Jaguar XKR Silverstone

The XK8 was a Jaguar that showed what the brand was good at; building stylish gentleman Gran Tourers for the enthusiast. Because the black feline showed a bit too much understated potential for some, a variant with considerably more sports DNA was introduced in 1998; the Jaguar XKR.

The same V8 as a power source but with a large Eaton supercharger that ensured that almost 100 extra British horses were taken out of the stable when the accelerator was used. In addition, the chassis was tuned a lot tighter and the brakes were screwed up. With the extra forces on the car, Jaguar's own gearbox soon failed. That is why they 'borrowed' a Mercedes gearbox, which makes for a very pleasant and reliable setup.

In 2001, Jaguar returned to Formula 1 under the wings of Ford. To celebrate this, Jaguar released an XKR variant that had once again been to the gym; the XKR Silverstone. The large 20 inch BBS rims, stiffer anti-roll bars, stiffer suspension/damping and Brembo brakes made for a Jag that was really not for the faint of heart. Only 200 units were produced for the European market, 100 units for the American market.

All this, in addition to its original Dutch origins, very well-maintained condition and beautiful lines, makes for another unique Cool Classic!