The Jaguar XKR-S GT brings race readiness to the road in New York

While the new Jaguar XKR-S GT is fully street legal, this new GT package for the XKR-S feature a long list of features that are more appropriate for track use. The result is a 2-door coupe that serves as the highest performance option in the current powerful Jaguar lineup with an exterior package that makes it very clear that this is not your average Jag coupe.

The new Jaguar XKR-S GT begins on the outside, where an elaborate body upgrade package gives this sleek coupe the look and the aerodynamic properties of a modern GT racer. This begins with a unique ventilated hood sporting the R-S GT logo, a huge carbon fiber front splitter on a revised front fascia, carbon fiber dive plans (canards), extended carbon fiber wheel arch spats, an aluminum belly pan, a revised rear lower diffuser and a massive, adjustable GT style rear win – in carbon fiber, of course. Next, 20 inch lightweight wheels designed to improve brake cooling have been wrapped in Pirelli Corsa have been added for improved grip in all situations while more non-functional carbon fiber bits complete the look of this package. The XKR-S GT is available only as shown with Polaris White paint, black stripes, black wheels and the unique badging…in addition to all of those exposed carbon fiber goodies.

"The development of the XKR-S GT demanded an uncompromised approach to enhance aerodynamic down force, with complementary suspension changes to maximize high-speed cornering ability,” said Pete Simkin, Director, ETO Specialist Products, Jaguar. “ In combination with the use of a carbon ceramic braking system, the result is the most focused 'R' model Jaguar has ever built."

Next, the Jaguar ETO in-house performance division turned to the suspension setup of the new Jaguar XKR-S GT. In addition to new front and rear suspension arms, bushings, wheel bearings and a rear subframe, the Jaguar ETO team added a new twin spring suspension setup coupled with the Jaguar Adaptive Dynamics active damping system. With the help of these new springs and dampers along with adjustability of said dampers, the front end is 68% stiffer while the rear end is 25% stiffer than the standard XKR-S so this package offers far greater handling capabilities at the track.

Finally, the Jaguar XKR-S GT features a new carbon ceramic braking setup featuring massive cross drilled and internally vented rotors measuring 15.7 inches up front and 15 inches out back. Clamping down on these big discs is a set of high performance brake calipers with 6 pistons for the front stoppers and 4 piston units out back. While this setup offers incredible stopping power, the carbon ceramic construction removes 46.3 pounds of unsprung weight from this remarkable supercar.

"The disc and pad materials are specially tailored for Jaguar characteristics. Because the XKR-S GT is a road car as well as one suitable for customers to take on the track,” said Edward Nixon, Group Leader, Brakes, Jaguar XKR-S GT. “We engineered it for race-car braking performance but with no compromise to cold or wet weather ability."

Finally, the new Jaguar XKR-S GT is powered by the same supercharged 5.0L V8 that is found in the standard XKR-S and the upcoming XJR. This engine churns out 550 horsepower and 502lb-ft of torque – enough to propel the XKR-S GT from a stop to 60 miles per hour in just 3.9 seconds en route to an electronically limited top speed of 186 miles per hour. Add those numbers to the incredible aerodynamic, handling and braking properties and you have yourself one of the best performing street legal Jaguars ever sold to the public.

On top of being the highest performance option in the current brand lineup, the new Jaguar XKR-S GT is also the most limited – with only 30 headed to North America and just 25 of those intended for American buyers (the other 5 are headed to Canada) when the XKR-S GT arrives in August. Not surprisingly, the highest performance and lowest production Jaguar sports car is also the most expensive current Jag with a price starting at $174,000. Even with that price, it is pretty much guaranteed that these new race ready Jaguar coupes will sell out so if you have $174 large sitting around, you might want to make a trip to your local Jaguar dealership right away to see about securing one of the 25 XKR-S GT coupes headed to the US.

Click any thumbnail on this page for a closer look at the 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT.