Aside from the battery and infotainment rack, I think there's a ton of structural reinforcement there, which the rear seatback is hanging on. I note that this is also right above the rear end, so I would expect that things would get very sketchy the first time you hit a hard bump if you start sawing out the metal reinforcements. I'm pretty sure Jaguar has heard of folding rear seats, and would've done so if it were feasible given the car's geometry.

 

Yep there's a bulkhead across the back, electronics behind the seat back and on the boot side too. A good idea, not impossible but probably not feasible without some major re-engineering outside of the scope of your average person.

 

The fuse box, adaptive damper module (if fitted) on the inside as well as other components. On the boot side is the battery, DVD, Bluetooth stack against it. It's a fixed bulkhead, have to remember these were created as a convertible first and so extra bracing is required for them. You can even see the slot for where the drop down rear quarter windows fits behind the trim panels for the convertible in the coupe versions.

Image from my XK when I swapped over to suede interior (headlining, pillars trim etc).

 

The fuse box, adaptive damper module (if fitted) on the inside as well as other components. On the boot side is the battery, DVD, Bluetooth stack against it. It's a fixed bulkhead, have to remember these were created as a convertible first and so extra bracing is required for them. You can even see the slot for where the drop down rear quarter windows fits behind the trim panels for the convertible in the coupe versions.

View attachment 43558

Image from my XK when I swapped over to suede interior (headlining, pillars trim etc).

Hi @Ian D - can I ask how much of a challenge is was to swap over your heading, including the pillars etc.
I've a 2007 4.2XKR and I've a slight bit to headliner droop and was wondering/hoping whether the suede headliner & pillar trims from a 5.0 car would fit. I don't think Jaguar ever offered the suede cloth option on the 4.2 litre cars

It would be just the A & C pillar pieces plus the headlining and I guess you didn't have to remove any windows to fit it?

 

How much weight is lost if you delete the rear seats (and seatbelts) then install a carpet-covered luggage area with some chrome-plated bars on the bulkheads to protect the interior from luggage abrasion/damage?

I always saw this as a superior alternative to those vestigial (and virtually useless) rear seats.

 

those vestigial (and virtually useless) rear seats.

Tell that to Reggie our miniture Schnauzer, with a blabket to protect the leather he's snug as a bug in those rear seats 😁

 

Before peeps look at shedding car weight they should IM(less than H) O look at their own.

I'm 57 weight in at 70kg/154lbs (so less than that of Lewis Hamilton) is have a good benchmark start (the average American male weighs 200lbs)

I have supersports seats with no ventilation which saves me 25kg/55lbs over stock
I've wortek discs/rotors that saves me 40lbs over stock
I have no backbox, which should be another 20kg/44lbs of savings minimum

So that means my car with me in it should be at least 180lbs lighter than most other XKR's and driver

Try and find an easy way to save 180lbs in sprung/unsprung weight?

 

Try and find an easy way to save 180lbs in sprung/unsprung weight?

Throw the wife out?

 

The last of the XKR Jaguars still beat the hell out of the Corvettes. I would like to have an XKR and have the doors as well as hood/bonnet replaced with duplicates of Carbon Fiber. A "Club Sport" 575 hp Jaguar XKR would be just the vehicle for touring the US and Northern Mexico.

 

A normal 5l XKR at 510bhp can exceed 600bhp easily with a tune, and since mine has many of the mods required to enable this all I'll need is some 100/200 cell cats and am good to go

 

I don't know about a hatchback, but the rear seats can be removed (this chap had a convertible):

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/.../forum/xk-xkr-x150-33/finally-finished-my-xkr-now-2-seater-lugage-space-103060/

 

Good to see he made a fuse box cover panel. Looks to be a tidy install and hidden too.

 

That's precisely what I had in mind. In an XKR Coupe it would make the perfect GT unit. When you're a "lone wolf" and traveling by yourself, less is more.

 

 

That curved 'seat cover' is a work of art. Is he a GRP fabricator?

 

I don't know how he did it, but he passed the design on to Chris at Mina Gallery.

https://www.minagallery.com/jaguar-xk8-xkr-custom-convertible-tonneau-cover/

 

Multiquote has defeated me, bloody thing.

'I don't know how he did it, but he passed the design on to Chris at Mina Gallery'.

Striking, but rather different, and on an X100. Would like to see him operate the roof with that on!

 

Multiquote has defeated me, bloody thing.

Oddly you don't need multi-quote to quote: just hit "Reply" on a post and you will automagically quote that post.

'I don't know how he did it, but he passed the design on to Chris at Mina Gallery'.

Striking, but rather different, and on an X100. Would like to see him operate the roof with that on!

I'm not sure that "Chris at Mina Gallery" did anything with what Bernie passed on to him - that was the nearest picture I could find!

 

I'm thinking of expanding my fleet to include an XK - can these beautiful cars be made into a real hatchback by somehow altering the rear seats to fold down or maybe removing them? What else is lurking between the boot area and the seat backs?

Consider an XFR. Same supercharged 5.0 V8 engine, better 8-speed transmission and it has usable rear seats which I believe can be folded down. The boot lid isn't a hatch as such but you'll get the benefit of the longer loadspace. I think they're better built and ride more comfortably too.

 

Maybe an excellent car, for all the reasons you state, But, my goodness, doesn't it look boring!

Reminds us why we drive beautiful, exciting-looking cars like the X150 and not Audis or any other dreary old saloons.

 

Wait a minute... I am single, 67-years-old, and have no children or pets. I would be looking to shed gross weight and use the extra area for luggage. I have yet to buy an XK, but it would be a true Grand Touring machine for me alone. (No wife, happy life). This would be the ultimate personal car.

I have gone MGTOW. (There is no "traveling partner).

You may be surprised just how much you can get into the back of an XK coupe. See this thread on my trip to Italy, which has a photo of the packed boot. https://www.jaguarforum.com/threads/2700-mile-road-trip.116762/