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Jaguar's new XFR draws a line in the sand and asks the BMW M5 to step over it.
We can't remember a time when there were so many expensive four-door saloons on the market with so much power, all purporting to be as capable around the Nordschleife as they are at transporting their occupants there in comfort. Launched in 2005, the 'E60' BMW M5 stunned the world with a 5.0-litre V10, a hugely complex SMG transmission and numerous electronic sub-systems that set it apart at the time. Some found all of this a little bewildering at first, but the M5 still holds its head up as one of the most exciting sports saloons money can buy.
It'll need to be good if it has a chance against Jaguar's new antagonist, the XFR. Accomplished as the XF was when it first hit the market last year, it really came of age a few months ago with the advent of a new range of engines. Sitting at the top of the pile, the XFR packs a new 5.0-litre V8, an electronically controlled rear differential and continuously variable damping. Let battle commence.
Showroom appeal
We've always liked the relative subtlety of the M5. There are so many M Sport examples of the 5 Series around that it can go unnoticed by most in a car park full of regular machinery. Nonetheless, the modest boot spoiler, vents in the front wings, big alloys and quad exhausts lend the sharp shape just the right amount of aggression. Saying all that, parked next to the XFR, the M5 looks dated. That should be of no surprise given how new the XF's shape is, but on top of that Jaguar has endowed its saloon with a coupé-like sloping rear window and a gorgeous rear-end. We'll admit that the headlight design divides opinion, but in XFR guise it looks better than ever and almost as subtle as the BMW.
Inside, both cars feature exceedingly comfortable leather-lined seats, though they differ in that the Jaguar is obviously a luxury car, while the BMW's sporting pretensions show through. There's not much to choose between them for space or ambience, though they each have a distinct character.
Full Test: The Car Enthusiast - Car clash: Jaguar XFR vs. BMW M5
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