The 2011 XKR Coupe will be available with what Jaguar calls the “Speed Pack.” As its name suggests, the option is all about pushing the speedometer needle past 155. The secret, it seems, doesn’t lie with brute power — output from the supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 remains 510 hp and 461 lb.-ft. of torque. Instead, Jaguar says it was able to push the top end to 174 mph simply by recalibrating both the engine and transmission controls.

In order to help keep the XKR glued to the ground at such speeds, the Speed Pack adds a unique body kit designed to improve the car’s aerodynamics. The tall front fascia gains a modified splitter, while the rear spoiler grows in size. 20-inch aluminum wheels are standard, as is an active rear differential, which Jaguar claims helps reduce steering sensitivity when at higher velocities.

The Speed Pack adds some cosmetic flair to the performance package. XKR Speed Pack models add a chrome finish to the window surrounds, mesh grille inserts, fender vent trim, and the trunk appliqué. Customers can choose from one of six colors, and if so desired, a side stripe. Also available, will be the “Black Pack,” available only on XKRs equipped with the Speed Pack. The Black Pack trims the window surrounds and grilles in a piano black finish, while adding charcoal leather to the interior. The 2011 XKR Speed Pack is expected to make its world debut at the 2010 Geneva motor show in March.

The All-New 2010 Jaguar XJ has arrived! As Jaguar puts it, the 2010 XJ is “a blend of stunning design, intuitive technology, and innovative thinking that delivers a remarkable driving experience. A contemporary luxury car that is beautiful, exhilarating, and sustainable”. As expected, the new XJ’s styling is radically different and far more modern than the current car, taking a healthy dose of influence from Jaguar’s XF line. The XJ’s interior has also been seriously re-worked for the 2010 model year. Taking little in the way of influence from the smaller XF, the 2010 XJ features a unique, wrap-around dash, complete with plenty of wood and leather accents. A large LCD screen is front and center while rounded air vents give the XJ’s cabin an air of sportiness. Technical features of the 2010 XJ include an air suspension, Jaguar’s continuously variable damping Adaptive Dynamics system and Active Differential Control. The 2010 XJ is offered in three separate trim levels – XJ, Supercharged and Supersport – with each model available in long-wheelbase form. The base XJ will be powered by a 385 horsepower 5.0L V8 while the mid-level Supercharged model adds a supercharger to boost horsepower to 470. The customer order only Supersport model sits atop the XJ hierarchy, powered by a 510 horsepower version of Jaguar’s supercharged 5.0L V8. All XJ models will use a six-speed automatic transmission. Starting MSRP for the 2010 XJ is as follows: XJ 5.0 Liter V8:$72,500, XJ Supercharged: $87,500, XJ Supersport: $112,00, XJL(long wheel-base) 5.0 Liter V8: $79,500, XJL Supercharged: $90,500, and XJL Supersport:$115,000.

The New Jaguar XJ: Three Days Away

The full unveiling of the redesigned 2010 Jaguar XJ will occur on July 9. The all-new XJ is the first car to feature the next-generation of Jaguar’s aerospace-inspired aluminum body architecture and features a panoramic glass roof. Although the new car is based on the XJ’s existing aluminum structure, much of the engineering is new to the car, if not to Jaguar. The rear structure, for example, has been re-engineered to house the electronic differential first seen in the recently revised XKR, and there are also changes to the front subframe to sharpen steering and improve the ride. It’s likely that the air suspension system will be retained, although it will react considerably faster for an even more cosseting ride, but not to the detriment of Jaguar’s hallmark handling dynamics.

The powertrain lineup will follow that of the latest XF and XK update, with Jaguar’s new range of V-8 engines in both normally aspirated and supercharged forms. With the supercharged engine giving more than 500 bhp and a curb weight of around 3750 lb. Word also has it that a new twin-turbodiesel model, important for European markets, will be a class beater in terms of emissions and fuel consumption. The interior will further develop the modern themes first seen in the XF, so expect to see contemporary veneers and leather finishes as well as more traditional options and sporty carbon and aluminum variants.