Showing posts with label xk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label xk. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

My FH5 Log: Getting Away With It

The final playlist of the FH5 Series 3 update features two high-performance favorites up for grabs. There's the hardcore finale of the Jaguar XK, the XKR-S GT, and the favorite car of the Russian mob from a certain action game from a long time ago, the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton. Score enough points from the last playlist of the series and you'll get away with these two, fast and clean.

Having got away from this playlist with fast cars and clean hands, it's time to come clean with the two exclusive cars I've won from this playlist before the juice is loose.


The XKR-S GT represents the pinnacle of Jaguar's ultimate grand tourer and it has become a hardcore, track-focused version of the said model. In the North American market, only 30 units are made. The GT features enhanced aerodynamic components and suspension development for better downforce and handling. It is the first Jaguar to use carbon-ceramic brakes. Like the base XKR-S, it comes with the 5.0L V8 petrol Supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III R engine producing 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque. It will do 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 186mph.


The Lotus Carlton was a modified version of the Vauxhall Carlton (Great Britain equivalent of the Opel Omega) 3.0 Si 20V and since its arrival as a 1990 model, it was a huge sensation because this was the fastest super sedan ever made with the collaboration of Vauxhall and Lotus. It uses a modified 3.6L 6-cylinder C36GET engine with twin turbos and a 6-speed manual ZF transmission sourced from the old Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, capable of hitting over 280kph of top speed, causing a major scandal for health and safety as well as the German rivals limiting their vehicles to 250kph.



With their quick introduction done, it's time to give these two monsters a quick getaway they will never forget. Roll the tape.



Fast cars, clean hands. Just the way I like.

Enjoy your new rides!

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Forza Motorsport 6: Tale of two Jags

A few moments ago, I went to the Top Gear Test Track to compare between the Jaguar F-Type Coupe R and the BMW M4 just to find out which of the car is best and to my amazement, the F-Type Coupe R, with its supercharged V8 engine, outsmart the turbocharged BMW M4 like how Britain won the Battle of Britain.



Now, I'm in one part of Great Britain. Specifically, Silverstone, and I'm still in the F-Type Coupe R to see how much fun this V8-powered sportscar is on its home turf. However, I'm not sending this F-Type back home just for fun, I sent it home because I want to compare this to another Jaguar offered in-game and that particular Jag in question is a hardcore version of the XKR-S, undoubtedly one of the best Jags I have ever driven in my Forza life.



The GT version of Jaguar's high-performance XKR-S coupe represents the pinnacle of Jaguar's ultimate grand tourer and it has became a hardcore, track-focused version of the said model.

In the North American market, only 30 units are made. The GT features enhanced aerodynamic components and suspension development for better downforce and handling. It is the first Jaguar to use carbon ceramic brakes.

Like the base XKR-S, it comes with the 5.0L V8 petrol Supercharged AJ-V8 GEN III R engine producing 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque. It will do 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds and top speed electronically limited to 186mph.

Upon driving the XKR-S GT, it takes an expert-level driver to master the harsh dynamics due to the sheer power and torque its V8 delivers and when it rains down on the track, you need to be pretty certain because one slip and you're gone. It takes determination and guts to tame this British bulldog right up to its noses.

Both the F-Type Coupe R and the XKR-S GT really are the cream of the crop from Jaguar but what differs these two really is hard to explain why because while the F-Type Coupe is more of a grand tourer fit for leisurely purposes only rich gentlemen would do, the XKR-S GT nullifies its gentlemanly manner in the pursuit of being a track-ready screamer. Sure, the F-Type R is lighter than the XKR-S GT but because the XKR-S GT features track-focused essentials, seems that it can munch through every corner it sees but either way, they can be tricky to get to their best behavior even when wet.

To find out, I compare these two Jags on a head to head comparo round Silverstone for some wet laps. Fastest time wins so here goes...



After spending the day with a wet lap round Silverstone, I have the results. The XKRS-GT did it in 2:45.597 while the F-Type Coupe R did it in 2:44.804, which means the F-Type Coupe R has been proven to be the ultimate Jaguar at this moment in time.



Oh yes, it's good to be bad.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Forza Motorsport 5: 2012 Jaguar XKR-S at the Top Gear Test Track

xkrsxkrs (2)xkrs (3)

For my free time, I decided to give Jaguar's ultimate version of the XK coupe, the XKR-S, for a spin round the famous Top Gear Test Track in Dunsfold, Surrey, UK. Although, my skills are not enough to match the lap time Stig set from this car on this track, it's still fun to experience the outer limits of Jaguar's finest sports coupe that is capable enough to reach over 300kph. It may not be as fast as any other Italian exotics but the XKR-S really turned a gentleman's club into a half-decent supercar bulging all in the right places.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Gran Turismo 6: The Jaguar XKR-S and the Nissan GT-R

For several years, Jaguar had a long reputation of making comfortable, good-looking saloons only the posh would salivate for but for this Jaguar I tried on Gran Turismo 6, speed is the focus of the game.



This must be the new Jaguar XKR-S, the most powerful production sports car Jaguar has ever made. First of all, the aluminum quad-cam 5.0L AJ-V8 supercharged engine has been recalibrated to produce 542HP of power and 501.2ft-lb of torque. Yummy...

It can do 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of over 300kph, making this the only Jaguar that has been permitted to the elite club of 300kph sportscar. As a matter of fact, that's almost as near as what most Ferraris do, meaning that's on the edge of Ferrari territory.

Then, there's the exhaust note and because of its supercharged V8 engine, it sounds like an American muscle car. So lairy, so crazy, and overall...Oh dear! I like a European V8 sportscar!





Despite sounding like a muscle car, the XKR-S still behaves like a sportscar because of its hard suspension, adaptive dynamics, and the active differential which is programmed to alter slip ratios, differential torque distribution, and intervention levels, letting drivers push this car to the absolute limits. It's all science and maths but still the Jaguar XKR-S is no GCSE or some physics lessons. It feels like it puts the fizz into physics and this car that Jaguar does what nitro does for glycerin.

No wonder some Brainiacs could recite the promo video of the car. Ahem..."This isn't about image. This design is driven by geometry and physics". Oh Benedict Cumberbatch....





To make sure people don't mistake the S for the ordinary XKR, it comes with a carbon rear spoiler, 20-inch alloy wheels, leather that looks like carbon fiber, sports seats, blue ambient lighting, and some added aerodynamics. What annoys me is the red brake calipers because it looks inappropriate for a Jag like this. Aside from the added aerodynamics, the XKR-S looks a bit of a show-off to me. It can be a sportscar but it feels so overrated to me.





I know, I love driving this Jaguar just a bit longer but when it gets too much for me, the XKR-S seems a bit more of an overrated rather than an underrated when it comes to being a show-off car. You can enjoy it a little longer but not at all because there are times you're going to fed up with this car unless if its necessary. Even though it's still overrated, I'm still liking to the XKR-S grit because this is still the Jag I love to drive on Gran Turismo 6.



With the XKR-S, it seems that Jaguar has sacrificed most of its subtlety and good looks in the pursuit of speed but if it's speed, I wonder, how come you're not interested over...the Nissan GT-R?



For years, the flagship of Nissan, the GT-R, had gone through several revisions to make it into the completed piece you see now. Legend has it that this Japanese supercar can outrun numerous sportscars even those that are five times the price such as the Lexus LFA, the Mercedes SLS, or the Ferrari 458. With the GT-R scored numerous awards and the recognition of being the perfect machine, its success prompted Nissan to begin development on the next generation platform but its high hopes can't be contained in the middle of a race.



Sure, I might tell you about how it's made on the hermetically-sealed factory and all of the components are heated to the same temperature before assembly so they're in the same state of thermal expansion and how the tires are filled with nitrogen because it's more stable than air and how it went round the Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 20 seconds but I'm not gonna do that even though I just did.



What I'm gonna do here is doing drag race at a quarter mile straight of the Ascari Race Resort. Anyone familiar with what I just did to these two should better sit comfortably because what I did is simple. Even though the XKR-S has a few more power than the GT-R, the GT-R not only leave the XKR-S to dust, it demolished it.



There is this weird theory about how did the GT-R managed to get off the line quickly and probably because of the Launch Control feature, a feature in a form of a computer that sorts everything out for you so when you plant your foot out, it sets off in a perfect line. Clever but unintelligentable for a Brainiac who wishes to use it. Some say, a Brainiac would have a launch control by himself.



But still, it's a great car. I'm still loving this Japanese supercar a lot. The double-clutch gearbox works seamlessly, the VR38DETT engine is not an engine, it's just like putting ammonal in a gas cooker and then explodes when introduced to a toy robot holding a blow torch, the turning's not so bad, and overall, when you want to let loose in this car, the grip is mind-boggling.



It really is the perfect blend of technological and mechanical engineering. It truly is the best of both worlds and for Brainiacs playing GT6, it's still worth a white-knuckle ride if they're looking for thrills out of this car that always defy the laws of physics.





Despite everything, the GT-R still behaves like a proper saloon. Quiet and comfortable but not at all because it makes the noise that most racing machines produce but they're subdued in the background.



It's hard to fault this car because while the XKR-S was just a brogue that was converted into a training shoe, the GT-R was designed to be a training shoe in the first place for a much less. The GT-R is the ultimate instrument of speed while the XKR-S left me question why would Jaguar want to mimic the hardcore progress that Aston Martin has not to mention they have their own testing facility at the Nurburgring.

Still, with the GT-R, you'll get the impression that this car is very clever but a bit serious. If you have one of these, go out and see if NISSAN's ultimate masterpiece still has the potential to rack up the points!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

North American exclusive XKR-S GT

2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT

Apart from the world premiere of the 2014 Jaguar XJR at this year's New York Auto Show, Jaguar will also be revealing the special edition XKR-S GT, a track-focused, road legal model based on the Jaguar XKR-S, which is limited to 30 cars, all destined for the North American market.

It's a model made to celebrate 25 years of Jaguar's R Performance and with this model, it still comes with the same aluminum quad cam 5-litre V8 supercharged engine that produces 550PS of power  but comes with race-inspired exterior design and enhanced aerodynamics. While top speed is limited to 186mph (280km/h), the 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) drops from 4.2 to 3.9 seconds.

First time for a JAAAAAG is carbon ceramic brakes and such implementation dropped about 21kg of weight.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Forza Horizon: How ALIVE am I in the XKR-S?

A big Jag up against a shiny new Beamer in Beaumont

When I first drive the new Jaguar XKR-S in FM4 a couple of months ago, I was impressed to meet up with the Jag that once said that this is the most powerful model they've ever made, probably because of its 300kph top speed, 5.0L Supercharged V8 engine, or probably because this is the only Jag I like. It should have been a fantastic Jag for track-day use...but it let me down probably because it's not enough to tackle against others, especially the GT-R I sure wish to want...

To ease all of the stress, I decided to drive the XKR-S on Horizon and hey, all that sojourn payed off to make me happy. Happy enough to drive the XKR-S all over Colorado. This Jag made me ALIVE to drive it.

Horizon players who drove a Jag like this made them feel alive to take part in various Horizon races and with such respect, this Jaguar XKR-S is truly a fun car built to do all sorts of fun stuff all over Colorado, except to some parts that the XKR-S isn't capable of, like for instance the golf course which is nearby the Media Center where you can make your car jump and make trouble with your friends at the game of King. I tried putting my XKR-S in a game of King at some golf course nearby the Media Center and it's a disaster, I can't keep up catching the King but never mind. At least, it's well-played for my Jag.

I love this Jag. It has all of the grunt, the power, and the style to woo the crowd and make some trouble in Horizon. And wherever I want this Jag go, it not only made me staying alive but feel alive.

HOW ALIVE ARE YOU?

 

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Jaguar Cars Philippines launched the XKR-S!

2012 Jaguar XKR-S

Well, I'm delighted to say that the time is right because I've just heard that Jaguar Philippines finally launched the most powerful Jaguar ever made, known as the Jaguar XKR-S. This model is available in hardtop coupe and soft-top Convertible variants and what you get is the 5.0 litre V8 Petrol Supercharged AJ-V8 GEN III R engine that blows away 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque. It has a 0-60mph time of 4 seconds and top speed limited to 186mph.

Here's an article from TOP GEAR PHILIPPINES:

Over a year after it was launched at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the Jaguar XKR-S has finally arrived in the Philippines courtesy of the British carmaker's authorized distributor in the country, Jaguar Cars Philippines.

For the first time with a series production car, Jaguar has broken into the exclusive '300kph club' thanks to the XKR-S's supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that has an output of 542hp and 680Nm of torque, allowing it to sprint from zero to 100kph in 4.2 seconds. Putting the power down to the XKR-S's rear wheels is a six-speed automatic transmission.

If the superb power output and sensation of speed aren't enough to excite your senses, then perhaps the car's performance-oriented active exhaust will with its dramatic, motorsport-inspired aural feedback.

Despite the XKR-S's prodigious power output, Jaguar claims that it is the only car in its class to emit less than 300g/km of carbon dioxide.

The XKR-S sports a unique front-end design to differentiate it from the standard XKR with its twin nacelles, side intakes and carbon-fiber splitter. Helping to emphasize the 10mm lower ride height are the extended side sills. Step around to the rear and you'll discover not just the new rear apron and its carbon-fiber diffuser but also the rear wing and its carbon-fiber center section.

Jaguar has also enhanced the XKR-S’s handling by upgrading both its front and rear suspension systems, reprogramming its active differential control, and fitting it with lightweight forged Vulcan 20-inch alloy wheels.

For its interior, the XKR-S has been subtly refreshed with a host of new trim materials, including ebony soft-feel paint for the switches and gloss black finish to the center console. A new leather-wrapped, multifunction steering wheel has also been added, "providing a beautiful, tactile interface between car and driver," while the new carbon leather accents that cover the seats now feature unique contrast micro-piping and stitching combinations.

The XKR-S is now available in either coupe or convertible form through Jaguar Cars Philippines.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Blast from the Past: R170 vs. X100

British heavyweight versus German lightweight


By reminiscing  back to the past, or to the late 1990's, I can only remember that both the R170 Mercedes-Benz SLK200 and the Jaguar XK (X100) were just chalk of jeans, back to the days when televisions were standard definition, back when there was my childhood memory of addiction to TV shopping, one when I have to sleep properly when it's 9:00 PM and back when Top Gear was just a boring motoring magazine show with Tiff, Vicki, Quentin, Steve, and other Top Gear presenters from the past, even Andy Wilman who was a presenter back then before he was the producer of the 2002 reboot of Top Gear, which became the flagship of BBC.

In today's world, I have driven the latest versions of the SLK and the XK and I have to say that comparing a car with big power and a lightweight car is a bit of a conundrum for them but looking back to them when they were launched in the late 1990's seems so intriguing. It's like going to the TARDIS to see how are they look like from the past. Anyway, where do we start? The R170 or the X100?

I have a coin. If heads, I'd start with the R170 but if tails, then it's the X100. I spun the coin and I grabbed it, and it was tails so I'd start with the first generation Jaguar XK (X100).

This car tries to stay classy

So, the first generation XK. This was launched in 1996, back when Jaguar is owned by Ford Motor Company, and the first model was dubbed the XK8 in coupe or convertible styles, fitted with a 4.0L V8 engine. Some people said that the XK is more of a modern-day equivalent of the legendary Jaguar E-Type and this was known to be one of the most luxurious high-performance sports cars in the world. It's more of a grand tourer than a sportscar and you can drive it in the winding roads for some rest and relaxation.

The one I have here is the XKR version, the cherry at the top of the cake that what made the XK superb and this powerful version is using the same 4.0L V8 from the original but fitted with an Eaton-developed supercharger, generating 400HP of power and 408ft-lb of torque. Armed with the 6-speed AT, it can go 0-100kph in 5.2 seconds and top speed limited to 250kph.

What made this car unique was the CATS electronic variable damper control system that adjusts the damping force depending in various speed and road conditions and it was perfect when you're driving the twists and turns. Like the original XK8, it's still a gran tourer. With the 6-speed AT, refined suspension, and the luxurious interior, it's just so feels more like a premium sedan in a coupe body. Nice touch to that.

It's cool to drive this car at night....

If power is what comes in my mind on the Jaguar XKR, I have to move on to something a bit lightweight, something that already gave its rivals a headache back in the late 90's. This is the R170 model, the first generation Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class. The SLK stands for SPORT LIGHTWEIGHT COMPACT, meaning that this two-seater roadster is on the lightweight division. As a general rule, it used the platform derived from the C-Class and it has a folding roof, which called them VARIO ROOF back then. With the roof closed, it has the presence of a sports coupe but with the roof off, all that breeze is coming right in front of me.

That reminded me of a prize car of some promo held by some cigarette brand. Is it Philip Morris? Yes it is because back in 2000, there was a promo from Philip Morris where anyone with the Philip Morris 100's won either a 2000 Mercedes-Benz SLK, 80,000 US Dollars, 24K Gold Bars (12,000 US Dollars each), or a trip to Gold Coast, Australia (4,000 US Dollars each). I really wonder what just happened to the guy who won the SLK on that promo? Did he sold off his car from something rubbish or did he crashed? I don't know but I wanna find out soon.

Anyway, what I have here comes with the supercharged 2.3L 4-cylinder engine that generated 193 HP of power and 207ft-lb of torque. It was mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission. 0-100kph in 6.9 seconds and top speed limited to 231kph.

So, now I met those cars from the past, I decided to lap these two round the Top Gear Test Track to find out if a car with bigger power or a lightweight car is proven to be a worthy contender. On the Jaguar XKR Coupe, I did it in a measly 1:24.652. Kinda love the exhaust sound though as for the cornering, it was fine for a car with big power and noise.

Then, I got off from the XKR and into the SLK230K. The handling's not bad for a car that weighs less than the XKR but it did it in 1:33.529, slower than the XKR Coupe! Huh, it's still the power over displacement principle that makes all cars competitive. The XKR is powerful than the SLK230K but the SLK230K's lighter but doesn't matter to me because these two are more like bowties and fezzes. The XKR is more of a bowtie but the SLK230K....that's like fezzes. They're cool though, don't worry about it.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Come and meet your new XKR-S!

The old Jaguar XKR-S in action



This is the old 2009 Jaguar XKR-S in action. There was just one problem about this; IT'S GREAT!

When it came out in the summer of 2008, this is Jaguar at its best. The 4.2L Supercharged V8 produces 420HP of power and 413 lb-ft of torque. Stuff I can find mostly on the XKR-S includes S Alcon R Performance braking system with 400 mm diameter front and 350 mm rear discs, six-piston front callipers and four-piston rear callipers, recalibrated suspension, Ultimate Black body, XKR-S badge on the rear of the car, 10 mm lower ride height, 20-inch Vortex forged alloy wheels with bespoke tyres, Active Exhaust System, leather upholstery with Charcoal with Ivory twin-needle contrast stitching, Piano Black veneer, Charcoal Alston luxury headlining. However, only 200 units were made and it's available only in Europe. So the question now is, where will it heading next?

Come and meet your idol! Same as your old idol!

Well, this is where they'll heading next. It's the brand new 2012 Jaguar XKR-S, the most powerful Jaguar ever made. This new one is part of Forza Motorsport 4's April Alpinestars Pack, now on sale. For starters, the old 4.2L V8 supercharged engine from the old XKR-S has been replaced by a more powerful supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III R direct-injection engine. When you put your feet on the pedal, your body will become hideously drunk with speed. Just because being the most powerful Jaguar ever built doesn't mean it should deserve fear and respect among car enthusiasts. There are still more evidences to find for the new XKR-S. Surprisingly though, the new XKR-S has a much better face than the old XKR-S, which is somewhat too rubbish. Anyway, the old XKR-S was sold only to the European market but now this new one is available globally, giving foreigners their first time pushing this Jag to the max but does this mean that the XKR-S' rock and roll days are over? Not yet because we have to find out how does the new one stack up with the old one...

New XKR-S vs. Old XKR-S

The 2009 Jaguar XKR-S comes with the 4.2 litre V8 Petrol Supercharged engine that churns out 426PS of power and 560Nm of torque. It would go 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds and top speed limited to 155mph just like every other German cars. The new 2012 Jaguar XKR-S is fully equipped with the 5.0 litre V8 Petrol Supercharged AJ-V8 GEN III R engine that blows away 550PS of power and 680Nm of torque. It has a 0-6omph time of 4 seconds and top speed limited to 186mph, so on paper then, the new XKR-S bested the old one with more firepower on the new engine. In terms of coloring, the old XKR-S only comes with Ultimate Black but the new XKR-S is now available in six colors such as Polaris White, French Racing Blue, British Racing Green Metallic, Stratus Grey Metallic, Ultimate Black Metallic, and Italian Racing Red Metallic. On the interior, you will expect leather that looks like carbon fiber, blue instrumental lighting, and the old walnut days of Jaguar are gone. No wonder the interior is more like a gym rather than a mansion. Guess we're expecting some athlete's foot here.

Devouring the corners of Tsukuba!

More firepower is good news but it's not as good as the way this car simply devours corners or is it because Jaguar has a permanent testing grounds at the Nurburgring? Anyway, I saw that on one episode of Top Gear where it had a race against the 2012 Nissan GT-R and the Jag lost. Too bad this game doesn't have that but one rival video game did featured that. With the lap time of 1:23.3, the new XKR-S is proven to be quicker than any other Aston Martins running around the Top Gear Test Track. This new model is getting a bit more interesting. Although this new XKR-S is bit too bonkers to look and bonkers to drive, it reminded me of my favorite IDOLM@STER character who's a bit more bonkers to many, Hibiki Ganaha.

And that's how they done it here. Come and meet your new XKR-S, different than the old XKR-S.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Welcome Back: 2009 Jaguar XKR-S

A sleek and sporty Jag going somewhere...


This is the old 2009 Jaguar XKR-S in action. There was just one problem about this; IT'S GREAT!

When it came out in the summer of 2008, this is Jaguar at its best. The 4.2L Supercharged V8 produces 420HP of power and 413 lb-ft of torque. Stuff I can find mostly on the XKR-S includes S Alcon R Performance braking system with 400 mm diameter front and 350 mm rear discs, six-piston front callipers and four-piston rear callipers, recalibrated suspension, Ultimate Black body, XKR-S badge on the rear of the car, 10 mm lower ride height, 20-inch Vortex forged alloy wheels with bespoke tyres, Active Exhaust System, leather upholstery with Charcoal with Ivory twin-needle contrast stitching, Piano Black veneer, Charcoal Alston luxury headlining. However, only 200 units were made and it's available only in Europe. So the question now is, where will it heading next?

...To be continued on Holy Tuesday, April 3, 2012 (Holy Wednesday, April 4, 2012 if you live in Manila, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, or Singapore) when I picked up my April Alpinestars Pack on FM4.

In the meantime, enjoy the clip of the old XKR-S thrashing around the Top Gear Test Track while listening to morse code...