Jaguar XKR gets Speed Pack

Buyers of the Jaguar XKR will now be able to specify a £3,500 Speed Pack that ditches the electronic speed limiter, raising the top speed from 155 mph (250 kph) to 174 mph (280 kph).  Power from the 5.0 litre supercharged V8 is unchanged at 503 bhp, but a recalibrated engine and transmission make the increase possible.

OK, traffic and speed limits probably make that academic in most places, but the pack also includes some useful additions.  The revised front splitter, larger rear spoiler and modified Active Differential Control are all designed to increase stability at high speed.  Visual enhancements comprise body-coloured side sills and rear diffuser, together with chrome around the windows, on both grilles and on the side vents.


For an extra £500, the Black Pack can be specified.  As the name implies, order this and the window surrounds, grilles and wheels are black instead, and the interior is charcoal leather.  Thankfully, the slightly dodgy-looking side stripes are a dealer-fit accessory, so they can be left off.


In the UK the XKR Coupe costs £78,455 with the Speed Pack.  That’s rather good value compared to £86,790 for the (155 mph limited) BMW M6, or £88,995 for the only slightly faster Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts:

Saab 9-3 Aero Carlsson

Image
Saab has got experience of producing special editions in honour of rally driver Erik Carlsson, having previously named versions of the 900 and 9000 after him during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now it has decided to do it again, this time to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Swedish driver’s first win in Britain’s RAC Rally, which was achieved at the wheel of a Saab 96. Thankfully, the company has resisted the urge to just bung some fancy alloys and a few other extra bits onto something like a mid-range diesel model. Instead, it appears to have resurrected the limited edition Turbo X from a couple of years ago, as the new edition similarly features a turbocharged 2.8 litre petrol V6, Saab’s XWD all-wheel drive system and a six-speed automatic gearbox. The result is the 9-3 Aero Carlsson saloon, which turns out to be a very rapid car. With 276 bhp (205 kW / 280 PS) and a healthy 400 Nm of torque, the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) dash takes just 6.9 seconds. But it’s in the mid-range t...
Read more

American spec Fiat 500

Image
Fiat has released the first details and images of the North American specification 500. The tiny city car will be available in Pop, Lounge and Sport trim levels, and is distinguished from the European version by its more aggressive front and rear bumpers, bigger grille and flared sills. Another unique feature is the engine. Fiat has decided to use the 1.4 MultiAir unit currently found in models such as the Fiat Punto Evo and Alfa Romeo MiTo. Perhaps it felt that using the forthcoming two-cylinder TwinAir in the American 500 would have been too much for markets there to take? There’s no word yet on what power output the MultiAir will have, although in its current applications it comes with either 103 bhp (77 kW / 105 PS), 133 bhp (99 kW / 135 PS) or 167 bhp (125 kW / 170 PS). Similarly, prices have yet to be confirmed, but hopefully both details will have been sorted out by the time the order book for the 500 hatch opens later this year. For convertible fans, the 500C is due ...
Read more

i10 N Line versus the Up! GTI

Image
Hyundai has confirmed specifications and pricing for its sporty i10 N Line. This new variant – which arrives at dealers later this month – benefits from some cosmetic tweaks, unique suspension components and a more powerful 1.0 litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol engine.
Read more