Jaguar sharpens its claws
IT MAY look very similar, but the character of Jaguar’s XK coupé has changed significantly.
The current XK may have only arrived in 2006 but the launch of the XF saloon has raised the profile of the British marque to new heights.
Along with its most recent changes to the sporty XFR, the XK range of svelte, sexy coupés and convertibles has been upgraded with a new pair of 5.0-litre V8 engines, including the supercharged version in this flagship XKR expected to account for half of all XK sales.
Tell-tale signs of the upgrade include a pair of small, chrome-edged air intakes in the front bumper, new vents in the front wings and some attractive new LED rear lamps.
The XK’s luxuriousness has been heightened, too. One past criticism was that the interior didn’t look special enough for a car with a £70,000-plus price tag.
With that in mind, the new version gets the red-pulsing starter button of the XF together with a rotary gear selector, which rises from a redesigned centre console when you fire the engine.
Redesigned adjustable seats, better door trim, new instruments and an upgraded steering wheel go some way to increasing the XK’s high-end ambience.
Under the skin, the XKR has had some fairly major surgery.
As well as being cleaner and virtually as economical as the outgoing 4.2-litre V8, the supercharged 5.0-litre engine
boasts 510bhp and a 0 to 60mph time of just 4.8 seconds with a limited top speed of 155mph.
Some minor upgrades accompany the extra muscle, the most important being some clever electronics that allow the power to get to the road without much fuss.
The suspension is improved as well, affording a sporty ride and no diving or rolling when thrown hard through turns. the changes reveal a new-found zest for acceleration and a more hardcore way with bends.
The XKR’s acceleration is nothing short of thrilling. your right foot seems to prod at an abundance of power, particularly at mid-range for overtaking.
You sense the Jag’s heightened athleticism almost as quickly, possibly more so if the first few yards of your XKR experience are over a bumpy road because this car feels very firm.
Lumps, bumps, crests and dips will gently jog you, much of the pillowy softness that has been a four-decade Jaguar trademark having disappeared.
What you will also notice, if the roads are damp and you’re a little too eager, is that the rear wheels sometimes face a challenge when it comes to getting that power down to the road.
The traction control light on the dashboard betrays an intervention that’s often exercised if you’re too keen.
Enthusiastic drivers will find that the fresh character of this reconfigured Jaguar encourages you to indulge its considerable performance and not just because there’s a lot of it.
This model is simply a much sportier drive than predecessors.
Driving the XKR is an exhilaration that some people used to Jags with more subtle manners might find unpalatable.
However, although this car can be a bit wild if you let it, it remains the sophisticated, long-distance tool that sporting Jags have long been.
Some people might consider its aggressive character excessive but others, not least Porsche drivers, may find this new raw side to its personality appealing.
This is the Jaguar that might just topple the 911.
LOGBOOK LOWDOWN
Model: Jaguar XKR
Price range: £72,400-£78,400
On sale: March
Engine: Petrol - 5.0 litre, supercharged
Power: 0 to 60mph in 4.8
Seconds, 155mph top speed
Road tax Band: G
Average fuel economy: 23.0mpg
Co 2 emissions: 292g/km
Insurance group: 20
Rivals: BMW 6-Series, Maserati Granturismo, Mercedes SL500, Porsche 911
