What's the news?
Jaguar has taken its biggest supersaloon, the excellent XJR, out to 575hp, for what it is calling (unsurprisingly) the XJR575.
Using the uprated version of 5.0-litre supercharged V8, as used in the F-Type SVR, the XJR575 sees the previous best outputs of 550hp and 680Nm swell to the aforementioned 575hp and 700Nm here, trimming the 0-100km/h time by two-tenths to 4.4 seconds.
Top speed is also up, to a limited 300km/h, where previously the 550hp XJR would be stopped at 280km/h.
Various details mark the more powerful flagship out, such as two bespoke paint finishes by Special Vehicle Operations - those being Velocity Blue and Satin Corris Grey - 'tailor-made' items such as the rear spoiler, side sills, front bumper and gloss-black lower air intakes, and subtle badging plus a pair of bonnet louvres.
The XJR575 also rolls on 20-inch Farallon gloss-black alloys, behind which are red brake callipers. Inside, embossed tread plates alongside intaglio and diamond-quilted upholstery are unique to the newcomer.
Ian Callum, Jaguar's director of design, said: "This is a performance vehicle, but that doesn't mean we have had to cut any corners when it comes to comfort or design. Jaguar is the standard bearer for interior refinement and the XJR575 is no different. It can go very quickly, but it does so with the serene comfort customers expect from a Jaguar saloon. That makes this a very special car indeed."
Prices for Ireland are yet to be confirmed, although if it does go on sale here, the XJR575 is likely to be closer to €200,000, as opposed to the €185,000 needed for a 550hp XJR.
Anything else?
Jaguar Land Rover is developing something of a reputation for the unusual PR stunt when launching a vehicle and the XJR575 is no exception. Wayne Burgess, production studio director and SVO projects for Jaguar, was subjected to a rapid-fire, 44-second interview in the back of an XJR575, as it scorched from rest to its 300km/h top speed down a UK runway. You can watch that clip right here, if you so wish.
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