2010 Jaguar XFR

2010 Jaguar XFR

Last month, during a discussion with journalists about General Motors’ new “May the Best Car Win” marketing campaign, Bob Lutz laid down the challenge to any journalist to a duel with the Cadillac CTS-V to see if any comparable car could topple the Caddy.

The guys at Jalopnik were the first to accept the challenge, putting forward Wes Siler, who we would later find out would compete in a 510 horsepower 2010 Jaguar XFR.

Not so apparently. Jaguar’s PR team have reportedly backed out of the challenge, which is scheduled to take place this Thursday at the Monticello Motor Club in Monticello, N.Y.

Jaguar spokesman Stuart Schorr admitted to Jalopnik that he expected the XFR would lose to the CTS-V but said losing wasn’t the problem. Schorr went on to reveal that Jaguar is worried the brakes of the XFR won’t be able to last the necessary five laps unless their cooling was upgraded.

Jaguar isn’t alone, incidentally, from backing out of the challenge. Mercedes-Benz has also put forward its concerns and has decided it will better to sit back and watch.

So what now? Jalopnik will still compete using another Cadillac CTS-V as well as an all-wheel drive Mitsubishi Evo. Also on hand will be several ‘civilian’ cars, including a BMW M3, a BMW M5, an Audi RS4 and even another Cadillac CTS-V.

[Jalopnik]