2013 New York Auto Show: Jaguar unleashes pair of quick cats

Jaguar got an early start on the 2013 New York Auto Show by announcing Tuesday that two extra-quick cats will be joining its growing stable.

The first is the track-oriented XKR-S GT. Only 25 of these two-door coupes will be coming to the U.S., and though they’re designed for track use, all will be street-legal.

The GT’s powertrain is largely unchanged from the XKR-S that debuted at the 2011 New York show: a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 makes 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This power is pushed to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission and an active rear differential.

Photos: Jaguar brings a pair of quick cats to the N.Y. Auto Show

Where the GT differs from its more demure -- relatively speaking -- brother is in the suspension, steering and aerodynamic changes. The tweaks help the GT hit zero-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, which is .3 seconds faster than the non-GT model.

Photos: Highlights of the 2013 N.Y. Auto Show

“[The GT] has been developed in the wind tunnel and on the racetrack with the sole aim of creating as much high-speed stability and downforce as possible,� said Ian Callum, director of design for Jaguar. “Nothing has been styled for the sake of it.�

In order to increase downforce -- which is everyone’s friend on the track -- the GT adds items such as a large carbon fiber rear wing, front splitter, rear diffuser, and an aluminum undertray.

Suspension changes include a wider front track and height-adjustable adaptive dampers with stiffer spring rates. The steering system is revised, giving drivers a quicker steering ratio.

Weight is kept to a minimum through the use of aluminum for the entire body structure. The GT also gets the first application of carbon-ceramic brakes on a production Jaguar.

The XKR-S GT will be priced from $174,000 -- a $42,000 jump over the non-GT version -- and is scheduled to arrive in dealerships in August.

The GT’s New York debut was complemented by the more subdued, yet equally powerful, XJR sedan. Taking aim at the likes of the Audi S8, Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and Porsche Panamera Turbo, the full-size XKR draws 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque from a familiar source: a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8.

This power is pushed to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and an active differential. The XJR gets minor body tweaks to set it apart from lesser XJs, as well as an updated suspension. The car will come in regular or extra-long versions, and will start at $116,000 and $119,000, respectively.

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