Land speed records->ke1948 are pretty much an exclusively British endeavor at this point, so it makes perfect sense that Jaguar->ke39 would lend its support to the Bloodhound SSC->ke4876 project. It’s a pairing as British as bangers and mash.

In honor of the partnership, Jaguar is introducing the new XJR Rapid Response Vehicle alongside three newly face-lifted XJRs at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed.->ke3879 The XJR RRV joins the F-Type RRV on the 2014 Bloodhound SSC’s mission to break the 1,000 mph barrier, and will be piloted up the Goodwood hill by Royal Air Force ace and Bloodhound SSC driver Andy Green.

With a 550-horsepower supercharged V-8, it’s a bit down on power compared with the 135,000-horsepower Bloodhound SSC, but the Jaguar XJR does 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 174 mph, which should come in handy when transporting the equipment and personnel necessary for a 1,000-mph land-speed record run. Built by Jaguar Special Vehicle Operations, the two XKR RRVs have had roll cages fitted and the rear seats have been replaced by custom housings for emergency equipment.

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Why it matters

Jaguar’s involvement with the Bloodhound program is more than just a marketing exercise. Between its Rolls Royce EJ200 jet engine from the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet and hybrid rocket engine, Bloodhound SSC is a thirsty beast. It drinks over 10 gallons of jet fuel per second at full throttle, which means the fuel pump from your Honda Civic->ke236 won’t cut it. So, Jaguar is supplying the same 550-horsepower V-8 that powers the XJR and 2015 Jaguar F-Type R to power Bloodhound’s massive fuel pump.

The fleet of Jaguars joins two Supacat HMT 600 6x6 offroad vehicles on Bloodhound’s support team. The HMTs will carry roughly 3,300 pounds of water and firefighting equipment, in addition to a spare 1,000-pound rocket engine. Because land-speed records require two runs in opposite directions, the HMTs’ are also equipped with crane arms to help with the tricky turnaround procedure, which has to happen in less than an hour.

2014 Jaguar XJR

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