uar Unveils XK-RS Concep
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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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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