2008 Jaguar XKR-S Photos, engines & full specs

Jaguar was ready to release the facelift for the XKR’s second generation, but it couldn’t leave it to go without a final edition that was developed together with the famous Prodrive race-engineering company, and the result was this: the 2008 Jaguar XKR-S.

When Jaguar introduced the second generation of the XK-series (the XK8 and the XKR), it used the same aluminum platform used for the XJ four-door sedan. It was a masterpiece, and people understood that it had great potential. But not even the stiffer XKR couldn’t hide the fact that it was, after all, a grand tourer with a more potent engine, not a vehicle that could be thrashed around a racetrack with a grim smile on the driver’s face. On the other hand, Jaguar was known for its racing pedigree, so it had to do something to satisfy its customers, who asked if they could do better. The British automaker hired Prodrive, an engineering company specialized in race cars, to tweak the XKR, and the result was the 2008 XKR-S. It was produced in just 200 units, and it was available in just one color: black. It was the first car Jaguar launched after Ford sold it to Tata Motors.

At the front, the car looked more aggressive than the regular XKR. While it still kept the same headlights, it had a mean appearance. Unlike the regular supercharged version, the S one came with a black mesh that covered the upper grille and the air intake from the lower bumper. On the non-S version, that mesh was silver. Furthermore, underneath the apron, Prodrive installed a carbon fiber lip spoiler that reduced the ground effect. It wasn’t an aerodynamic element just for the looks.

The car’s profile revealed a lower ground clearance by 10 millimeters compared with the regular XKR. Furthermore, the car manufacturer added carbon fiber side sills. Prodrive also insisted on decreasing the unsprung masses, so it installed new alloy wheels with a fresh design. Finally, at the back, the automaker added a larger spoiler on the tailgate than on the rest of the range. Finally, the double twin exhausts that peaked from under the rear bumper flanked a newly introduced carbon fiber diffuser.

Inside, the automaker extensively used black trims. The high-bolstered front seats and the rear bench seat were covered in leather. On the dashboard, Jaguar installed a black panel in front of the passenger and on the center console that housed the infotainment system. Furthermore, the redesigned steering wheel featured buttons on it, a pair of paddle shifters behind, and a red and green R badge on the lower spoke. The infotainment system that featured navigation and Bluetooth connectivity with mobile phones was standard.

Under the hood, the automaker installed the same 420 PS engine as in the regular XKR. But thanks to the fact that the car featured a stiffer, reworked suspension, it was quicker around bends.