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Jaguar XKR

The Jaguar XKR has a powerful engine and good acceleration, but the brakes start to fade quickly

Jaguar XKR

Text AUTO 192274 to 88833 to download the Jaguar XKR engine ringtone to your phone. Terms & Conditions below.

14th September 2006

Given that the Jaguar XK is our reigning Car of the Year, we were expecting a stronger showing here from the latest XKR. But as we pointed out in last week’s road test, it’s not quite the performance machine we had hoped for – more pussycat than leaping cat.

 
There’s no faulting the power delivery or the smooth six-speed automatic transmission, and on the road, the Jaguar’s performance was exemplary.
As a result, it was ill at ease around Croft’s testing curves. It coped well enough, but felt out of place and didn’t engage the driver in the action. We couldn’t fully disable the stability control (you will be able to on production models), so it lapped relatively slowly, and more than one tester said the brakes started to fade after only one lap. That makes a mockery of Jaguar’s claim that this car was developed at the notoriously tough Nürburgring in Germany.

Still, it has few problems getting up to speed. The supercharged V8 sounded so fabulous that we went looking for tunnels and walls to make the most of the rumbling exhaust! There’s no faulting the power delivery or the smooth six-speed automatic transmission, and on the road, the Jaguar’s performance was exemplary.

It was at its best when allowed to settle into a relaxed cruise, and the driver could enjoy the surroundings of the XKR’s sumptuous cabin. Tempting, but hardly the stuff of which dreams are made. Although the Convertible was developed alongside the Coupé, we suspect the latter’s stiffer body and more dynamic attitude would have resulted in a higher placing.

Text AUTO 192274 to 88833 to download the Jaguar XKR engine ringtone to your phone.

(Service costs 150p per ringtone. Normal operator charges apply. Users must have a GPRS-enabled and compatible handset and be over 16. Support email mobile@dennis.co.uk.)

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For an alternative review of the latest Jaguar XKR visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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  • Jaguar XKR Video (428x240) 5.6MB

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    Jaguar XKR
    Jaguar XKR
    Jaguar XKR

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    Specifications

    On-the-road price: £73,495
    Engine/capacity: V8/4,196cc
    Peak power: 410/6,250 bhp/rpm
    Peak torque: 560/4,000 Nm/rpm
    Kerbweight: 1,715kg
    0-60 claimed/actual: 5.0/5.1secs
    30-70mph/top speed: 4.4secs/155mph
    60-0mph: 33.4 metres
    Noise idle/full revs: 43/74dB
    Lap time/ranking: 1min 45.0secs/11th

    Road rating: 4/5
    Track rating: 3/5
    Feelgood factor: 4/5
    Value rating: 3/5
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