This Jaguar has a big butt.
Sometimes, automakers strike that perfect balance between sport and functionality to create a car that allows you to have your cake and eat it too. The new Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake is one of those cars.
Set to make its debut at the 2014 Geneva International Motor Show, the new Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake is a high-performance super-wagon that offers up to 1,675 liters of rear luggage space along with a supercharged, 5.0-liter V-8 engine churning out 542 elegant British horses for some provocative practicality.
“Combining real-world versatility with electrifying performance, the XFR-S Sportbrake brings Jaguar’s sporting character to life in a truly engaging car that will satisfy the most demanding of drivers while fitting into the most active of lifestyles,” said Dean Murden, Vehicle Program Director, Jaguar.
Providing the propulsion for the British super-wagon is Jaguar’s all-aluminum, quad-cam 5.0-liter supercharged engine. The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake is force-fed by a Roots-type twin vortex supercharger with two intercoolers utilizing their own water-cooling circuits. New technology such as Spray-Guided Direct Injection (SGDI) and Dual Independent Variable Cam Timing (DIVCT) helps create more power with greater efficiency as well. Jaguar modified various aspects of the engine compared to the unit found in the XFR using goodies such as a high-performance exhaust that spits out a motorsports crackle, a revised intake system, and an intake symposer that directs engine sounds into the cabin.
The force-fed 5.0-liter V-8 engine produces a fierce 542 horsepower (550 PS) at 6,500 RPM and 502 lb-ft. of torque from 2,500 to 5,500 RPM. All this power is sent through the Jaguar eight-speed automatic transmission with ‘Quickshift’ technology originally developed for the F-Type Coupe. The transmission allows for greater control and even has Corner Recognition technology that understands when the car is driving through a bend to hold onto a lower gear for greater exit performance. The transmission also has an overtaking feature that sticks with the lower gear to allow for more power to be on tap with the rapid throttle position changes required for passing.
Both advanced drivetrain components allow the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake to accelerate to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and reach an electronically-limited top speed of 186 mph.
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake isn’t just a straight-line speedster, its suspension and chassis have been designed to offer superb driving dynamics that are in-line with the rest of the Jaguar lineup without sacrificing ride quality. The active rear suspension has been tuned to accommodate for the increase in size and weight of the Sportwagon’s butt while both the front and rear suspension has been stiffened by 30-percent. These changes also necessitated that the Active Rear Differential be re-tuned to accommodate for the added weight and suspension characteristics.
Putting all that power to the road and diving into bends are new 20-inch forged wheels. The new Varuna alloy wheels wear a dual ceramic polish on the outside surfaces and gloss black on the inner areas. The new 20-inch wheels measure 0.5-inches wider up front and 1.0-inches wider at the rear compared to the Jaguar XFR. The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake also wears new 265/35 and 295/30 high-performance tires that have been co-developed with Pirelli. Behind the wheels sit Jaguar’s High Performance Braking System with 380 mm front and 376 mm rear discs to bring the car to a halt.
The design of the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake is dynamic and powerful while keeping with the classic British elegance. A deep front bumper with new side air intakes and carbon fiber large lower intake helps to channel more air directly into the engine bay. A front splitter sits below and helps to reduce lift for greater high-speed stability. Air runs along the side of the Sportbrake thanks to extended side sills and aeroblade moldings along with deeper side blades aft the rear wheel arches. An extended rear bumper with integrated diffuser works along with the roof-mounted spoiler to keep that big butt planted at high speeds.
The classic wagon shape and roofline creates a smooth and flowing shape as it gracefully ends at the rear hatch. The rising waist and broad shoulders lend to a dynamic and powerful presence, even at rest. Gloss black elements replace many chrome pieces throughout the exterior around the front grille, side vents, front and rear windshields, and windows across the trunklid while the front grilles are painted the same color. Five colors will be available for the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake: Ultra Blue, Ultimate Black, Stratus Grey, Polaris White and Italian Racing Red. Strangely, there is no British Racing Green.
Inside, there is up to a whopping 1,675 liters of luggage space thanks to the 60/40 folding rear seats. Thanks to the wagon roofline, the rear passengers also have an additional 48 mm of headroom compared to the sedan variant. The cockpit is decorated with Warm Charcoal leather adorning the seats and doors in combination with exclusive R-S carbon effect leather on the side bolsters and arm rests. The special R-S logos are proudly worn on the seats along with red, blue, or ivory contrasting micro-piping. Dark Aluminum trim runs alongside the same Warm Charcoal and carbon leather trimmings on the car’s dashboard as well. The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake comes standard with some audio bliss provided by an 825-watt, 18-speaker Meridian system in case the exhaust note isn’t enough.
The new Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake will make its global debut alongside the rest of the 2015 Jaguar XF model range at the 2014 Geneva International Motor Show. The XFR-S Sportbrake will be available for order in the UK on April 1st, 2014 with prices starting at £82,495.
Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake Specifications
Engine:
Displacement: 5.0 liters
Number of Cylinders: V-8
Aspiration: Supercharged
Maximum Horsepower: 542 / 550 PS / 405 kW at 6,500 RPM
Maximum Torque: 502 lb-ft. / 680 Nm from 2,500 to 5,500 RPM
Transmission:
Type: Eight-speed ‘Quickshift’ automatic
Drive: Rear-wheel
Performance:
Acceleration: 0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds
Acceleration 0-62 mph: 4.8 seconds
Top Speed: 186 mph / 300 km/h (electronically-limited)
Wheels, Tires, and Brakes:
Wheels: 20-inch forged Varuna dual-finish
Tires: Pirelli 265/35 and 295/30 (front/rear)
Brakes: 380mm front and 376mm rear discs
Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake Gallery
Source: Jaguar
Is the Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake the ultimate high-performance wagon?
