Jaguar XJ Superport taxi service

And it’s doing duty in the one place where you wouldn’t mind waiting for a taxi. The Jaguar move echoes the BMW ‘Ring Taxi that runs from April to October – and this year updates to the F10 BMW M5 – offering hot laps of the Nurburgring.

Ring queen and BBC Top Gear star guest Sabine Schmitz used to be among the BMW drivers, but the wheel is now taken by BMW Driving Experience instructors. 

The BMW M5 Ring Taxis carry a 418kW/681Nm bi-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The M5 claims a 0-100km/h time of 4.4 seconds, and a top speed of 305km/h with the optional hi-po package.

That kind of performance cred makes the long-wheelbase limo XJ seem a strange starting point for the Jaguar Ring taxi, but that’s exactly the point, according to the Brit brand.

"We found it's the XJ Supersport that most often surprises journalists with its speed simply because they perceive it to be a large luxury car,” global head of communications Frank Klaas says.

“The XJ is both those things, of course, but its aluminium architecture means it's rigid and lightweight too, which make it a very good car on track. To underline that fact, our engineering team created this special Nürburgring taxi version in which our trained drivers can safely take passengers on very hot laps."

The Jaguar Supersport Ring taxi is fitted with the optional Sport and Vmax Speed packs, which add aerodynamic kit, bigger wheels and brakes – and tuning for the 375kW/625Nm engine that raises the top speed from 250km/h to 280km/h.

Taaaaxi!