On the road

January 2012

  Joe Mortimer gets fast and furious with this month's selection of new luxury cars

 
Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged AJ-V8 GENIII petrol engine
BHP: 543
0-100kph: 4.4 secs
Top speed: 300kph (electronically limited)
Emissions: 292g/km
Origin: UK
Cost: $139,000

Jaguar’s new XKR-S Convertible is the fastest and most powerful open-topped GT Jaguar has ever made, and it’s guaranteed to make pedestrians say ‘ooooh’. Extensive aerodynamic engineering has created a car capable of achieving 300kph with the roof down, while still maintaining stability and comfort on the road. The front end reveals multiple air intakes and airflow channels, with a carbon fibre splitter that gives it an aggressive presence on the road, and from the side and rear it features silky smooth curves and elegant hand-stitched leather interiors.

Bentley Continental GT V8

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
BHP: 500
0-100kph: <5 secs
Top speed: >290kph
Origin: UK
Cost: TBC

Although it’s not as powerful as its W12 big brother, Bentley’s new GT V8 will still make a lot of noise at the North American International Motor Show this month. The new engine delivers a whopping 500BHP, but at the same time promises 800km on a single tank of fuel, with a 40 percent improvement on fuel efficiency. The V8 range is set apart from its cousins by a chromed figure-of-eight exhaust pipe and a red enamel ‘B’ for Bentley logo on the black gloss matrix grille.

Genesis Prada

Engine: Tau 4.6-litre V8
Origin: Seoul
Cost: AED 220,000 (US$60,000)

It was a marriage of car and fashion brand that was destined to bear beautiful children: the Genesis Prada is the result. The dashboard and upholstery are fitted out with Prada’s signature saffiano leather, while the door handles, radiator grille and emblem sport the same dark chrome as buckles on Prada bags.

If you ever thought the Porsche Panamera lacked the sporty stance and oomph of the 911 Carrera…you were probably right. But hold onto your hats, Porsche is set to unveil the new Panamera GTS – that’s Gran Turismo Sport in Porsche language – in February. The GTS sits 10mm closer to the ground than its previous incarnations and features a naturally aspirated V8 engine capable of launching the beast to 288kph and unleashing a roar that makes its presence felt. A Sport Chrono package comes as standard.

Porsche Panamera GTS

Engine: 4.8-litre V6
BHP: 430
0-100kph: <4.5 sec
Top speed: 288kph
Fuel consumption: 10.9 l/100km
Origin: Germany
Cost: EUR 116,716 (US$152,300)

If you ever thought the Porsche Panamera lacked the sporty stance and oomph of the 911 Carrera…you were probably right. But hold onto your hats, Porsche is set to unveil the new Panamera GTS – that’s Gran Turismo Sport in Porsche language – in February. The GTS sits 10mm closer to the ground than its previous incarnations and features a naturally aspirated V8 engine capable of launching the beast to 288kph and unleashing a roar that makes its presence felt. A Sport Chrono package comes as standard.