|
2004 Auto Show: Chicago
|
| Jaguar XK-RS concept |
|
| Updated |
Mar 17, 2005 19:41:50 |
| Rating |
 71 ( -10 -14.08% ) | | Author | Brian Chee |
|
|
Description:
Jaguar debuted the 550 horsepower XK-RS today at the 2004 Chicago Auto Show, calling it the most powerful road-going convertible ever.
Developed by Michigan-based Rocketsports Racing in cooperation with Jaguar North America, the XK-RS concept demonstrates how Jaguar's luxury GT road car can be transformed into a 200-mph supercar.
Features
Debuts
Vehicles introduced
2004 North American Car
and Truck
Ford F-150
Toyota Prius
The Lucky Three
Our Best Bets for Success
Vehicle Debuts
Buick
LaCrosse replaces Regal and Century
Dodge
A new Dakota
Hyundai
Tucson
Jaguar
XK-RS concept
Toyota
Tacoma X-Runner
Solara Convertible
Mazda
Ibuki
Mercury
Montego
"At Rocketsports, we're very familiar with Jaguar's XKR sports car, having won the Trans-Am Manufacturers' Championship two times with this beautiful, fast car," said Rocketsports Racing owner, Paul Gentilozzi. "We think the XKR makes a great foundation for high-performance tuning. The XK-RS concept is just one dramatic interpretation of the many directions in which the car can be taken," he added.
Engineers at Rocketsports' Lansing, Michigan workshop took the AJ-V8 Trans-Am race engine and increased its displacement by stroking it out from 4.5 liters to 5.0 liters. To ensure drivability, the engineers reinstalled an Eaton supercharger to deliver an estimated 550 bhp and 500 lb. ft. of torque, giving the car the power to accelerate from standstill to 60 mph in under four seconds, and take it to a top speed of 200 mph.
"Many of the lessons we learned in developing the 650 bhp normally aspirated Jaguar AJ-V8 race engine for the R-Performance XKR Trans-Am race car were incorporated in the engine for the XK-RS," explained Gentilozzi. To make the car more involving for the sports car enthusiast, the standard six-speed ZF automatic transmission was replaced with a five-speed manual transaxle. Re-positioning the driveline weight to the rear of the car also results in a perfect 50:50 weight balance for improved handling.
Rocketsports also used the team's experience in high-speed aerodynamics with its Jaguar XKR Trans-Am race cars, modifying the production XKR's body to ensure ground-hugging stability at very high speeds. Special underbody air tunnels running the length of the car were created, along with deeper front and rear spoilers, wider wheel arches and aero-style sill sections similar to those featured on the specially-developed XKR that starred in last year's James Bond adventure, 'Die Another Day'.
When tested in the wind tunnel, the changes are expected to result in a 100 percent increase in aerodynamic downforce at top speed compared to the standard car.
The production XKR's suspension was also modified to ensure supercar handling. The changes include the addition of coil-over high-performance Penske shocks. To give the concept the kind of stopping power that matches its anticipated grip, R-Performance Brembo calipers with drilled rotors (13-inch front/12-inch rear) were added.
The XK-RS comes fitted with three-piece wheels - center-lock 'Machiavelli Gotti' - 20-inch x 10-inch at the front, 20-inch x 11-inch at the rear - shod with high-performance Michelin Pilot tires.
Inside, the XK-RS features body-hugging Johnson Controls "Leap" seats clad in black leather with medium grey inserts. The concept is painted in rich black lacquer. Along each side, Pearl Black Jaguar 'leaper' graphics echo those used on Rocketsports Racing's XKR race cars.
The XK-RS is Rocketsports' second Jaguar project car. In 2002, Rocketsports created the purposeful 'Racing Concept' version of Jaguar's all-wheel drive X-TYPE. The dramatic-looking concept race car was developed to test the potential of Jaguar's X-TYPE as a project car for the enthusiast market.
2004 Auto Show Gallery
More Show Photos...
d |
| Similar news: | - European Shares Inch Higher on Autos - LONDON (Reuters) - European shares rose on Tuesday, helped by encouraging news from the auto sector, but technology stocks were mixed ahead of results from US bellwether Intel, while SKF rose on pleasing results.
- Bajaj Auto first-quarter net profit inches up 2.5% - Bajaj Auto Ltd, India's second biggest motorcycle maker, reported on Saturday its quarterly profit edged up 2.5 per cent as its two- and three-wheeler unit sales rose seven per cent in the world's biggest market after China.
- Ford raises 3Q, 2004 earnings outlook; announces cuts at Jaguar - DETROIT (AP) - Ford Motor Co. raised its third-quarter and full-year earnings guidance for 2004 on Friday on the back of continued strong performance at its financial services arm, even as the company's car business in the key U.S. market remains well beh
| | Find all news similar on 2004 Auto Show: Chicago |
|
