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Jaguar S-Type R
This week on Test Drive we let the cat out of the bag as we put the S-type R the fastest production Jaguar ever, through its paces.
Mention Jaguar and the image conjured up is of an exotic piece of automotive machinery. Now this has held true for the looks to the interior, but somehow always fell shy when it came to the mustard in the engine bay. Certainly the addition of the R versions of the XJ and XK helped matters, but in the S-Type R, Jaguar has unleashed the most ferocious feline yet. The secret to the S-Type R's prodigious power lives and breathes beneath the sculpted hood - a 4.2-litre V8 that's married to a supercharger. This combination delivers a road ripping 400 horsepower, 408 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm and a mad dash from rest to 100K in 5.6 seconds. To state the obvious, there is never a lack of power.
The secret to this Jaguar's power, supercharger aside is beneath some plastic under the hood. The two silver boxes are liquid to air inter coolers. Their function is to cool the supercharged air as it goes into the engine. This allows more fuel which equates to a bigger bang, which gives you the tremendous power this engine puts out. To make sure that these two boxes keep their cool, there is a third intercooler down at the front. It just goes to show that some of the best things in life are indeed simple.
To handle the horses, the S-type R employs traction control, a dynamic stability control program and enormous 245/40 front and 275/35ZR18 rear tires to ensure the road and power remain good friends, even on a slippery surface. The R's reworked suspension also includes CATS. This means a two-stage, adaptive damping ride control system that switches the shocks back and forth between soft and firm settings, which further improves body control. Through the pylons, this showed up as a flat and unflustered run where the steering wheel's every move is obeyed with unerring accuracy.
There are a couple of items worthy of note on the center console. Believe it or not this little lever is the parking break. Lifting it sets the parking breaks and pushing it down disengages it. Now, if you set the parking break, go away, when you get back and select drive, he car automatically disengages it for you which means that there is no chance of you driving away with it still on. Then you get to the transmission and this is one of the weaker points on the car. First of all, it's got 6 automatic gears, which is a good thing. But this is where you are supposed to shift the gears manually; after all, this is a performance car. Unfortunately, the gate is rather sloppy so you end up paying more attention to the shifter than the fast corners hurtling towards you. This thing really does need a proper manumatic transmission. Something along the lines of Porsche's Tiptronic would work wonders.
A larger set of brakes and a sophisticated anti-lock system ensure the engine's power is reined in whenever needed, and with a top speed of 250K this happens rather more often than might be prudent. On the skid pad, this equated to short, fade free stops that measured just 104 feet from 80K.
Inside of this S-type R, you'll find split personality. On the one hand, you'll find all the luxury and opulence you expect of a Jaguar. Full leather, automatic climate controls and a very good radio with 6 CD changer. On the other, well, it's speaks to the sporty side. Much bigger bolstering through the base and back of the seat and a nice chunky steering wheel. Then you get to the throw back to the Jaguar of all. It comes to the fact of the windshield where there are hundreds of little wires laminated into the screen.
In the winter it de-frosts the front windshield, which is a good thing; on a bright summer day they are distracting which is anything but.
Along with the requisite airbags and electronic trickery, the S-Type R has two additional safety aces up its sleeve - power adjustable pedals which keeps those with short legs far enough away from the steering wheel and ARTS. The Adaptive Restraint Technology System employs ultrasonic sensing and an array of other sensors to monitor such things as the front passenger's weight, driver position, seat belt usage and crash severity. This information is then used to ensure the safety devices are deployed in the best manner.
The cat really is out of the bag. At one time if you wanted a four door sedan but also wanted a street legal racer you had but one choice and that was the BMW M5. You now have a second choice in the form of the S type R. It is a luxurious four door sedan with a truly supercharged personality.
Price As Tested: $89,950
Tire Tally
Performance: 5
Ride/handling: 4
Interior: 4
Touchy/feely/cargo: 4
Safety: 4
Bang for buck: 4
Immediate competition
BMW M5
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