XFR-S Sportbrake (United Kingdom, 2015)

The 2015 XFR-S Sportbrake was introduced in early 2014.

Performance is provided by the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine, which now boasts 550PS and 680Nm - 40PS and 55Nm more respectively over the version. The boost has been achieved through revisions to the engine management system and optimisation of the flow of air both into and out of the engine.

Combined with an eight-speed transmission with Jaguar's 'Quickshift' technology the XFR-S Sportbrake manages to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds and up to an electronically limited top speed of  300km/h.

XFR-S Sportbrake Design

The XFR-S Sportbrake has also been subtly modified in order to allow the car to achieve its full potential. The high-performance Sportbrake continues to bare the main characteristics of shape and space of the standard version but it also gets a new, deeper front bumper which incorporates larger lower central and side air intakes in order to provide adequate airflow into the engine bay. A front splitter at the lower edge of the bumper, extended side sills and aeroblade mouldings behind the front wheels are some of the aerodynamic changes designed to smooth the passage of the car through the air at very high speeds.

The appearance of the XFR-S Sportbrake is further enhanced through the use of gloss black trim in place of chrome around the grille, within the side vent, around the front and rear screens, windows and across the bootlid. The mesh in the front grilles is also a purposeful gloss black.

Inside the XFR-S Sportbrake sporty character is enhanced with Warm Charcoal leather trim on the seats and doors and the use of carbon effect leather. Exclusive to R-S cars, this is used on the seat bolsters and arm rests and reflects the use of exotic carbon fibre on the aerodynamic elements of the car. The seats themselves are embossed with the R-S logo and can be finished with a choice of contrast colour micro-piping and stitching in either red, blue or ivory. The same subtle enhancement runs across the top of the dashboard.

Dynamic engineering

The dynamic characteristics of the XFR-S Sportbrake is a result of the engineering development of both the XKR-S and the F-TYPE. Overall lateral suspension stiffness has been increased by 30 per cent front and rear, with front and rear spring rates increased by the same amount.The Jaguar active electronic differential, which can apply full locking torque almost instantaneously when necessary, has been recalibrated in order to exploit the greater grip offered by the wider rear tyres, the more precisely controlled suspension and the engine output. Working in parallel with the differential, the 'Trac DSC' setting of the Dynamic Stability Control system now offers the driver a more sportier handling while never leaving safety behind.