Think of it as a Tommy gun swathed in leather finery. I’m not sure how else to describe a vehicle of such notable refinement and distinction that throws it all away in favour of a Thompson machine-gun auditory response to a stab at the throttle – but that’s exactly what this ferocious feline does.
The XKR is the high-performance version of Jaguar’s XK series, a descendent of the prestigious E-Type of yesteryear.
2010 brings more XKR roar
510 horsepower propelling what is effectively a 2-seat roadster. Yes, you read that correctly. The 2010 XKR takes Jaguar hostility to a new level with a 5.0-litre supercharged, direct injection DOHC V8 engine that also produces 461 pound-feet of torque at a paltry 2,500 rpm.
This prodigious powerplant supplies a power increase of 23% over its supercharged XKR predecessor. Jaguar claims that it can sprint the cat from naught to 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds – and trust me, I have no quarrel with that. Too bad that it drinks premium at a frightful rate doing so.
The supercharged punch hits the rear wheels after administration by a sophisticated 6-speed automatic transmission capable of shifting secretly or with lightning-like rapidity. A pair of steering wheel paddles allows – no encourages – plenty of driver input.
Performance contouring can be applied through Jaguar’s Drive Control program, which interacts with the onboard DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) program along with the engine and transmission management systems to alter the characteristics of engine mapping, gear shifts, and brake interventions. One of the selectable modes is that of Dynamic, which creates a more responsive driving experience.
But the new XKR isn’t simply about bigger output and bigger performance numbers; there’s some minor restyling to mention and plenty of exotica to digest.
Front end tweaked
About the only really noteworthy exterior revision for 2010 applies to the XKR’s nose, where a narrow vertical slit at each corner of the front fascia feeds air to the car’s massive front brakes. The little gills, as I see them, add a slight shark-like caricature to the Jag’s leading edge.
The XKR is the high-performance version of Jaguar’s XK series, a descendent of the prestigious E-Type of yesteryear.
 |
| The XKR is the high-performance version of Jaguar’s XK series. |
2010 brings more XKR roar
510 horsepower propelling what is effectively a 2-seat roadster. Yes, you read that correctly. The 2010 XKR takes Jaguar hostility to a new level with a 5.0-litre supercharged, direct injection DOHC V8 engine that also produces 461 pound-feet of torque at a paltry 2,500 rpm.
This prodigious powerplant supplies a power increase of 23% over its supercharged XKR predecessor. Jaguar claims that it can sprint the cat from naught to 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds – and trust me, I have no quarrel with that. Too bad that it drinks premium at a frightful rate doing so.
The supercharged punch hits the rear wheels after administration by a sophisticated 6-speed automatic transmission capable of shifting secretly or with lightning-like rapidity. A pair of steering wheel paddles allows – no encourages – plenty of driver input.
Performance contouring can be applied through Jaguar’s Drive Control program, which interacts with the onboard DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) program along with the engine and transmission management systems to alter the characteristics of engine mapping, gear shifts, and brake interventions. One of the selectable modes is that of Dynamic, which creates a more responsive driving experience.
But the new XKR isn’t simply about bigger output and bigger performance numbers; there’s some minor restyling to mention and plenty of exotica to digest.
Front end tweaked
About the only really noteworthy exterior revision for 2010 applies to the XKR’s nose, where a narrow vertical slit at each corner of the front fascia feeds air to the car’s massive front brakes. The little gills, as I see them, add a slight shark-like caricature to the Jag’s leading edge.
 |
| The 2010 XKR takes Jaguar hostility to a new level with a 5.0-litre supercharged. |