The most recent iteration of the Jaguar XK coupe and convertible heralds a remarkable shift by iconic British luxury car maker Jaguar to the return of producing luxury sports cars with real performance potential. The Jaguar XKR, available in both soft and hard top models, features a new design that looks at home with the Aston Martins and Bentley grand tourers of the world, and better still the XKR can nearly match the best coupes from those storied performance automakers in performance potential.
Jaguar has decided, for the 2009 model year, to take the XKR model line even further, with the introduction of the 2009 Jaguar XKR-S. While it shares powertrain components with the standard XKR grand touring Jaguar model, the XKR-S adds a completely redesigned suspension with a sport-tuned Computer Active Technology Suspension (appropriately titled CATS) that handles the finer points of keeping the 2009 XKR-S on the road at the hands of a driver who may get in over his or her head. Larger anti-roll bar and stiffer spring rates round out the suspension package.
The XKR-S is a special sort of car, capable enough to be driven hard though retaining a luxurious ride. The aluminum-bodied Jaguar sports grand touring car is so much lighter than Jaguar models of old, and promises not to plow under hard cornering to the degree of XK models of old. Curiously absenent on the XKR-S is the inclusion of a limited slip differential, an important drivetrain component which is becoming standard on grand touring and sports car models at the Jaguar XKR-S price point. Don't expect to be autocrossing this cat without some significant drivetrain modifications.
