by Paul A. Eisenstein

(2008-03-05)

Click for High-Res Photo Gallery: 2009 Jaguar XKR-S

One of the first things an American initiate notices walking into Geneva's sprawling PALExpo center is the number of unfamiliar names hanging from banners overhead, helping locate nameplates like Rinspeed, Morgan and Koenigsegg, which seldom, if ever, show up in the States.

Sadly, there are plenty of familiar marques, such as Ford, that also exhibit products U.S. drivers will never see, such as the Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet. Usually, luxury marques, like Jaguar, are more global in scope, but the cat is, sadly, leaving potential American motorists out of the equation as it launches the limited-edition XKR-S.

If the "base" XK is the soul of the Jaguar brand, the modern incarnation of the legendary E-Type, the XKR-S, which debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show, is the raw, beating heart, the British marque's performance flagship. Yet, oddly enough, every single copy of the 174 mph sports car will be offered in Europe only, a decision TheCarConnection.com intends to take up with Jaguar officials at the first opportunity (preferably, on a European product preview).

Shown on the Jaguar stand in a mirror-finish black, the XKR-S is, notably, the fastest product the company has built since the ill-fated XJ220. Under the hood: a supercharged, 420-liter V-8 making 420 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. And, yes, those numbers are familiar. The critical distinction is that for the -S, Jag engineers have lifted the limiter that held the XKR edition to a maximum 155 mph.

There are some other significant changes that make you feel comfortable holding the accelerator pedal to the floor. New anti-roll bars, springs and shocks compliment the retuned CATS active suspension. Larger brakes, with six-piston calipers help the XKR-S stop as quickly as it starts.

The black paint job almost camouflaged some of the visual changes in the -S, including an aero body kit that adds a bigger front spoiler, side sills and a rear diffuser - the latter housing quad exhausts.

Inside, a 525-watt Bowers and Wilkins audio package echoes off the piano black cabin trim.

With just 200 copies of the XKR-S to be built, it'd probably be hard to convince Jaguar to reverse its decision, but it's a shame that the coupe, like so many other European performance cars, will never make it to the New World.

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