Jaguar XKR GT3 (2007): first news and photos

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

12 January 2007 10:26

Jaguar XKR GT3: the lowdown

The Jaguar XK coupe has been sent on a course of steroids for its race-car transformation. The XKR GT3 was unveiled at the Autosport International Show and will compete in this season's FIA GT3 European Championship. It keeps the 4.2-litre supercharged V8 of the Jaguar XKR road car, but has been tuned to produce at least 475bhp in race trim. Matched to the standard car's aluminium bodywork, it should prove very competitive.

Out goes the roadgoing XK's auto gearbox replaced by a Hewland six-speed sequential transmission, driving through a triple-plate carbon clutch. The chassis has come in for a series of changes, too: four-way adjustable dampers and 18in OZ rims turn the car from boulevard cruiser to race-track bruiser. As you'd expect in a racing car, there's a full steel roll cage and upgraded brakes, with Alcon six-pot callipers at the front and four-pot grabbers at the rear. Oh, and in case you hadn't noticed, there's a bed-sized rear wing for maximum downforce.

By Tim Pollard