Jaguar edges into Aston Martin territory with the 2011 XKR-S

While everyone gets a bit worked up complaining that Aston Martin seems to have rehashed the DB9/DBS chassis into the Virage, Jaguar has come up with a souped up version of the XK coupe that would shame an Aston Martin. In the old days under Ford's luxury division, no Jaguar could ever be seen to upstage an Aston, but since Ford sold Jaguar to TATA and Aston Martin to a consortium (with some Arab money involved) it is free for all. Hence the newly previewed Jaguar XKR-S.

One of the highlights in Jaguar's display at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Jaguar XKR-S ups the ante higher than the already sweet and supercharged XKR. The XKR-S gets a retuned supercharged 5.0 V8 from the XKR. Power is boosted by 9bhp to 542bhp and torque jumps to 680Nm, up 55Nm. Top speed is now 300km/h and 0-100km/h arrives in 4.2seconds. The figures can put fear in anyone driving an Aston Martin V12 Vantage as well as scare a few DBS owners too.

The Jaguar XKR-S gets a different suspension setup (ie, lower, stiffer and sportier), wider rear tires, different differential setup and a "fruitier sounding" sports exhaust system. The last item I especially like since I happen to love how the XK coupes sound and bringing forth more melodious V8 notes are all for the better.

It should go on sale over in the UK in the next few months and should make its way over to this part of the world later in the year (depending on demand). As this car is closest in performance to its former counterpart Aston Martin, expect prices to be very similar and not the bargain one should expect. As if buying a Jaguar is a bargain in the first place.

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