Spy Shots & Prototypes
Jaguar XKR-S with even more RS!
- Details
- Parent Category: Nurburgring
- Created on Thursday, 14 June 2012 17:23
- Last Updated on Thursday, 14 June 2012 19:27
- Published on Thursday, 14 June 2012 17:24
- Written by Dale
Only a week or so ago I was writing in my pistonheads column about the 550bhp Jaguar XKR-S, and lamenting its lack of effective brute-force aero aids and racing brakes. In fact, you can watch my onboard video in the standard 550bhp XKR-S here, where I say all the same things.
Therefore I'm properly excited to tell you that it seems that people at the Jaguar Test Centre were already thinking along my wavelength!
In the photo above you can just make out the huge front splitter and dual canards added to this test XKR-S. Seperating the air ahead of the car and guiding it over the downward-slanted dive planes these parts should have a dramatic effect on front-end grip and feel in high-speed corners like those on the Nordschleife.
Below you can just see the upgraded multi-piston big brake kit hiding behind those stock-looking, but maybe wider, 20" wheels. With both the front and rear end boasting race-spec brakes, you can tell Jaguar are serious about upping the performance on this test mule.
The rear is dominated by that massive GT-racing rear wing. Unlike a spoiler, which merely 'spoils' airflow to prevent lift, this Jaguar holds the wing high above the bootline and hopefully high enough for the wing to create some meaningful downforce, like a Porsche GT3RS or Viper ACR. The tiny Gurney-flap underneath is on 'spoiler' duty.
When I asked a Jaguar spokesperson for more details, this is what I was told:
Our test centre (as you're very aware!), is used for evaluation of various vehicles and parts. These evaluations do not always necessarily lead to parts or vehicles entering volume production. We don't comment on specific test vehicles being run from the Nurburgring Centre."
What do you think? Could this be a Jaguar to fight the Corvette and Porsche 911 on their home turf, the race track? And specifically, the Nürburgring?
