km : Automotive News

The Geneva show is basically a place for all the beautiful cars of the world to gather together, with everything else simply serving as filler. Perhaps concerned that its most beautiful model, the XK, might get lost among the newer, more exotic metal, Jaguar will be introducing a few new ways to spice up the very powerful, yet relatively tame XKR coupe. Sorry, they won't be offered on the base XR or the XKR convertible.

There will also be an XKR Special Edition offered for 2011, and it essentially combines the two packages detailed below with a fully-loaded XKR. Only Piano Black trim will be offered on the Special Edition, and a custom Jaguar XK suitcase will be tossed in the back as a bonus.

XKR Speed Pack
Long story short, the Speed Pack uncorks the high end of the XKR's performance, making the 155-mph speed limiter disappear, thereby allowing the car to hit a top speed of 174 mph (280 km/h.) For added stability, the package adds a revised front splitter and a larger spoiler at the rear to reduce lift. The computers controlling the car's active differential also makes the steering system less sensitive at high speeds, further contributing to better stability. We're unsure what performance is added by painting the brake calipers red, but that's been done too, though they also feature "R" logos poking out from behind 20-inch "Kasuga" wheels.

"At 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque," explains chief program engineer Russ Varney, about the addition of this package, "the XKR has immense reserves of power and acceleration which impress everyone who experience it. The car has always had the potential to reach speeds far beyond its original electronically-limied maximum and many of our customers have expressed an interest in a car that can safely be driven faster where conditions permit. The new Speed Pack allows them to release some of that potential and give them control of the fastest XK we've made to date."

In addition to the aero enhancements, the Speed Pack car also gets a set of unique paint colors that "have been specially chosen to complement the performance potential of the car." There are seven colors worthy of that honor: Ultimate Black, Polaris White, Salsa Red, Liquid Silver, Lunar Grey, Kyanite Blue, and Spectrum Blue.



XK Black Pack
Cars equipped with the Black Pack will have their color choices limited even further. Only the black, white, and red colors mentioned above will be paired with this new group of additions. As design director Ian Callum explains about the package, "While Jaguars are about beauty, they are also about speed and power. With the optional Black Pack you can now add a sense of drama and severity to that performance."

Cars thus equipped will wear 20-inch "Kalimnos" wheels painted gloss black. The window surrounds, grilles, and side vents too, are painted in gloss black, while the red calipers of the Speed Pack are an optional add-on. New front and rear spoilers included with the package are painted body color, while the "XKR" side graphic you see is optional.

Unlike the Track Pack, the Black Pack (confused yet?) additions continue to the interior. Charcoal leather will logically be the only upholstery choice, but grains and stitching can be personalized for a bespoke cabin design. Three trims--Dark Oak, Dark Mesh Aluminum, and Piano Black--will be offered, but we think that last choice makes the most sense.

Video to come.

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