Given that the M5 pumps out 412kW and 680Nm, while the Affalterbach-fettled Merc pushes out 386kW and 700Nm (or 410kW and 800Nm with the optional AMG Performance package), the existing Jaguar XFR is simply outgunned, necessitating the addition of the amped-up ‘S’ version.
Captured here by the Carparazzi lenses, this lightly disguised test mule sports more aggressive front and rear bumper/spoiler assemblies and oversize blacked-out rims, within which lurk Brembo brakes with red calipers.
The XFR-S mule also features a more pronounced rear wing and ground-effect-style side
skirts to boost high-speed stability and the car appears to ride lower than the standard XFR. In addition, the prototype features a blacked-out front grille and air intakes, although this is optionally available on the existing XFR via the Black Pack.
The visuals are all well and good, but what the Jag needs is more poke to compete with the latest-gen M5 and E63. When the XFR was originally launched in 2009, its 375kW put it more or less on par with the E60 generation BMW M5 (373kW) and Merc’s atmo-powered 6.2-litre E63 AMG (386kW), but as mentioned above, the game has now moved on.
It’s likely the XFR-S uses the same 405kW/680Nm supercharged V8 as the brutal XKR-S coupe, which should at least give it the straight-line mumbo to match its Teutonic rivals. The raucous XKR-S can sprint to 100km/h in 4.4sec, on its way to a v-max of 300km/h, so it’s reasonable to expect similar numbers for the XFR-S – but perhaps accompanied by a less lairy exhaust note.
It’s also likely to be priced far more reasonably than the $340k XKR-S, especially as it’s up against the $230k BMW M5 and $240k Mercedes E63 AMG.
European sources are tipping a November debut at the Los Angeles motor show, but the XFR-S may even pop up at this month’s Paris show.
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