XK Driven: Jaguar XKR (2006-)

[wltsm]

Through the tunnel we hurtle. The roof is down and the sound effects from the convertible version of Jaguar's new XKR are, well, unique. The rat-tat-tat part of the V8 beat is particularly crisp - a hi-fi buff might say it has well-defined transients - and there's a deep bass underlay complemented by the muted whine of the supercharger. The whole soundscape is more precise, higher in the tech than a US muscle car's beating bellow, and somehow more cultured than the chopped-metal rumble of an SL55 AMG. Think Aston Martin V8 Vantage without the induction gulps. For the car that the XKR is, it's just right.

And what, exactly, is that? Pricewise, we're in sub-SL500 and BMW M6 territory. Sportiness-wise, we're with the M6 and approaching the SL55 and the 911 Turbo, for these are the cars Jaguar's engineers had in mind when creating the XKR. That doesn't mean the XKR is meant to emulate them, though. Instead it gives a taste of what they can do while making it more 'accessible'.

Rest of review

Source = 4Car

 

[NarutoRamen]

Damn I must be living under a rock...I didn't even know the XKR was available.

 

[wltsm]

Damn I must be living under a rock...I didn't even know the XKR was available.

The car was unveiled at the British Motor Show, just over a month ago!

I'm looking forward to the XKR-R, that should be great!

 

[NarutoRamen]

Cool thanks for the info. When I first saw it I thought it was horrid but now it is quite beautiful.

 

[Merc1]

I definitely like it better than the regular XK:










M

 

[Merc1]

It may be the blending of the background, but I really like this shot:










M

 

[wltsm]

I think the car looks ok, but the new grill inserts look way OTT, for a car of this price it should look like this!

Apart from that, the car looks great!

 

[Merc1]

She starts to photograph better and better.

M