Jaguar XKR

Briefing

Zao's Jaguar XKR is customised with the following gadgets:

• Door panel rockets
• Front grill machine guns
• Rear mounted gattling gun
• Trunk mounted mortars

Driven by villain Zao in Die Another Day, the stunning green roadster features new side mouldings and chin spoiler along with aluminium rollover hoops and a pop-up machine gun. The car features revised air intakes on the bonnet and beefy allow wheels. The production version sports a 4.2 litre version of the Jaguar V8 engine and is boosted by a supercharger.

In true Bond style, no expense was spared on creating a unique look for the car. Special paint was used to create the shimmering green look, which mixed paint with pure gold at a cost of £2000 a litre. During the filming in Iceland, the XKR bodyshell was fitted to a shortened Ford Explorer 4x4 chassis to boost grip. Six of the specially adapted cars were created because of fears they could be damaged if the ice broke.

While there are no plans for a 007 edition (unlike the Ford Thunderbird), the success of the XKR points the way to the styling of the new XK8 which is to be released shortly.

Specification

Engine:
Cylinders/valves per cylinder 8/4
Bore/stroke - mm 86/90.3
Capacity - cc 4196
Maximum power - DIN bhp (kW) 400 (298)
EEC PS (kW) 395 (291)
@ rev/min @ 6100
Maximum torque - DIN lb.ft. (Nm) 408 (553)
EEC lb.ft. (Nm) 399 (541)
@ rev/min @ 3500
Compression ratio :1 9.1
Transmission 6-speed automatic

Performance:
Acceleration 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) - sec 5.2 (5.4)
Top speed - mph (km/h) 155 (250) Limited

Fuel Consumption:
Urban - mpg (1/100) 15.7 (18.0)
Extra urban - mpg (1/1000) 31.0 (9.1)
Combined - mpg (1/100) 22.9 (12.4)
Carbon dioxide emmisions - g/km 304
Tank capacity - gals approx (Ltr). 16.5 (75)

WeightL
Kerb weight - kg (less options) 1735
Gross vehicle weight - kg 2104

Wheels/Tyres:
Wheel type Alloy 8" x 18" front/rear 9" x 18" rear
Tyre size Front:245/45 ZR18
Rear: 245/45 ZR18
Turning circle ft. inch. (m). 36ft 2in (11.0)
Usable boot volume - VDA cu. ft. (m3) 11.5 (0.327)

History

The new XKR models build on the success of the XK8 which made its debut at the Geneva show in 1996 and is now the fastest selling sports car in Jaguar's history. In 1997, Jaguar sold 14,619 XK8s across the globe - 88 per cent higher than 1996. Jaguar projects worldwide sales of the new XKR of around 1500 cars in 1998.

The principal market for the new XKR is Europe, accounting for 95 per cent of forecast sales in 1998. In the UK, which is forecast to take over 35 per cent of XKR worldwide volume, 70 per cent of sales will be coups. The next largest market is Germany, representing 30 per cent of total sales, with an even split between coups and convertibles. The remaining European markets - principally France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Belgium - account for a further 30 per cent of forecast XKR sales this year. XKR will be launched in other markets during the course of 1998 and 1999.

The new XKR is powered by the same 4.0 litre supercharged AJ-V8 engine as the Jaguar XJR sports saloon, which, when launched last autumn, redefined the standards of refined power. Developed at Jaguar's Engineering Centre at Whitley in Coventry, the supercharged AJ-V8 engine features an immensely stiff yet lightweight cylinder block design, providing an excellent platform for pressure charging with refinement. The supercharged AJ-V8 in XKR produces an exhilarating 276 kW DIN (370 bhp), 28 per cent more power than the normally aspirated XK8 models. The XKR's maximum torque of 525 Nm DIN (387 lb. ft) - 33 per cent greater than XK8 - is achieved at only 3600 rev/min for optimum driveability. The Eaton M112 supercharger from the XJR saloon is retained together with a compact air-to-liquid intercooling system with twin intercoolers - one to each bank.

The five-speed electronically controlled, intelligent, wide ratio automatic transmission provides seamless power delivery while benefiting fuel economy. Minor recalibration of the engine management system and transmission control module is required to suit the XKR application.

The resultant performance makes the XKR the fastest mainstream production Jaguar ever, even faster than the supercharged XJR sports saloon. The new XKR coup accelerates from rest to 60 mph in a mere 5.2 seconds (convertible 5.3 seconds) and from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds (convertible 5.6 seconds). However, the performance advantage of XKR over its saloon stable mate is most marked above 100 mph, making it a formidable performer on unrestricted German autobahns.

Despite this prodigious performance, the efficiency of the new XKR powertrain also ensures that fuel economy and emissions are among the leaders in its class. The XKR coup achieves 29.3 mpg (9.6 L/100 Km) on the EU extra-urban cycle and a combined economy figure of 23.1 mpg (12.2 L/100Km).

The advanced, innovative design of the all-aluminium AJ-V8 engine ensures that XKR comfortably meets not only the current stage 2 emissions requirements of the European Union but those presently proposed for the year 2000.

The twin catalysts, mounted to the exhaust manifold, begin to operate within 30 seconds of start-up, significantly reducing emissions on even the shortest journeys. The thin-walled exhaust manifold reduces thermal inertia to speed up catalyst operation. The patented, high velocity cooling system with its low - volume cylinder head and block cooling passages achieves engine warm up in less than 4 minutes in a simulated urban test cycle. This reduces both cold-start emissions and fuel consumption.

The new two-piece propshaft is similar in design to that of the supercharged XJR saloon with an equal length between the fore and aft tubes, enhancing refinement. The modified air intake system features two 1/4 wave resonators for improved cabin refinement and reduced external noise levels. The exhaust system also incorporates detailed internal design changes for enhanced refinement.

Jaguar engineers have also modified the suspension, steering, braking and tyre systems to optimise the dynamic performance of XKR. Jaguar's Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS) is standard fitment on XKR. CATS uses adaptive dampers under electronic control to optimise ride and handling in all conditions.

The CATS system for XKR is basically the same as that fitted to the XJR saloon but with a slightly more sporting tune. Together with Bilstein digressive dampers, this combines excellent body control particularly at high speed with a consistent, slightly firmer low speed ride.

New-style cast alloy road wheels of 18 inch diameter are unique to XKR models, but are the same size as the standard XK8 wheels when specified with CATS. These are fitted with Pirelli "P Zero System" 245/45 ZR 18 tyres on 8 inch rims at the front and 255/45 ZR 18 tyres on 9 inch rims at the rear. The front tyres are the same as those fitted to the XK8 while the rear tyres have a revised construction, improving handling and grip and providing a more linear response to steering inputs.

The sum of these changes is to refine the already excellent XK8 chassis, enhancing both the handling and stability of the high performance XKR.

In common with XK8 and the XJR supercharged saloon, the braking system of the XKR features ventilated discs, front and rear. Uprated, higher friction front disc pads ensure that system performance is maintained at higher operating temperatures. The new brake pads are of a lead-free construction to minimise the impact on the environment, pre-empting future legislative requirements.

The XKR features the Servotronic II steering rack, the first application worldwide for this latest generation ZF system. The electronically controlled speed proportional steering system, with a variable ratio rack bar, is recalibrated to provide a greater degree of weighting at medium to high vehicle speeds, in keeping with the XKR's sporting character. Increased stiffening of the rack bushes - by approximately 17 per cent - together with the Servotronic II system improves steering precision and increased steering "feel" during cornering.

The award-winning style of the XK8 embodies the unique Jaguar signature, making it instantly recognisable to discerning car enthusiasts worldwide. The elegant and powerful flowing lines evoke the great Jaguar sports car legends - the XK120, the race-bred C and D-Types and the sensuous E-Type . For XKR, subtle enhancements of the beautiful exterior clearly signal a more powerful and sporting character, emphasising Jaguar's characteristic feline stance.

Twin louvred inserts in the bonnet and a bootlid-mounted spoiler provide visual clues to the supercharged performance beneath the surface as well as maintaining the optimum balance between front and rear end lift. The bonnet louvres also optimise air flow through the high performance cooling system.

The traditional Jaguar oval air intake mouth on XKR features a bright mesh grille in stainless steel, emphasising the family links with its supercharged XJR saloon stable mate.

The colour range for XKR is restricted to 8 body colours - including the dramatic new Phoenix Red - specially selected to suit the sporting character of these exciting new models.

In the UK, the XKR coup retails at £59,300 and the convertible at £66,300 significantly below the major facing competition. This represents a premium of £9350 versus the standard XK8, including over £4,000 worth of additional equipment.

Commenting on the launch of the new XKR, Nick Scheele, Jaguar's Chairman and chief executive said: "XKR provides an unrivalled blend of styling panache, supercar performance, handling precision and outstanding value for money.

This year Jaguar celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of the brilliant XK120, which set new standards for sports car performance. XKR is a worthy descendant which I am sure will further enhance the reputation and appeal of the XK8 range among motoring enthusiasts worldwide."