Jaguar XKR-S is fastest production Jag in the history of production Jags

Jaguar's celebrating the 50th birthday of the iconic E-Type by placing a new cherry on its ever-evolving automotive cake. Behold, friends, the Jaguar XKR-S -- a car Jaguar says is the fastest, most powerful series-production (ie mass-produced) Jaguar in the history of series-production Jaguars.

The Jaguar XKR-S uses the same 5-litre supercharged V8 engine as the standard XKR (which, by the way, is so beautiful it'll make you want to strangle a horse) but it's been tweaked somewhat so it now produces a a groin-spasming 542bhp and 680Nm of torque -- 32bhp and a 55Nm more than the standard XKR.

Those numbers, along with a few tricky aerodynamic tweaks, help the XKR-S sprint from 0-60mph in just 4.2 seconds -- almost half a second quicker than the standard car. It's none too shabby at 0-100mph, either, taking just 8.6 seconds, while its top speed is a cool 186mph. Eagle-eyed Jag fans will be aware that number is a little on the low side compared to the 217mph Jaguar XJ220 -- but that car never entered series production.

Jaguar, as you'd expect, is saying the XKR-S handles pretty well. The car has an overhauled suspension system that offers "ultimate precision, control and driver appeal" and a reprogrammed Adaptive Dynamics system that "allows the enthusiastic driver to explore the edges of the handling envelope".

Obviously, we're hugely excited about seeing the car when it's unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March. The standard XKR is a stunning car, with excellent handling, performance and superb cabin tech, so Jaguar's earned major brownie points by upgrading the thing with even more power.

Don't stray too far -- we'll be back with more pics and impressions of the car from the show. In the meantime, have a gander at our 2009 XKR Portfolio and 2010 XKR Convertible video reviews to whet your appetite.