I’ve just been handed the keys to a 2008 Jaguar XKR in Emerald Fire over Caramel leather, and instantly I’m thinking of the 2000 film “Sexy Beast.”
Sir Ben Kingsley earned an Oscar nomination for his devil-may-care role as the badass Don Logan, and the film’s title, its leading man, and it’s slogan–”Sometimes it’s hard to say no”–perfectly exemplify this most British of sports coupes.
Ironic, then, that Jag hasn’t really been all that British for quite sometime. Even more so now that Ford has sold it off to–of all places–India, where its new parent company, Tata, will write the historic marque’s next chapter.
World automotive political realities aside, the XKR is its own kind of badass. With leading-man looks derived from its former Aston Martin sisters, the car’s shape turns heads. People can’t help themselves when this thing goes by; triple takes and long, drooling stares are not uncommon. That the looks are derivative is a bit unfortunate. I understand those very same automotive realities and the economy of scale, but it would be nice to see an XK as distinct from any other car in the world, the beautiful Aston DBs included. Still, the commoners among us can’t help but crane our necks when this thing rolls by.
Maybe it’s the sound that gets them. The XKR makes great noises and draws its addictive power from a supercharged 4.2-liter V8, putting out 420 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 413 ft-lb of torque at 4,000 rpm. Despite the blower, it plays a fairly insignificant role in the chorus that really begins to scream from beneath that long hood as the revs climb. I don’t have a problem with that, as it certainly does its job with a smooth, even-handed energy that seems all to happy to accommodate a heavy right foot.
We’re talking put-you-in-your-seat, stomach-in-your-chest acceleration here, and once you realize how easy it is to get that feeling, you find yourself aiming for it on every empty bit of road you encounter. The twistier, the better, as the Jag’s relatively lightweight and able suspension make for a car that goes where you point it, with little complaint.
If all that power has a downside, it comes in the way it is put to the rear wheels. Unfortunately, the XKR comes with a 6-speed automatic only, which means anyone looking for the thrill of three-pedal driving should seek it elsewhere. The XKR’s unit is a capable one, I suppose, and offers a remapped, snappy Sport mode with paddle shifters. The system blips the throttle on downshifts, but it’s anything but seamless. In fact, there’s enough jerkiness in the process to make it somewhat distasteful in anything but the most aggressive braking. Ferrari still reigns supreme in this department, and Jaguar’s best just doesn’t cut it here.
Inside, driver and passenger alike are coddled in soft leather and supportive seats. The gauges are well placed, though the touch screen with audio and climate control takes some getting used to. Why they even put a back seat in the thing is beyond me, as you’d have to be a legless dwarf to make it work.
Overall, I’d rank the XKR as the best Jag to come along in years, though certainly it has its faults. For the $86,000 price of entry, you get a well-balanced, sexy beast willing to push you into your seat as long as you can stand on the gas.
It’s hard to say no to that.
