Jaguar's new engine is tested, 470 - 600bhp

Awesome!

BTW... the thing about midwest winters... very reassuring! I can definitely look at an XF SV8 as a winter car now.

if the 5.0 makes so much power, why not just drop the ancient 4.2liter all together, use the 5.0 as the base engine and a supercharged variant for the R models. 300hp v8 at the price point of the xj,and xk is outrageous. In the XF not so bad because its priced with the v6 models from BMW, and MERCEDES. But its beyond time to lay that 4.2 to rest and fast

Okay, here's a lesson. I'm only doing this once.

A 5.0L engine is not necessary on the base models. The 300hp 4.2 is just right. Why? Because the XJ and XK are made of aluminum, and weigh significantly less than all of the competition. For that reason, both of them accelerate from 0-60 in around 6 seconds, which is perfect. The "R" versions, with 420hp, do the same task in 5 seconds. Both of those times are with the BMW 750i, BMW 760Li, Audi A8, Audi S8, Mercedes-Benz SL550 (more money, less power than the XKR), BMW 650i (right in between), Cadillac XLR, Lexus SC and Lexus LS460 (in between).

There you go.

BTW, another thing: most people don't need more than 300hp. They would rather combine good performance and good mileage, which comes with the 4.2.

how awful such arrogance and so wrong. 1. There have been reports the next XJ will utilize the 5.0 only as its engine choices (in v8 models) with the setup that i discussed 5.0 base supercharged in R. 2. Despite your argument of what people need the 300hp XJ and XK are still behind the pack in performance with the XJR or Super V8 being compared to the regular V8 models from the competition where does that leave the base XJ below the competition. Everything from the LS to the Quattroporte has anywhere from 50-100hp more than the XJ with 0-60 times from 4.8-5.4 seconds vs the 6-6.5 achieved by the base XJ which is priced right there with the LS. Aluminum or not the XK, and XJ feel lighter than the cars they replace with less body roll. but a 6-6.5 second 0-60 time for a 75+ grand coupe is not competitive, or for that matter a 65+ sedan. The XLR with 320hp is getting 5.8, the 360 hp 650i rings in at 5.3-5.4. Even the bloated SC with its 292hp engine can run with the XK 0-60. The 750i epa ratings are right there with the XJ with more power more weight and a 4.8 liter. Jaguar cannot simply continue with the same attitude of we refuse to compete, its not logical, Jaguar can still be Jaguar but they must compete bottom line and decades old technology isnt the way to do it. But i would bet all that i know that the new XJ wont even have a 4.2 in it but only the 5.0, and soon the XF, and XK will utilize the 5.0 only and the use of the 4.2 is just until the 5.0 is finished in development.

BTW: Most people dont need luxury cars at all, but they buy them. Most people dont need V8's especially not in a sedan or coupe so with that said. with entry level sedans packing 300hp as the standard, near luxury V8's as low as 343hp, it begs the question as to whether what the CONSUMER wants is MORE power, HIGH performance, and good epa ratings the 335i gets 4.8, and 17 26

freakin cool. This is exactly what jaguar needs, while driving an S type,(2005 model), you could always feel that the chasis could take up more power, and the engineering really felt strong enough to take about 450 or more HP, and with the XF and it's new strengthening in the chsis, this car should be able to cope with 500 HP. If Jaguar could put the power well down to the tires, the XFR will definitely be in line with the M5.

I hate to argue with you BMWDRVR but I know for a fact the the published numbers for jaguar are high. Motor Trend and R&T timed the XKR in the 4.3-435 range. Jaguar isn't honest here and I don't know for god sake. I work there and i still have to tell people this stuff. Jaguar should be shouting this from its rooftops.

By the way once again its power to weight not raw hp. So the fact that I state in my article (re-published from my website) they may de-tune the engine because Jaguars will not just be competitive but will crush the competition with this engine!

power to weight in the some cases but raw hp figures are also important look at the S class amg cars they are incredibly fast, with loads of power. Even the 380hp s550 gets 5.4. I have yet to see a mag get any better than 6.1 seconds from the 300hp XK, and ive seen worse as high as 6.5. For an aluminum bodied, 2+2 coupe that is terrible. Thats on par with the 306hp CTS or the 255hp version. Aluminum or not that car is slow by todays standards in the XK's class. I never questioned the new engine, but i did state that the new engine was needed and asap so that they can as you stated be COMPETITIVE but right now they are behind the competition curve...but like i said with time comes change, but it is foolish to think the 4.2 in either guise is good enough the R performance variant shouldnt compete with regular models from the competition it should run with amg, M and S/RS models.

The 300hp XK has gotten 0-60 times of 5.7-6.1 on average with only a couple of reviewers getting those slow times you stated. When edmunds.com compared the XK to the 650i they admitted that they drove the BMW harder because they "knew" it would outperform the Jag. Their handling and speed comparison were not accurate. Every other comparison between the two cars put the 650i as being faster but not being able to keep up with the Jag in handling. The M6 is more of a true sports cars than the XKR though. The XK's handling will be further improved when they add all of the new suspension and braking systems from the XF over to it.

How is 300 hp not good enough to be a base engine???

"The M6 is more of a true sports cars than the XKR though. The XK's handling will be further improved when they add all of the new suspension and braking systems from the XF over to it."

I absolutely disagree. The XKR is lighter and much more tossable than the M6. And at a similar price to a well-equipped 650i and a base SL550, it puts the BMW/Merc competition to shame.

^ I couldn't agree more...

yet the complaints of the XK not having enough power here from the same people that are now saying a 75,000 car with 6.0 second 0-60 times isnt good enough and its not......are now saying an old engine with only 300hp v8 at that price. Regardless of how well the supercharger makes it perform 300hp isnt compeitive in its segment the sl, and 650i both have 360 and 380 respectively and could run with the xkr. A jaguar shouldnt be thought of as course the BMW will perform better so we will go easy on it thats rediculous it should be just as competitive, not be the 650i or sl but be a jaguar and compete. If as heavy as the 650i and SL are and can get times on par with the likes of the 420hp aluminum bodied XKR something is wrong obviously and the 650i has epa ratings right there with the 4.2 with 300hp. decades old technolog, poor interior materials quality, electronic glitches, poor resale, and gorgeous styling dont add to A car it adds up to subpar period, the XK isnt a hard fix it has a wonderful suspension but the engine, and inner workings are no match for a car like a Jaguar XK or any car in its class

Didn't the XKR get through a test course faster than a porsche in Motortrend. I remember seeing that big comparison test of cars in all different classes being compared. Just not sure which magazine it was.

Jaguar's future is looking brighter every day...

The bad part is that Ford is gonna sell Jaguar to the worst group possible and won't reap any of the benefits of the newer cars and engines.
T

Ford will keep the all important engine contract