Jaguar XFR hits 225mph on Bonneville Salt Flats
13 January 2009
What’s the best way to promote a new super-saloon? Break a speed record – and Jaguar has done this with its new XFR hitting 225mph.
In standard guise, the Jaguar XFR develops 510bhp from its 5-litre supercharged V8 engine.
But Jaguar took an XFR, fitted a monster spoiler and fiddled about with the car’s engine computer and exhaust system to boost power to 600bhp.
Driven by Paul Gentilozzi, the modified Jaguar XFR recorded a top speed of 225.675mph (363.188kph) to make it the fastest Jaguar ever.
It beat the previous record of 217.1mph set by Martin Brundle in a Jaguar XJ220 at the Nardo high-speed bowl in Italy.
The speed was achieved with no changes to the internal engine components while the six-speed automatic gearbox – and its ratios – remained standard.
Which begs the question: following the launch of the standard XFR this summer is Jaguar going to unleash the mightiest production super-saloon of all time?
Recession or not, it’s likely there will be no shortage of takers for the fastest ever Jag – which would probably bear the name XFR-S.
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Video: Watch the Koenigsegg CCR hit 245mph at Nardo.
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