Jaguar XKR News

There's always a great deal of interest any time one of the cars used in a 007 movie is offered for sale. And you can probably multiply that by 59 times for the collection of Bond vehicles owned by US real estate mogul Michael Dezer.Dezer is known for  development on a grand scale: nearly the entire suburb of Chelsea in NewYork, and several massive projects in Florida including partnerships with Donald Trump for the 900 million Trump Towers, $600 million Trump Grande Ocean Resort and Residences and the $166 million Trump International Hotel and Tower.And Florida is also where he garages his collection of 1800 vehicles, including the 59 genuine Bond ones he's selling, each of which has appeared in one of the movies.The catch is that Dezer insists they be bought as one lot, for US$33 million ($37 million). But the buyer will have a fairly comprehensive sample across the Bond series.Among the 59 are a Fairey Huntress boat used in 1963's From Russia With Love and an Audi A5 and Land Rover Defender used in the most recent film, Skyfall, for the kickstarter car chase scenes.From films in between, there are a brace of Aston Martin DB5 coupes, one of which helmed by Pierce Brosnan for Goldeneye -- and the Russian T55 tank from the film. The famed Lotus Esprit S1 that morphed into a submarine in The Spy Who Loved Me is also one of star vehicles, as are the armoured and armed BMW 750iL from Tomorrow Never Dies, and the Jaguar XKR from Die Another Day.There are also more everyday wheels, including the Citroen 2CV from For Your Eyes Only, and a replica of the AMC Hornet from The Man With The Golden Gun. The collection has been on display at the Dezer Musuem in Miami, and it's likely the buyer will do something similar once the deal is done.And while it will make a little space in the Dezer garage, there are still plenty of interesting cars staying there, including the 1948 Ford from Grease,  the 1981 DeLorean from Back to the Future, the Ghostbusters 1959 Cadillac, an original Batmobile, the Lamborghini Social Experiment Project AU 79, and many, many more.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

New British sports car brand David Brown Automotive have issued the first teaser looks and details for their creation -- codenamed Project Judi for now.Echoing the heritage of their namesake, the car looks to be a redux of the hallowed Aston Martin DB5 (itself named for the other David Brown, who headed the brand for decades) and is based on the Jaguar XKR. However the company's press blurb talks of bespoke and "completely original exterior and interior design, realised through the highest quality materials and craftsmanship".It's been announced Project Judi is based on the Jaguar XK-R for reliability and weight-saving strategies. “As reliability is vital, we chose to adopt a thoroughly proven and acclaimed chassis that not only delivers dynamic performance but also lends itself to our lightweight aluminium design," David Brown says.Under the bonnet will be Jag's supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine developing 375kW of power and 625Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels. The company claims Project Judi will do the 0-100km/h sprint in 4.6 seconds -- 0.2 seconds faster than the XKR coupe but 0.2 behind the XKR S -- and reach an electronically limited top speed of more than 250km/h.Project Judi will be unveiled at Top Marques Monaco on April 17, but it's likely we'll see more images and details emerge before then.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott

...the cat car company from continuing development of its heavyweight XK.The R became the R-S and now there is a track-focussed XK-Rs rival to the Porsche 911 GT3 and Audi R8 GT, spotted during testing at the Nurburgring. The big rear wing and 'flick's on the nose point to racing potential and the test car caught by Carparazzi also has a full rollcage and an engine tweaked for around 450 kiloWatts.

Kids aren’t usually a factor in Car of the Year judging.  But child friendliness rates highly with women buying cars – and with women judging cars.The countdown has been kicked off to decide the Women’s World Car of the Year, and the kid factor is one the judges pay a lot of attention to.“Statistics show that women drive children in cars significantly more often than men – and that means women need to take that into account, both when buying and as judges of cars,” WCOTY president Sandy Myhre said from New Zealand.“Any woman who has grappled constantly with child seats and belts and children considers those things when looking at buying a car.  Men might too but the fact is, women drive children in cars more than men.“Women would not consider that aspect in a Porsche 911 more than a bloke. The point is, it can be considered in these awards - and that is one of the points of difference in these awards.”Myhre points out that significant research into buying habits show that in addition to buying for themselves, women have a major influence in household purchase decisions for big ticket items.Ford Australia, for example, says their research shows that women are behind the majority of purchases of the Territory SUV – either as single women buying one, or in influencing the joint decision with their partner. “A report from Mattingly & Associates in Australia concluded, in part, that businesses that didn't understand this influence would be hard-pressed to stay in business.  That report was aptly called 'When I've Made Up Our Minds',” Myhre says.However, the kid factor is just one of the criteria by which the 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year will be judged.There are four categories in the Women's World Car of the Year – Family Car, Luxury Car, Sports Car and Economy Car. Points are allocated to each of ten criteria: driveability, engineering, comfort, child friendliness, style, interior, storage, dashboard efficiency, carbon footprint and colour range.The 20 judges from eleven countries have submitted their own personal short list and more than 300 cars were suggested. These individual choices were then whittled down to form a master list of 32 in terms of popularity. Judges will now allocate points for these cars from a criteria list.The announcement of the winning cars in each category and the supreme winner will be made before the end of March. The supreme award trophy and category certificates will be presented to the car companies concerned at the Mondial de l’Automobile 2012 – the Paris Motor Show – in September. The supreme trophy will this year be made in The Netherlands. Category-winner certificates will be designed at Peartree Studios in Colerne, UK.The first winner of the Women's World Car of the Year was the Jaguar XF in 2010 and the trophy made in South Africa was presented at the Jaguar boutique showroom in Knightsbridge, London. In 2011 there was a dead-heat between the Citroen DS3 and the BMW 5 Series. The two trophies made in India were presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011. 

The open-topped version of the current monster 410kW coupe is not expected to go public until early next year, for the start of the spring buying season in Europe.

The Special Edition celebrates Jaguar’s 75th anniversary, and just 10 examples of this very special breed will be brought into the country. All will be Polaris White, and available for local delivery this month for $272,000 plus on-road costs – which is a comparatively slim premium of just $17,000 over the traditional XKR. That 30 ‘extra’ kay per hour pushes the XKR firmly into supercar speed territory and is made possible just by recalibration of the engine management system. The 5.0-litre supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III R engine makes a mammoth wall of torque – 625Nm – and has the potential to do your neck in thanks to its 375kW peak power output. From stopped to 100km/h takes just 4.8 seconds – far less time than it took you to read this sentence.  The power delivery can be brutal, but the rest of the car is opulent. It’s features are too numerous to list, but the many highlights include: massive 20-inch Kalimnos alloy wheels, 16-way adjustable seats with heating and cooling functions, a Bowers & Wilkins 525-watt audio system with Dolby ProLogic II Surround Sound, three-channel stereo with a unique amp, Kevlar mid-range speakers and specially designed aluminium tweeters. The XKR Special Edition even features the tyre-repairing Instant Mobility System, which does away with the need for a conventional spare tyre. It also frees up the 30-litre spare wheel well, which is now carpeted and can hold a bespoke XK accessory suitcase. Also celebrating the marque’s 75th anniversary on the Jaguar stand at the Australian International Motor Show will be the XF V8 Anniversary Edition. This car is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 producing 283kW and 515Nm, coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission that includes wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual gear changes. Full manual control of gearshifts is possible in manual mode – there is no automatic upshift even when the rev limiter is activated.  The XF V8 accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds and can be yours for just $128,900 plus on-road costs.

It says everything about the ubiquity of such things that the authorities in Baghdad are holding one. What better way to present the image that all's well in this most dangerous of cities than to stick a bunch of cars on stands and charge admission?The realisation that these things are becoming a bit of a yawn has not been lost on the organisers of the British International Motor Show, which has kicked off in London's Docklands.It started with the most memorable pre-launch stunt in recent history, Opel's new Insignia being lowered by a massive crane from atop Tower Bridge. Cute as these things go, but counting for nothing if the show lacked stars and substance.Unlike some other international motor shows, the Brit edition has plenty of both. There are 600 cars running the alphabetical gamut from Alfa Romeo to ZEV (that'd be Zero Emission Vehicles) worth some $100 million.While Britain's biggest consumer exhibition comes close to being all things to all people, it's the 23 models making their debut that is the chief draw for the anticipated 550,000 punters.The show-stealer is undoubtedly the Lotus Evora. The Norfolk marque's first all-new model in 12 years is a mid-engined 2+2 V6, intended to give Porsche something to think about, especially if _ as anticipated _ it combines the brand's trademark lightweight build (just 1350kg) with razor handling.While the Evora represents a significant step forward for Lotus, Jaguar has looked to the past for the XK60, a captivating special edition of the current production coupe to commemorate the unveiling of legendary XK120 sporters in 1948.Powered by the atmo version of the 4.2 V8, the Jag cops enhancements such as 20-inch Senta alloy wheels, alloy gear knob and selector-gate surround, new front spoiler, chrome-finished side vents and special tailpipe finishers. Which is nice.Performance with an eco-conscience? Why not? Mercedes-Benz is showcasing its BlueTEC version of the stylish CLS. Reassuringly for the rev-hungry, there's a Brabus-built Bullit Black Arrow, their V12-engined C-Class.The show's green tinge is evident in the Lightning Car Company's Lightning, a 100 per cent electric GT sports car, and Allied Vehicles' E7 electric taxi, whose lithium-ion batteries imbue the seven-seater with a range of 160km and top speed of 100km/h. Other green gambits include the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic with carbon dioxide emissions of less than 100g/km.While the British blowout is not spoken of in the same breath as the biennial Frankfurt or Paris salons, the lesson for organisers of Australian events are salient.Not least of these is making `events' singular _ just as we have too much government for 21 million people, there are too many annual shows. Oh, and staging it in a venue that's spacious and accessible isn't a bad idea, either. 

As the fastest production XK to date, it delivers high speed, dynamic excellence and crafted luxury.It will be limited to 200 cars available only in Europe, in both right-hand and left-hand drive.The XKR-S is capable of 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds and has a maximum speed, electronically limited, of 280km/h making it the fastest Jaguar since the XJ220 supercar.Revised suspension with bespoke springs, dampers, anti-roll bar and recalibrated Computer Active Technology Suspension further improve the XKR's ride and handling.Exterior styling features revised front air-splitter and side sill-extensions, revised rear spoiler and rear bumper with unique diffuser panel and unique 20” lightweight Vortex alloy wheelsIt has an Alcon R Performance braking system with red monobloc six-piston calipers and 400mm brake discs at the front, 350mm at the rearIt comes with a six-speed automatic transmission with ultra-quick manual gear shifts in milliseconds, using steering-wheel-mounted paddles.The Active Exhaust System ensures refinement at cruising speed but purposeful V8 roar under hard acceleration.The luxury sports interior features full soft-grain leather with twin-needle contrast stitching, adjustable seat bolsters, Piano Black veneer, Charcoal Alston luxury headliner plus the XKR's comprehensive standard specification which includes a Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, with 525W premium audio, featuring low distortion Kevlar mid-range speakers and aluminium dome speakers, designed and tuned specifically for the XK.The limited edition coupe in Ultimate Black is identified by the unique XKR-S badge on the rear of the car.The exterior of the XKR-S has been subtly enhanced to make it recognisably different without being overstated.Another significant element in the revised handling package is that the ride height of the XKR-S has been reduced by 10mm compared with that of the XKR.The full soft grain-leather trim is finished in Charcoal with Ivory twin-needle contrast stitching, with leather wrapping the seats, instrument panel top, centre console, inner door panels and rear side panels.  SnapshotJaguar XKR-SEngine: 4.2-litre quad cam supercharged V8, 4 valves a cylinder, bore/stroke (mm) 86 x 90.3, compression, 9.1Power: 313kW @ 6250rpmTorque: 560Nm @ 4000rpmTransmission: 6-speed automaticPerformance: 0-100km/h 4.9sec; top speed 280km/h.Fuel: 70.6-litre tank; city 19.1L/100km; highway 8.6L/100km, Combined, 12.3L/100kmCO2: 294g/kmWeight: 1665kgDimensions (mm): 4791 (l), 1892 (w), 1312 (h), 2752 (wheelbase); ground clearance 110Weight Distribution: front/rear 53.4/46.6.Wheels and tyres: Front: Pirelli PZERO 255/35 ZR20/9.0J x 20 wheel; rear: Pirelli PZERO 295/30 ZR20/10.5J x 20 wheel 

Only 10 XKR Portfolio coupes will be available for sale in Australia at a cost of $246,000. The 4.2 litre supercharged sports coupe will come in 'Celestial Black' with 20-inch Cremona five-spoke alloy wheels, alloy and leather gearshift selector, soft grab door handles, contrast upholstery stitching, leather edged mats with a Jaguar logo and distinctive Portfolio treadplates on the doorsills. The XKR Portfolio also marks the first production example of Jaguar's new partnership with audio entertainment specialists Bowers and Wilkins. Taking Jaguar's 525W Premium Audio system with Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound as a starting point, Bowers and Wilkins have crafted a signature speaker system specifically for the XKR's cabin. It has high-output, low-distortion Kevlar mid-range speakers and specially designed aluminium dome tweeters. Jaguar's Special Vehicles team also has worked alongside motorsport brake manufacturer Alcon to create the largest, most powerful brakes a production Jaguar has yet carried. Alcon is a technical partner to the Honda F1 Racing Team and their brakes have been used on the 2003-05 Indy Racing champions. The XKR Portfolio brakes comprise huge 400mm discs at the front and 350mm discs at the rear with high-performance brake pads and stiff, lightweight monobloc calipers. The red-coloured brake calipers with R branding feature six pistons at the front and four at the rear. They are designed to dissipate heat and cool the braking system quickly to prevent fade. The discs have crescent-shaped grooves to keep the pads free of grit and debris, which could impair their effectiveness. This also prevents thermal stress raisers or hotspots which can induce judder.  

  “The full initial allocation of XKRs for our first six months has already been sold . . . interest in the car has been unbelievable,” says Land Rover spokeswoman Lesa Horntvedt. “The wait for it is out to six months.” That initial allocation was 60 cars — not a lot in global terms — but it's been some time since anyone lined up for a Jag. Jaguar Australia sold 1011 cars last year, of which 88 were the XK8, the new model of which was launched mid-year. Those figures are already looking pale next to a 2007 first quarter that has seen 30 XK8s delivered and 60 XKRs (at $227,900 for the coupe and $249,900 the convertible) presold. The XKR takes the core of the basic XK, adds a load of performance and a minimum of styling changes. “When we started down this track there were some truths we knew we had to face,” says Jaguar senior body engineer Mark White. “The goal was to create the ultimate sports GT and to do it we set the target of exceeding the XK by some 30 per cent in a range of performance criteria.” What the engineers aimed for was a benchmark of five seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint. They achieved a 5.0 flat for the coupe and 5.2 for the convertible but, more important, performance had to be accessible in the crucial mid-range for overtaking and it had to be refined. A large part of the XKR's credentials come from the high standards set for the new XK. Although there was no need to stiffen the superbly rigid chassis and all-aluminium body of the XK, the XKR engineers concentrated on providing an engine with extra heart, suspension that delivers a stiffer ride without additional harshness, and brakes capable of reining in a rampant XKR. Strapping the twin induction supercharger to the 4.2-litre V8 was the obvious first step and with it came variable valve timing on both inlet and outlet cams. The power boost was some 40 per cent over the XK, taking maximum power to 306kW at 6250rpm and a thumping 560Nm of torque from 4000rpm. The whipcrack engine has been coupled to the latest of the ZF auto gearboxes, as seen in the Maserati Quattroporte and Ford Falcon. Featuring shift changes as smart as 600 milliseconds and as smooth as custard, the box can be driven as a full automatic in cruise mode, a sports automatic with computer-generated blips on the downshifts or as a full-control manual utilising the wheel-mounted paddle shifts. To keep the extra urge from its attempts to separate car and road, the spring rates were stiffened 38 per cent at the front and 28 per cent at the rear, rollbar thickness was increased a millimetre and damper response improved by 25 per cent. The CATS (computer active technology suspension), which switches the dampers between soft and firm, has a similar response time to the XK's but has been tweaked to switch from soft to firm earlier. The other critical area of improvement is in braking. Compared with the XK, the R car has 26 per cent greater swept area on the discs and a huge 37 per cent improvement in cooling efficiency. One of the joys of the XKR, particularly the convertible, is the oh-so-angry exhaust howl. Its throaty note is a simple affair: the more you poke it, the louder it growls. However, poke it really hard and you risk scaring yourself. What's not immediately obvious is the expected induction whine of the supercharger. It's far more muted than the outgoing model — or than the same engine tuned for the S-Type R. Absolutely reassuring about the XKR at full charge is the rock-like stability. It does not so much attack the road as seduce it, caressing the corners with gentle assurance. With the stability control in operation the intervention is gentle and unobtrusive. Each time you think the limits of adhesion are approaching and push that little harder, the chassis finds even more limpet-like grip.