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Jaguar muscled in on the traditional launching pad of all-American V8s this week with a brawny V8 of its own.
The British marque surprised an unusually subdued line-up of launches at the Detroit motor show by taking the wraps off its most powerful production engine yet, a 5-litre supercharged V8 sitting under the bonnet of the long-awaited XF-R.
The car itself is no surprise - spy pictures have been doing the rounds for some time. But its new engine takes the fight to performance saloons that have been positioned in many eyes above the Jaguar R range, particularly go-fast Germans the BMW M5, Mercedes E63 AMG and Audi RS6.
The 5-litre V8 replaces the 4.2-litre unit Jaguar has used for some time. The new engine delivers 375kW and 625Nm of torque and gets the XF-R from zero to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds, a sprint time that rivals the Germans.
Jaguar claims the new powerplant is also clean and economical - exhaust CO2 is pegged at 292g/km and economy at 12.5 litres/100km (22.5mpg).
In addition, the XF-R has a standard electronic active differential, designed to improve grip during aggressive cornering and enhance overall refinement.
On the outside, the XF-R gets a deep front spoiler with chrome accents and a sharper crease running from the flanks down each side of the skirt. There's a pair of distinctive bonnet louvres, new wing mirrors with integrated indicator lights, and 20-inch alloy wheels are standard. At the rear, quad tailpipes leave no doubt as to the XF-R's potential.
It will go on sale in New Zealand later in the year.
