New Jaguar XJR for $298K

Jaguar has confirmed the local release of the hottest XJ limousine yet, the XJR.

Due to go on sale in Australia later this year, the XJR will be priced at $298,000 plus on-road costs.

Powered by the same 405kW/680Nm supercharged V8 as the soon-to-be-released XFR-S, the XJR features bespoke sports body add-ons, specially tuned suspension and unique interior treatments. As you'd expect, options are few.

Performance will be a calling card of the new XJR. Jaguar is claiming a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.6 seconds. In this respect the car is expected to go grille-to-grille with the upcoming Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG and top-notch Maserati Quattroporte variants.

The new performance limousine will not, however, replace the XJR Super Sport. Unlike the 375kW SS, the new XJR will be offered here as a short-wheelbase variant only. This is in direct contrast to markets like the US, where LWB XJRs are expected to outsell 'our' version by a factor of four to one.

Jaguar Australia Brand Manager Mark Eedle told motoring.com.au that the XJR will be sold Down Under on an 'order-only' basis.

"The XJR is very much a halo model. The market for a car like this is maybe a handful of buyers."

Only a handful of buyers also look likely to get their hands on the newly updated XF performance flagship, the XFR-S.

Just "half a dozen" of the super sedans are earmarked for the Australian market this year.

"Production will be very limited," said Eedle.

The XFR-S is priced from $222,545.

Look out for first drives of the new XJR and XFR-S soon here at motoring.com.au

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