Worthing, England–March 2008–Bowers & Wilkins, the British loudspeaker manufacturer known throughout the Globe for their innovative designs and engineering prowess, has announced that the 2009 Jaguar XKR Portfolio will include a Bowers & Wilkins premium surround system as standard equipment. The 2009 Jaguar XKR will debut at the New York Auto Show on March 21-30, 2008 and will be available in dealer showrooms June 2008.
With introduction from concept in the Jaguar C-XF to production reality in the Jaguar XF and XKR Portfolio models, Bowers & Wilkins has quickly made a name for itself in genuine best-in-class sound with Jaguar aficionados and music lovers alike, further solidifying the company’s position as a sound technology and engineering leader.
Martin Lindsay, Senior Business Development Manager Automotive at Bowers & Wilkins explains: “Designing loudspeakers for in-car entertainment presents a series of engineering challenges. Working in conjunction with Jaguar engineers, our team has implemented a premium offering with the transparency and clarity which Bowers & Wilkins has become known for in its home audio speakers.”
The Bowers & Wilkins automotive team used a rigorous component specification and selection process, then turned its efforts to the system tuning and calibration, ensuring a consistent, compelling entertainment experience for driver and passengers alike.
The audio system incorporates key Bowers & Wilkins ingredients, including improved-dispersion Kevlar mid-range speakers and low-distortion, high-performance aluminum tweeters.
A hallmark of Bowers & Wilkins audio performance innovations, Kevlar cone speakers in the XKR Portfolio have been developed to improve the sonic purity of the signal. Unlike more conventional speaker designs, dispersion is much more uniform across the frequency range. As a result, these speakers are significantly clearer throughout their range and deliver more fine detail to the listener. Aluminum tweeter domes were chosen based on the ideal stiffness properties required to ensure an extended, distortion-free high-frequency response.
The 2009 Jaguar XKR Portfolio will be built in limited numbers and available as a coupe or convertible. Exterior color is Shadow Grey metallic with 20-inch Selena alloy wheels with special shadow finish and red Jaguar ‘Heritage’ center badge. Interior options are soft-grain contrast stitch leather in either Charcoal with Cranberry twin needle stitching or Ivory with Slate twin needle stitching. Hand-finished Rich Oak veneer or Engine Spin aluminum is offered for the fascia finish. The vehicle also feature Alcon Performance brakes with red calipers, 15.7-inch six-pot front and 13.8-inch four-pot rear which are the largest ever fitted to a production Jaguar.
About Bowers & Wilkins (www.bowers-wilkins.com)
Bowers & Wilkins is the world’s leading exporter of loudspeakers with a reputation for sound reproduction spanning over 40 years. The company and culture formed by John Bowers remains dedicated to the pursuit of ‘true sound’ — nothing added, nothing taken away. As a testament to the results of its effort, B&W speakers serve as the audio reference in leading recording studios around the world, including London’s Abbey Road Studios. Bowers & Wilkins products are available from over 3,000 retailers in 62 countries around the world. In 2005 the company received the Queen’s Award for Innovation.
