Over the last few days, spy photographers have captured several images of Jaguar XKR prototypes with mysterious front fascia camouflage, plus a new interior center console with what appears to be the production version of the “JaguarDrive” system found on the C-XF concept.
One prototype captured by Autogespot was equipped with a roll cage for testing purposes, and racing bucket seats, which could see production.
The updated front fascia — plus the racing-oriented interior features — suggest these cars might contain a more powerful engine: possibly a new range-topping supercharged V8 to compete with the BMW M6. Earlier this year, rumors broke about a Jaguar XKR-R (”XK double R”) with roughly 500 horsepower. AutoExpress said the car would feature racing seats and carbon fiber to reduce weight.
JaguarDrive
Another feature found on very similar prototypes — spotted by KGP Photography — is a production-ready implementation of JaguarDrive.
So how does this JaguarDrive interface actually work? Jaguar’s press information describes it like this: “Sink into the C-XF driver’s seat and a jewel-like Power button pulses on the center console – its rhythm representing the ‘heartbeat’ of the car. Press the button and beneath your hand concentric aluminium rings spiral downwards to allow the new circular JaguarDrive Selector to nestle directly in your palm.”
The round dial looks like it will raise up upon starting the car instead, allowing the controls to fit in the palm. Four buttons sit behind the dial to alter the driving, launch, and shift characteristics of the car, suitable for different conditions. Two of the buttons are hard to decipher, but one button controls the DSC stability control, and the other button clearly shows a checkered flag (most likely for track use).
The result is a streamlined center console, which appears to have been carried over onto Jaguar’s production XF, as we revealed two weeks ago in a spy shot of the XF’s interior.
05/31, 9:36 AM
posted by:
deantj
“Jewel-like Power button pulses?”
No wonder Ford is going down the ****ter. Would you ever see BMW or Benz make such stupid sales statements?
05/31, 10:16 AM
posted by:
global_lightning
Ford pays their Public Relations people by the word:
Nouns: $0.10
Verbs: $0.15
Adjectives: $1.00
Adverbs: $1.50
All others: $0.05
05/31, 11:04 AM
posted by:
A4
WHAT THE HELL IS JAGUARDRIVE
05/31, 11:04 AM
posted by:
A4
iDrive knockoff? Why would it need new fascias?
05/31, 11:11 AM
posted by:
Aston Martin
The Jag is the ultimate piece of British engineering. No American car can come close.
05/31, 11:41 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
no astin, astin is, jaguar is too unreliable to be called ultimate. excellent, very good, subpurb but not ultimate. but to jags credit im glad the americans saved it and moved them forward a wee bit.
05/31, 11:42 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
aston, not astin
05/31, 11:49 AM
posted by:
deantj
superb, not subpurb
05/31, 11:49 AM
posted by:
deantj
unless you meant “subpar”
05/31, 12:29 PM
posted by:
55amg
i really am excited about the “double R”. although im not so impressed by the “Jewel like starter button”. Im not sure if its so “Jewel Like”. Selecting gears through buttons seems cool
05/31, 12:52 PM
posted by:
BAMF
lol deantj
05/31, 1:03 PM
posted by:
GBilbo070
a new engine from jag. lol that’ll be the day.
05/31, 1:29 PM
posted by:
sik59rt
i love how test cars have that huge red panic button to kill the engine.
05/31, 3:15 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
oops, deantj i think you were rite a few weeks ago, homeboy has gone missing, scotland yard probably is checking his cavaties with a meat probe.
05/31, 3:20 PM
posted by:
LP640
jaguardrive sounds like some sort of time travel capability, lol anyways theye should sort it out with a new engine get rid of that horrible antenna/aerial thats capable of bringing down bridges should it drive under one and sort out the interior only then would i be interested.
05/31, 3:44 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
Sounds like a drive mode system similar to what Ferrari has been offering in say the 430 for a while. It does not seem be the awkward and weird I-drive device, but it could turn people off who were similarly put off by I-drive (sounds like an Apple gadget).
The Name of the system is gimmicky, especially the pulsing button, but I think that it is a good idea for such hugely over-equipped and over-engineered cars to be able to control things to suit your needs or desires.
It’s also amazing that the tone of the whole thread has been set by one addle-brained statement made without one full ounce of consideration.
Jaguar has been on the short end of the stick for a while so sentiment is not so good, but I have yet to see were Jaguar has been nothing less that “better than average” for it’s segment. Not the greatest but far from “bad” forget “the worst”.
Land Rover is the one suffering like a wounded show dog.
Jaguar has been off it’s leash for only a year or two. Turning around a car company takes a whole lot more time than a pop stand. Verbal descriptions aside the “jaguardrive” (no. I don’t like the name) looks downright spiffy. when you pay $90K for a car you expect stuff like that. Not knobs and dials that look like something from a far less expensive car… or a cheap stereo.
05/31, 10:03 PM
posted by:
SRT-4Ken
————–>lookin at and studying the pictures, i seriously don’t quite understand that shifter/button thing i kno its supposed to rise up, but how tha heck are you supposed to like go from park to drive rotate it?
06/01, 1:06 AM
posted by:
Sharif
SRT-4Ken makes a great point. I believe he was trying to say that this thing is gay. I agree. I am a Manual/tiptronic/paddle shifter fan. Not a clock-wise pop-up rotating circle shifter fan. Nope not me. That thing is retarded they might as well cut a circle in side of it and make it a part cup holder.
06/01, 8:37 AM
posted by:
Wickedated
I’m waiting for the XKR-R-R. That’s whats up.
06/01, 11:50 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
that is a good looking aston there……oh crap its a jag.
06/02, 2:36 AM
posted by:
silvadragon
More like DAG-DRIVE!!!
06/02, 6:39 AM
posted by:
Aston Martin
The XKR looks like an Aston Martin because its a great look. Would you blame a girl for looking like Cameron Diaz? I think not.
06/02, 11:11 AM
posted by:
SRT-4Ken
—————>LOL Sharif “they might as well cut a circle inside of it & make it part-cup holder” lol that’s so true….i’m gonna reserve my judgement until i see see or read about somebody operating it, but from the looks it is lookin gay “performance-driver-oriented wise”….
06/02, 11:16 AM
posted by:
SRT-4Ken
—————>CTS DRIVER, would you blame a turd for looking like digested food? I think not…sike, j/k lol…..dang i shoulda left this comment in one of them Aztek articles waay back….the FX45 too..AND QX56
06/04, 2:44 AM
posted by:
zuke441
look at it? how can you not see how it works? you spin the little knob to the setting you want s for paddles and d for drive it is simple and different. the radio/ nav stack is touchscreen perfect, no i drive knob. it doesn’t look ready for prime time with the rough looking trim around it but it is a start. all they need to do now is improve the motor and the tranny and and call it an xk-r and you have a competitive car.
06/04, 11:47 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
srt-4ken, depends on how much corn is left.
this is my favorite jag, just add a hood ornament and im happy.