in a car that can safely be driven faster where conditions permit. The new Speed Pack allows them to release some of that potential and give them control of the fastest Jaguar XK we’ve made to date.”
Jaguar’s Design Director, Ian Callum, says the new Black Pack is a fitting addition to the XKR: “While Jaguars are about beauty, they are also about speed and power. With the optional Black Pack you can now add a sense of drama and severity to that performance.”
