2010 Jaguar XFR News

Go kitty go!

Jaguar Cars has been in the news this past year because of its new owners, IndiaÔÇÖs Tata Motors, and because of its game-changing, highly lauded XF sport sedan. The XF, which stepped away from ÔÇ£traditionalÔÇØ Jaguar styling cues, has been available with naturally aspirated and supercharged versions of the companyÔÇÖs long-running 4.2-liter V-8, but a new performance flagship model, the XFR, made its debut at the North American International Auto Show earlier this week, as well as on the sands at Bonneville.

The production 2010 XFR sports a mean body kit, 20-inch alloy wheels and an all-new direct-injection, supercharged and twin-intercooled 5.0-liter V-8 engine making 510hp and 461-lbs.ft. of torque, good for a 0-60mph run in 4.7 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
In conjunction with the XFRÔÇÖs debut was a news release from Jaguar that divulged that the automaker secretly brought the new sedan to UtahÔÇÖs Bonneville Salt Flats, where a prototype achieved a stunning 225.675 mph top speed. This prototype ran with minor aerodynamic tweaks and additional safety equipment as required at Bonneville, and its engine and transmission were stock, save for a remapped ECU, modified air intake and exhaust and revised supercharger settings. This run makes the XFR the fastest production Jaguar ever, beating the 1992-1994 XJ220ÔÇÖs 217.1 mph top speed.

Paul Gentilozzi, the owner of Rocketsports Racing who led the Jaguar XKR to five series victories between 2001 and 2006 in AmericaÔÇÖs Trans Am series, drove the car on the record-breaking run, and said, ÔÇ£During my career, IÔÇÖve raced worldwide from the southern tip of New Zealand to Le Mans. Along the way, I have been privileged to drive and own so many exciting cars, but IÔÇÖve never driven one that was as exciting to drive fast as this Jaguar.ÔÇØ

- By Mark J. McCourt ÔÇô Hemmings Motor News