Jaguar Take on BMW with Supercharged XJ Ring Taxi

BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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recently unveiled its new F10 M5BMW M5Germany, 2012 > 200028 photos
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Ring Taxi to take passengers around the Nürburgring Nordschleife at ludicrous speeds for €216 a spot. Former Ring Taxi driver Sabine Schmitz also offers taxi laps in her race-prepped Porsche GT3BMW 318i Navigation Autom...Germany, 2008 > present1 photo
during VLN weekends. Now, JaguarJaguarUnited Kingdom, 1922 > present53 models
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is joining the 'Ring taxi ranks with a XJBMW 318i Touring M SportGermany, 2009 > present1 photo
equipped with the Sport and Speed packages. 

The grey, supercharged XJ boasts 510ps. Jaguar says that the car is mechanically standard, but they added a full rollcage to the interior and stripped most of the interior trim out to install four race seats with four-point harnesses. The car lives at Jaguar's test center at the Nürburgring.

While the roll cage and race seats certainly improve safety, it is an interesting move. The BMW M5 taxi is basically stock. The car uses different brake pads and tires, but beyond that, it is the same as an M5 that anyone can buy. While Jaguar says that this XJ is stock mechanically, as soon as a passenger steps in, they will see that Jaguar pulled out the interior. 

"We found it's the XJ Supersport that most often surprises journalists with its speed simply because they perceive it to be a large luxury car. The XJ is both those things, of course, but its aluminum architecture means it's rigid and lightweight too, which make it a very good car on track. To underline that fact, our engineering team created this special Nürburgring taxi version in which our trained drivers can safely take passengers on very hot laps," Frank Klaas, Global Head of Communications, Jaguar Land Rover.

Sadly, Jaguar has no plans to take reservations for laps in the car. 

"The 'taxi' title is a bit of fun, intended to describe the fact that it's a Nurburgring experience vehicle that can carry passengers. We have no immediate plans to publicly offer rides in the car," said Angus Fitton, a Jaguar Land Rover PR representitive via e-mail. 

The Sport Package adds race trimmed seats to the normal car, but they have been removed from this car in place of real race seats. It also has a lower front splitter, rear lip spoiler, black front grill and 20in wheels. The Speed Package can only be ordered with the Sport pack and raises the speed limiter to from 155mph to 174mph. 

BMW F10 M5 Is the New Ring Taxi

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