Automotive

Jaguar joins the superwagon class with XFR-S Sportbrake

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Clockwise from top left: the 550 hp Mercedes Benz AMG E63 S Wagon, the new Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake, the 556 hp Cadillac CTS-V, and the 560 hp Audi RS 6 Avant
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake's supercharged V8 produces a 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds, just 0.2 seconds slower than the much-lighter XFR-S Saloon
The third model in Jaguar’s ultra-high performance R-S range, the XFR-S Sportbrake joins its XFR-S saloon sibling in the exclusive 300km/h club and is a vivid expression of Jaguar’s longstanding and legendary sports saloon lineage
The XFR-S Sportbrake, like its siblings, uses a 542 hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 producing 680Nm of torque
The Sportbrake likely has an aerodynamic advantage over its sedan stablemate, and at higher speeds will likely accelerate faster towards its electronically-limited top speed of 186 mph
The XFR-S Sportbrake, like its siblings, uses a 542 hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 producing 680Nm of torque
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake's supercharged V8 produces a 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds, just 0.2 seconds slower than the much-lighter XFR-S Saloon
Jaguar's XFR-S Sportbrake boasts the same power figures and levels of agility as the XFR-S saloon with increased versatility and practicality
The XFR-S Sportbrake, like its siblings, uses a 542 hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 producing 680Nm of torque
The XFR-S Sportbrake’s R-S powertrain, chassis and body enhancements enable the car to push the performance boundaries.
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake's supercharged V8 produces a 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds, just 0.2 seconds slower than the much-lighter XFR-S Saloon
The third model in Jaguar’s ultra-high performance R-S range, the XFR-S Sportbrake joins its XFR-S saloon sibling in the exclusive 300km/h club and is a vivid expression of Jaguar’s longstanding and legendary sports saloon lineage.
The XFR-S Sportbrake, like its siblings, uses a 542 hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 producing 680Nm of torque
The XFR-S Sportbrake has a claimed 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds, just 0.2 seconds slower than the 90kg-lighter XFR-S Saloon
The XFR-S Sportbrake’s R-S powertrain, chassis and body enhancements enable the car to push the performance boundaries.
The XFR-S Sportbrake has a claimed 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds, just 0.2 seconds slower than the 90kg-lighter XFR-S Saloon.
The XFR-S Sportbrake, like its siblings, uses a 542 hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 producing 680Nm of torque
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
The third model in Jaguar’s ultra-high performance R-S range, the XFR-S Sportbrake joins its XFR-S saloon sibling in the exclusive 300km/h club and is a vivid expression of Jaguar’s longstanding and legendary sports saloon lineage.
Jaguar's XFR-S Sportbrake boasts the same power figures and levels of agility as the XFR-S saloon with increased versatility and practicality
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
The the XFR-S Sportbrake at left, with the car from which it was derived, the XFR-S Saloon at right.
Jaguar's XFR-S Sportbrake boasts the same power figures and levels of agility as the XFR-S saloon with increased versatility and practicality
The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake's supercharged V8 produces a 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds, just 0.2 seconds slower than the much-lighter XFR-S Saloon
552 hp Audi RS 6 Avant
552 hp Audi RS 6 Avant
The Audi RS 6 Avant produces 560 hp @ 5700 rpm, 516 ft.lbs of torque at 1750 rpm, and weighs 4431 pounds. Comparative pricing is difficult due to the range of extras and the unavailability of the model in some markets.
552 hp Audi RS 6 Avant
Mercedes Benz AMG E63 S Wagon
The Mercedes Benz AMG E63 S Wagon produces 550 hp @ 5500 rpm, 531 ft.lbs of torque at 1750 rpm, and weighs 4703 pounds. Comparative pricing is difficult due to the vast range of extras and the unavailability of the model in some markets.
Mercedes Benz AMG E63 S Wagon
Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon produces 556 hp @ 6100 rpm, 551 ft.lbs of torque at 3800 rpm, and weighs 4431 pounds. The optional extras make calculating a comparative price very difficult, but it's fair to say that the Cadillac is the most reasonably priced of the superwagons.
Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
The XFR-S Sportbrake’s R-S powertrain, chassis and body enhancements enable the car to push the performance boundaries
Jaguar's XFR-S Sportbrake builds on the already acclaimed XFR-S saloon
Jaguar's XFR-S Sportbrake boasts the same power figures and levels of agility as the XFR-S saloon with increased versatility and practicality
The XFR-S Sportbrake, like its siblings, uses a 542 hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 producing 680Nm of torque
Jaguar's XFR-S Sportbrake builds on the already acclaimed XFR-S saloon
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Detail images: Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Clockwise from top left: the 550 hp Mercedes Benz AMG E63 S Wagon, the new Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake, the 556 hp Cadillac CTS-V, and the 560 hp Audi RS 6 Avant
View gallery - 53 images

The superwagon class gained an extra competitor overnight with the news that Jaguar will produce an R-S branded "estate car" with a 542 hp, 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine. The Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake will cost GBP82,495 (USD$137,700) and will become a direct competitor for the 560 hp Audi RS 6 Avant, 556 hp Cadillac CTS-V, and the 550 hp Mercedes Benz AMG E63 S Wagon.

The XFR-S Sportbrake is the first high-performance sports estate car to be produced by Jaguar (you'll note that bourgeois brands like to use different terminology to more proletarian marques – the term station wagon derives from the "hacks," or working class Hackney Cabs, which loitered around train stations). Estate cars and sporting brakes are the much preferred terms of the likes of Mercedes Benz, Audi and BMW, which has promised an M5 Sportbrake for many years, but has yet to deliver.

The XFR-S Sportbrake, like its siblings, uses a 542 hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 producing 680Nm of torque

The XFR-S Sportbrake’s supercharged V8 has helped define an entirely new vehicle for Jaguar, producing 680 Nm of torque. While that will certainly help haul whatever you strap into the cavernous 1675 liter rear load space, rest assured it is a long way from the family station wagon.

The XFR-S Sportbrake has a claimed 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds, just 0.2 seconds slower than the 90 kg-lighter XFR-S Saloon. Like the XFR-S sedan, the Sportbrake has an eight-speed transmission with "Quickshift" functionality for optimal acceleration. Conversely, the Sportbrake may have an aerodynamic advantage, and at higher speeds will likely accelerate faster towards its electronically-limited top speed of 186 mph (299 km/h).

The the XFR-S Sportbrake at left, with the car from which it was derived, the XFR-S Saloon at right.

The XFR-S Saloon’s chassis has been specifically reworked for the XFR-S Sportbrake. With an additional 90 kg of weight compared to the saloon, most of it sitting over the rear wheels, the Sportbrake’s rear suspension has been modified with revisions to both rear spring rates and the adaptive damper tune. The active electronic differential and Dynamic Stability Control settings have been recalibrated to work with the XFR-S Sportbrake’s modified rear suspension.

The anti-roll bars have also been changed and the rear axle has been modified, while the rear brakes have been tuned to work in conjunction with the car’s ABS system.Overall lateral suspension stiffness has been increased by 30 percent front and rear, with front and rear spring rates increased by the same amount.

The Competition

Audi RS 6 Avant

The Audi RS 6 Avant produces 560 hp @ 5700 rpm, 516 ft.lbs of torque at 1750 rpm, and weighs 4431 pounds. Comparative pricing is difficult due to the range of extras and the unavailability of the model in some markets.

Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

The Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon produces 556 hp @ 6100 rpm, 551 ft.lbs of torque at 3800 rpm, and weighs 4431 pounds. The optional extras make calculating a comparative price very difficult, but it's fair to say that the Cadillac is the most reasonably priced of the superwagons.

Mercedes Benz AMG E63 S Wagon

The Mercedes Benz AMG E63 S Wagon produces 550 hp @ 5500 rpm, 531 ft.lbs of torque at 1750 rpm, and weighs 4703 pounds. Comparative pricing is difficult due to the vast range of extras and the unavailability of the model in some markets.

Last but not least, if you absolutely positively MUST HAVE the fastest superwagon on the block, or perhaps the world, then can we suggest you have a chat with the folk down at Hennessy Performance where they can extract a few extra horsepower from your wagon. Last week Hennessy's Venom GT set a new world speed record for a production vehicle, and just 18 months ago we wrote about a very special Cadillac CTS-V which Hennessy had managed to pump up to 1226 hp. It wasn't the wagon version, but if you ask nicely, we're quite sure they'll pimp your Cadillac wagon too.

Gizmag will be on hand for a closer look a the XFR-S Sportbrake when it's officially revealed at next month's Geneva Motor Show.

View gallery - 53 images
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4 comments
Rt1583
I find it disappointing that Cadillac, really nothing more than a dolled up Chevrolet, is seriously considered to be in the same class as what are, arguably, three of the best purveyors of automotive performance technology within their market.
What's next? Will the Corvette seriously be considered to be in the same class as the likes of Ferrari and Porsche?
Bruce Williams
It doesn't appear to matter to anyone but you that the CTS-V was mentioned in the article along with the others.
.....And I'll tell you what; It sure matters to Ferrari and Porsche that Corvette has not only caught up, but eclipsed them in many areas of technology. I think you might need to attend some track days and see first hand what an American sports car can do against the others at 1/4th the cost.
Michael Wilson
The cts-v wagon out-performs them both. You only have to go as far as youtube to see dozens of videos of the CTS-V wagon out-dragging ferrari coupe's in the 1/4 mile
Rt1583
@ Bruce - Show me an American sports car in the same class as Ferrari and Porsche for 1/4 the cost. I'm not just talking about track numbers either. Show me the whole package (engineering, materials, fit/finish, etc.) for 1/4 the price. What are the odds that the base model $50K Corvette would be able to hold its own against a Ferrari?
@ Michael - Watching an American sports car out drag a European sports car helps to make my point. Straight line and oval track times (arguably Americas strong point for the last few decades) do not make a world class sports car.
Without a doubt the big 3 have made tremendous strides in the last couple of decades in what they offer the public but they just aren't on par with what the European brands offer.
I love the Challenger and Camaro for reasons of aesthetics, performance and nostalgia but for me to have what I would want out of either of these cars it would be in the $50K - $60K range at which point I could purchase a number of European cars that at least equal either of these two in areas of numerical performance and will out do them by far in the areas of quality and fit/finish.