Picture this... a sensual XKR convertible, black on black, fitted with a wind tunnel developped aero package, ready to hug the road with massive 20x11 wheels and a lowered suspension. Under the louvered bonnet, a 5 litre supercharged AJ-V8 engine developping 550hp and 500 lbft of torque and.. are you ready for this... matted to a 5 speed transaxle MANUAL!

This is actually a cruel joke that Jaguar and Rocketsports engineers are playing on us.. you see.. concept cars are usually far out dream vehicles bearing little ressemblance with production models but this one looks familiar and could be produced. But you are unlikely to slip behind the wheel anytime soon... it's just another concept, another teaser...

For those North American Jaguar enthusiasts who have been hybernating in past 3 or 4 years, Paul Gentilozzi's Rocketsports is the race team who brought Jaguar back into Trans Am racing with great success including two manufacturers and drivers titles. Gentilozzi himself is a four time Tran Am champion and one of the most succesful driver in the long running series. They also have been working with Jaguar on a number of projects including developping a race version of the Jaguar V8 engine introduced this year in the XK8 of Trans Am Champ Scott Pruett and the agressive X-Type concept racer presented last year.

The XK-RS is not a regular XKR with a body kit, it was engineered to bring 200 mph / sub 4 second 0-60 performance to Jaguar luxury flagship GT. Careful aerodynamic work by Rocketsports engineers include agressive spoilers and side skirts along with underbody wind tunnels expected to increase downforce by 100%... Using a transaxle manual gearbox not only makes a car a real enthusiasts' sports car but also improves handling as relocating the transmisson results in a 50/50 ideal weight distribtution.

With an extensively redesigned XK8 / XKR expected to reach the market in 2006 using aluminium construction, you will never see the XK-RS in a showroom near you. Until then at least, we will have to accept the same level of performance Jaguar brought us in 1998 with the original XKR, while every other performance manufacturer has raised its game...

The XK-RS is another stunning Cat, just like the XK180, F-Type, R Coupe, RD6 Coupe and X-type racer, unfortunately, it will join them as just another teaser...

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