Jaguar XK-RS concept

[AlienDB7]

Coverage of the Jaguar XK-RS concept at Chicago auto show:
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=02108689

[levensnevel]

As usual with Jaguar these days:
qte...
Jag says it has no production plans for the XK-RS.
...unqte
Guess they are just testing the water :cry:
The front looks a bit too familiar to Spyker's C8 if you ask me :shock:

[DeMoN]

god damn, that is a riced up miata!

[nthfinity]

looks ok. but i hope they dont build it. jag needs to focus on retaining thier ability to compare against bmw/merc/audi :-D

[jasc]

Unfortunately demon here stole the words out of my mouth. Jaguar probably won't produce it because some ricers will just build one for 1/5 of the cost. Who wants to be seen in a riced Jaguar. The chromed hundred spokes look a little too bling and the front grille is pure rice. A concept Jag should've produce but dropped the ball on was the F-type. Jaguar should produce it to save costs it can save sheet metal, and other parts with the Miata. But badge engineering should be left up to the pros at GM.

[altezza]

please click here (http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6320) for some high-res pics of this car 8)

CHICAGO, Illinois, February 5, 2004 – The most powerful road-going Jaguar convertible ever – the 550 horsepower XK-RS concept car – was unleashed at the 2004 Chicago Auto Show today.

Developed by Michigan-based Rocketsports Racing in cooperation with Jaguar North America, the XK-RS concept demonstrates how Jaguar’s luxury GT road car can be transformed into a thundering 200-mph supercar.

"At Rocketsports, we’re very familiar with Jaguar’s XKR sports car, having won the Trans-Am Manufacturers’ Championship two times with this beautiful, fast car," said Rocketsports Racing owner, Paul Gentilozzi.

"We think the XKR makes a great foundation for high-performance tuning. The XK-RS concept is just one dramatic interpretation of the many directions in which the car can be taken," he added.

Engineers at Rocketsports’ Lansing, Michigan workshop took the already-potent Jaguar AJ-V8 Trans-Am race engine and increased its displacement by stroking it out from 4.5 liters to 5.0 liters.

To ensure drivability, the engineers reinstalled an Eaton supercharger to deliver an estimated 550 bhp and 500 lb. ft. of torque, giving the car the power to accelerate from standstill to 60 mph in under four seconds, and take it to a top speed of 200 mph.

"Many of the lessons we learned in developing the 650 bhp normally aspirated Jaguar AJ-V8 race engine for the R-Performance XKR Trans-Am race car were incorporated in the engine for the XK-RS," explained Gentilozzi.

To make the car more involving for the sports car enthusiast, the standard six-speed ZF automatic transmission was replaced with a five-speed manual transaxle. Re-positioning the driveline weight to the rear of the car also results in a perfect 50:50 weight balance for improved handling.

Rocketsports also used the team’s considerable expertise in high-speed aerodynamics with its Jaguar XKR Trans-Am race cars, modifying the production XKR’s body to ensure ground-hugging stability at very high speeds.

Special underbody air tunnels running the length of the car were created, along with deeper front and rear spoilers, wider wheel arches and aero-style sill sections similar to those featured on the specially-developed XKR that starred in last year’s James Bond adventure, ‘Die Another Day’.

When tested in the wind tunnel, the changes are expected to result in a 100 percent increase in aerodynamic downforce at top speed compared to the standard car.

The production XKR’s suspension was also modified to ensure supercar handling. The changes include the addition of coil-over high-performance Penske shocks. To give the concept the kind of stopping power that matches its anticipated grip, R-Performance Brembo calipers with drilled rotors (13-inch front/12-inch rear) were added.

And no 200 mph supercar would be complete without a dramatic wheel and tire combination. The XK-RS comes fitted with three-piece wheels - center-lock 'Machiavelli Gotti' – 20-inch x 10-inch at the front, 20-inch x 11-inch at the rear – shod with high-performance Michelin Pilot tires.

Inside, the XK-RS features body-hugging Johnson Controls "Leap" seats clad in black leather with medium grey inserts.

To complete the bold appearance, the concept is painted in rich black lacquer. Along each side, Pearl Black Jaguar ‘leaper’ graphics echo those used on Rocketsports Racing’s XKR race cars.

"The XK-RS concept is one more example of our strong relationship with Paul Gentilozzi and Rocketsports Racing," said George Ayres, vice president of Marketing for Jaguar North America. "The XK-RS uses Rocketsports’ considerable race car expertise to create this dramatic, one-off concept car."

The XK-RS is Rocketsports' second Jaguar project car. In 2002, Rocketsports created the purposeful ‘Racing Concept’ version of Jaguar’s all-wheel drive X-TYPE. The dramatic-looking concept race car was developed to test the potential of Jaguar’s X-TYPE as a project car for the enthusiast market.

XK-RS Concept – Specification

Based on 2004 Jaguar XKR Convertible
Built by Rocketsports Racing, Lansing, Michigan

Engine: Supercharged Jaguar AJ-V8 Trans-Am race engine, stroked out from 4.5 to 5.0 liters. Custom Rocketsports valve train, Borla stainless steel headers, Bosch fuel injection, re-engineered rotating assembly, dry sump oiling.
Power: 550 bhp
Torque: 500 lb. ft.
Suspension: Coil-over Penske shocks
Driveline: Manual sequential 5-speed transaxle
Performance: 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Top speed 200 mph.
Body: Additions include new front and rear spoilers, underbody air tunnels, sill extensions. Track widened by 2.8 inches total, rear 3.0 inches total. Gross weight 3,400 pounds. Overall height reduced by 2.75 inches at windshield.
Wheels: Three-piece, center-lock Machiavelli Gotti; 20-inch x 10-inch (fr), 20-inch x 11- inch(r)
Tires: Michelin Pilot; 285 x 20 (fr), 325 x 20 (r)
Brakes: R-Performance Brembo calipers with drilled rotors (13" front/12" rear)

[Fleischmann]

They ripped the front from the Spyker. I prefer the XKR-R, aalthough there is no point of comparing them since they are in a different league.

[deth]

i dont like it.. i think they just tried too hard w/ teh body kit and the carbon. u can still see that under it all its just a soft squishy jag...man that carbon really doesnt fit in that car.

[AlienDB7]

I agree, it's a bit weird seeing all the carbon fibre in a jag... where's the woodtrim ;)

[BMW-M-Power]

The XK-RS did look tough though. But I'm pretty sure that Jaguar's not going to build it, just like they didn't do to their other concept cars showing how Jaguars of the future will look like. Get to work Jaguar and build these cars you've made concepts to regular serie-produced cars!

http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2004/0209/jag345main.jpg

http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2004/0209/jag345rear.jpg

[jeroen40]

looks pretty spectacular! but as always why are they don't building it?!?! it's pretty much time for a juicy jag.... aren't there any plans for a new kind of xj220 thing?