The product of JaguarSport, a colaboration between Jaguar and TWR, the XJR-S was the ultimate hardcore expression of the classic XJS grand tourer.
The ageing 6 litre V12 (a 5.3 was also offered) was fettled to an ultimate 333bhp, good for 160mph, but still transmitted through the inappropriate 3-speed automatic gearbox.
The XJR-S' styling questionable, some believing that the TWR body kit, bespoke alloys and rear spoiler detracted from the graceful lines of the base XJS. They did however produce genuine added stability, very welcome in such a heavyweight beast. The cabin was luxuriously trimmed but too cramped for a car of this size.
Around 800 were built, including a small number of rare convertible models. Coming towards the end of a long 21 year production run, the R could be considered the nearest the XJS ever got to being not only the actual successor, but also the spiritual successor to the E-Type.
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