Jaguar extends XK-RS GT production run, 20 really rich buyers quietly rejoice

By Nick Jaynes April 8, 2013

When the Jaguar XK-RS GT was unveiled two weeks ago at the New York Auto Show, the stated limited-run production figures were pegged at 30. Surprisingly, Jaguar only plans to offer the track-inspired sports coupes in the U.S. and Canada.

Word comes today from Jaguar, by way of Autocar, that the XK-RS GT production could top out at 50 – 20 more than previously planned.

But why is Jaguar going to make more of the 542-horsepower beasts? According to Jaguar CEO Adrian Hallmark in an Autocar interview, “The initial cap was set to define the business case but, thankfully, there is room for more.”

Going for $174,000, Jaguar boast the XK-RS GT can lap the Nurburgring in under seven minutes and 40 seconds. “We could have got more power from the engine and achieved lap times that way, for instance, but we focused on drivability, aero enhancements, weight saving, brake performance and the like,” Hallmark said to Autocar.

To us, really, it doesn’t matter how many of the cars Jaguar makes or really how fast it can go. Most of the people who’ll buy it won’t ever take it to its limit – nor could they. Most of the XK-RS GTs, including the extra 20, will wind up parked in some lonely garage surrounded by millions of dollars of other super sports cars, collecting dust.

On an amusing side note: imagine how angry the Brits must be that their beloved Jaguar won’t even sell the XK-RS GTs in the UK!

2011 Jaguar XKR Coupe — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

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