I've never considered production Jaguars to be particularly fun cars. Jags are powerful, luxurious, elegant and exclusive, the type of vehicle you ferry clients to lunch in or the girlfriend to a nightclub. Therefore, it was surprising when our intern returned the J Nothelle S-Type R from a gas run and proclaimed "That ****ing thing is a riot!"
What was he talking about? Sure, the J Nothelle Jag looks good, but "a riot?"
What's riotous about a kitted-out Jag?
After spending 20 minutes behind the wheel of CEC's latest project car, I began to understand what our 21-year-old plebe meant. The J Nothelle Jag is indeed a fun car. Hell, you could even call it a riot.
The fun begins the moment the supercharged engine sparks to life. In this application, the blower is attached to an updated edition of Jaguar's excellent AJ-V8 engine. With a displacement increase from 4.0 to 4.2 liters, heads turn as the classic rumble of a force-fed V8 trumpets through the low-restriction exhaust. It was interesting to note the tonal difference between the stock S-Type R we had for comparative purposes and the J Nothelle car. Whereas the factory car sounded good, the J Nothelle Jag sounded positively fabulous.
Turn off the joy-killing traction control, mash the drilled aluminum pedal to the floor and watch in amazement as the fat Michelin rubber leaves a thick cloud of smoke behind. Actually, one tire spins much harder than the other as the S-Type R is devoid of a limited-slip differential, a curious omission as the 400-bhp S-Type R is the most powerful Jag to ever come to North America. Although CEC claims this car did not include the J Nothelle power package, good for 480 bhp and 495 lb-ft of torque (bigger blower, revised ECU, optimized air intake, big intercooler and high-performance exhaust system), it was markedly quicker than the stock vehicle. The radar gun revealed a quarter-mile time of 13.7 sec., with 0-to-60 mph around 5.2 tics. Not bad considering its prodigious 2-ton curb weight. Like all but the X-Type Jags, the S-Type R is equipped with an automatic transmission, distinguished by Jaguar's peculiar J-gate shifter and six forward speeds. The J-gate has long been Jaguar's answer to the various so-called manumatic transmissions that allow the driver to select gears manually if desired.
In automatic mode, the six-speed ZF transmission tends to pick the most relaxed gear. However when snapped into manual, it will hold the selection until redline, an especially welcome trait when tearing through the local canyon.
All S-Type Rs have Jaguar's optional sport suspension, underpinnings J Nothelle augments with its sport springs. It lowers the Jag nearly an inch and really improves the ride, moving it even closer, but not quite, into BMW M5 territory.
The J Nothelle body wear is wrought from the same plastic material the factory uses and fits very well. Overall, it is a well-balanced package, and not once did anyone mention a "bling bling" factor.
The J Nothelle Jaguar S-Type R was well received by the entire staff-- even the kids over at our sister publication Sport Compact Car liked it. Whether launching from a stoplight or cutting through the twisties, the car is surprisingly agile. The J Nothelle treatment helps the Jag have more fun, riotous fun even.
J Nothelle Aero Kit
J Nothelle lip spoiler
J Nothelle front air intake ducts
J Nothelle side skirts
J Nothelle rear spoiler
J Nothelle hood emblem
J Nothelle Wheels
Front: J Nothelle Excedra 8.5x19
245/35R19 Michelin Sport
Rear: J Nothelle Excedra 9.5x19
275/30R19 Michelin Sport
J Nothelle Suspension
J Nothelle sport springs
J Nothelle Engine Enhancements
J Nothelle sport exhaust
J Nothelle Interior
J Nothelle aluminum pedal set
J Nothelle aluminum footrest
J Nothelle aluminum gear change lever
J Nothelle aluminum illuminated door sill plates