
picture Jaguar Cars
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) with Michelin
Pilot tires 285 x 20 (fr), 325 x 20 (r)
- Brakes: R-Performance Brembo calipers with drilled
rotors (13" front/12" rear)
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February 2004
Picture this... a sensual XKR convertible, black
on black, fitted with a wind tunnel developped aero package, ready
to hug the road with massive 20x11 wheels and a lowered suspension.
Under the louvered bonnet, a 5 litre supercharged AJ-V8 engine developping
550hp and 500 lbft of torque and.. are you ready for this... matted
to a 5 speed transaxle MANUAL!
This is actually a cruel joke that Jaguar and
Rocketsports engineers are playing on us.. you see.. concept cars
are usually far out dream vehicles bearing little ressemblance with
production models but this one looks familiar and could be produced.
But you are unlikely to slip behind the wheel anytime soon... it's
just another concept, another teaser...
For those North American Jaguar enthusiasts who
have been hybernating in past 3 or 4 years, Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports
is the race team who brought Jaguar back into Trans Am racing with
great success including two manufacturers and drivers titles. Gentilozzi
himself is a four time Tran Am champion and one of the most succesful
driver in the long running series. They also have been working with
Jaguar on a number of projects including developping a race version
of the Jaguar V8 engine introduced this year in the XK8 of Trans
Am Champ Scott Pruett and the agressive X-Type concept racer presented
last year.
The XK-RS is not a regular XKR with a body kit,
it was engineered to bring 200 mph / sub 4 second 0-60 performance
to Jaguar luxury flagship GT. Careful aerodynamic work by Rocketsports
engineers include agressive spoilers and side skirts along with
underbody wind tunnels expected to increase downforce by 100%...
Using a transaxle manual gearbox not only makes a car a real enthusiasts'
sports car but also improves handling as relocating the transmisson
results in a 50/50 ideal weight distribtution.
With an extensively redesigned XK8 / XKR expected
to reach the market in 2006 using aluminium construction, you will
never see the XK-RS in a showroom near you. Until then at least,
we will have to accept the same level of performance Jaguar brought
us in 1998 with the original XKR, while every other performance
manufacturer has raised its game...
The XK-RS is another stunning Cat, just like the
XK180, F-Type, R Coupe, RD6 Coupe and X-type racer, unfortunately,
it will join them as just another teaser...
- Other images -
- front - rear
- side - interior
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- Pictures Jaguar Cars -

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