Jaguar Xk XKR 2006 - Present

The XKR is the hot model of the XK range.  the XK is no slouch and offers an excellent drive but if you’re sat a the lights in your XK and an XKR pulls up beside you there is no point in trying to beat them off the line because unless the driver is doing the crossword they’ll have enough under their right foot to leave you fuming watching their tail lights get smaller in the distance. 

There’s precious little to differentiate the KX and the XKR so it retains the dynamite good looks and British racing feel.  It also has those diminutive rear seats that are little use for anything other than transporting your cat to the vets.  The rest of the cabin is sensational and really makes you feel special every time you get behind the wheel. 

The body uses a lot of weight saving aluminium which keeps the car feeling nimble and light. 
The XKR also has uprated active suspension, which adapts to the road surface and how the car is being driven and it adapts to suit those conditions. In town driving is made easy as the auto gearbox remains smooth at low speeds and all controls are light, while motorway miles are effortless and fast.  There is adaptive cruise control which will keep you at a fixed distance from the car in front.  The jump from 50 – 70 mph is made in 2.5 seconds and in the same time you can come to a standstill from 60 mph, look in the rear mirror before demonstrating to your passengers. 

The engine is a 4.2 supercharged fire-breathing dragon.  And cannot fail to impress.  60 mph can be reached in 4.9 seconds and the top end is a restricted 155 mph.  The engine noise is the sort of screech that sets car alarms off.  There is power throughout the rev range and with 413 ft-lb of torque and the superb automatic box it will pull from any speed in virtually any gear.  Fuel consumption is a painful 22 mpg but with such sensational performance you have to pay somewhere. 

The XKR is well priced to turn the heads of people looking for a large executive car.  If you see one roar past and have that sort of money to spend on a motor you surely have to book a test drive in one.

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