Global Vehicles

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June 2002
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Hot-rod Lincoln LS

McLaren Performance Technologies' Lincoln LS upgrades include a supercharger for its V8 engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.

"When you think hot-rod Lincoln, we want you to think McLaren engines," said Steven Rossi, President and Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Performance Technologies in Livonia, MI. The company will supercharge the car's V8 engine, offer a six-speed manual gearbox, and make additional performance upgrades to create a faster Lincoln LS.

Depending on the selected performance package, "Powered by McLaren Engines" LS sport sedans will be fitted with an Eaton supercharger (supplied by Magnuson), as well as twin intercoolers within a completely redesigned McLaren Performance inlet system. The performance tweaks beef the naturally aspirated 188-kW (252-hp) engine to an estimated 261 kW (350 hp), while torque increases from 354 to 475N•m (261 to 350 lb•ft). A Tremec six-speed manual transmission rounds out the performance package offerings. (McLaren Performance Technologies worked with Trilogy International of Dearborn, MI, for CAD and engineering services.)

A Stage One performance package— consisting of engine intake and exhaust enhancements as well as performance wheels and tires—is planned for summer availability through select Lincoln dealers for $5000. Stage Two packaging provides the supercharged engine, brake and chassis upgrades, engine intake/grille/exhaust enhancements, and performance wheels and tires for $12,000. A Stage Three package offers the six-speed manual transmission. (Stage Two and Three packages are being developed for installation by an approved up-fitter.)

After involvement with specialty vehicles such as the Buick GNX and Pontiac GTP Turbo, McLaren is racing back to the niche performance vehicle segment. "We selected Lincoln," said Rossi. "This is our program, and we're driving it."

The high-performance Lincoln's suspension alterations reflect recalibrated front and rear springs/shocks to lower the ride height by 25 mm (1 in). Instead of two-piston front discs 300 mm (11.8 in) in diameter and one-piston rear discs 288 mm (11.3 in) in diameter, the up-fitted Lincoln LS has McLaren Performance/StopTech four-piston calipers with front discs 355 mm (14.0 in) in diameter and four-piston calipers with rear discs 328 mm (12.9 in) in diameter.

OZ Classe wheels with patented replaceable rim lip are mated with Michelin 245/45-18 Pilot Sport A/S tires. The body differs from the standard sport sedan via ASC-designed Powered by McLaren Engines markings, xenon gas-discharge headlamps, perforated grille, and custom taillamps. Interior trimmings also reflect ASC-designed customization.

"We're looking to elbow our way back into the niche vehicle domain. This first vehicle is just a start," Rossi said, adding, "Beyond the LS, our long-term vision is to apply our expertise across the full Lincoln portfolio."

- Kami Buchholz

Queen Elizabeth gets a new ride

Full-size mockup of "one-off" monocoque Bentley State limousine is now being built.

Bentley is now building a new State limousine for Queen Elizabeth II to mark her golden jubilee this year. It will be built as a unique vehicle rather than a production car modified for the role, and it will bear no relationship in either appearance or physical proportion to any other Bentley product. Bentley is heading a consortium in the design and creation of the car. Among its members are TWR, Mayflower Vehicle Systems, Ricardo, and MSX International. The car will be presented as a gift to the Queen. Bentley Design Director Dirk van Braeckel and exterior stylist Crispin Marshfield started work on the project in early 2000.

Unlike Rolls-Royce State limousines, which have had a separate chassis, the Bentley will be a monocoque design. This allows a lower roofline while achieving necessary interior height. The transmission tunnel does not encroach on interior space. The rear doors are cut into the cant rail, which will enable the Queen to stand up straight before stepping to the ground, according to Bentley. The rear doors are hinged at their trailing edges and open through almost 90°. The car will be painted in Royal claret below the waist rail, with black above, separated by a red coach line. The rear seats will be upholstered in West of England cloth.

- Stuart Birch

Jaguar supercharges the S-Type

A mesh grille and special wheels distinguish the supercharged S-Type R, now Jaguar's most powerful model.

A 298-kW (400-hp) (DIN) supercharged 4.2-L engine, ZF six-speed automatic transmission, major suspension changes, Brembo brakes, an electronic park brake, and a stiffer body structure are the key mechanical elements of Jaguar's newest and most powerful production model, the S-Type R. The car tops a revised S-Type range, other offerings of which benefit from many of those changes.

The S-Type has minor external styling changes (the R gets a mesh grille), but major interior improvements include a new dashboard with magnesium understructure and fresh instrumentation. Electrically adjustable foot pedals with memory are an option. Jaguar has also upgraded the naturally aspirated V8 engine from 4.0 to 4.2 L and introduced a V6 2.5-L to join the established V6 3.0-L. The S-Type has a bolt-in structural "shear ring" around the rear seat back to improve torsional rigidity by 7%; overall body stiffness is up by 10%.

The S-Type R's 4.2-L AJ-V8 Eaton-supercharged engine is essentially similar to that fitted to the XJR sedan and XKR sports cars, but with a longer stroke to add 0.2 L produces 553 N•m (409 lb•ft) (DIN) at 3500 rpm. Compared to the naturally aspirated 4.2-L, the supercharged engine gets forged pistons with oil-cooling jets, high-fin-density intercoolers, and twin fuel pumps.

The interior of the revised Jaguar S-Type has a dashboard built on a magnesium understructure.

The S-Type joins BMW's new 7 Series in using ZF's six-speed 6HP26 automatic transmission (also fitted to other automatic S-Types). It has a planetary geartrain with Lepelletier-type gearsets. It is 8 kg (18 lb) lighter than the five-speed automatic transmission previously fitted to the S-Type, and parts count is down from 660 to 470. The gearbox contributes to improved fuel economy. In the S-Type R, it comes with adaptive strategies. Jaguar has retained its J-gate manual mode, but now has shift-by-wire for smoother operation.

A new front and revised rear suspension is fitted to all S-Types. The front suspension has aluminum control arms for its unequal-length double wishbones to minimize track and camber changes. The lower wishbone has two individual arms joined by a ball joint, and the inclination of the upper control arm axis provides more effective anti-dive characteristics. Re-tuned springs and dampers are fitted. At the rear, a new subframe is more rigidly mounted to the body; new control arms and knuckles, as well as a new toe-link, are fitted.

The R version's Computer Active Technology Suspension has more sophisticated damper control. Its brakes include ventilated front, and solid rear, discs, with four-piston aluminum calipers from Brembo.

A 298-kW (400 hp) supercharged 4.2-L AJ-V8 engine propels Jaguar's S-Type R.

The S-Type's electronic park brake is operated via a console-mounted switch. The system was planned from the S-Type's conception. The brake is applied automatically upon removal of the ignition key and is released when the transmission selector is shifted from Park.

The S-Type's interior is now more akin to the design themes of the XJ and X-type sedans. The dashboard, center console, and door panels were redesigned.

- Stuart Birch

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