Jaguar XKR road test

Currently the ultimate expression of performance from prestigious carmaker Jaguar the newly revised Jaguar XKR offers more power, better performance, with improved fuel economy and reduced emissions for its 2010MY. A revised exterior look and alterations inside the cabin complete a fairly substantial alteration to the earlier model. As the flagship of the range the XKR comes with a single engine choice, and as either a hard top coupe or soft top convertible. Whichever option you go for its hard to imagine you’ll be disappointed with the driving experience.

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At the core of the grand tourer is a brand new 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine (AJ-V8 Gen III) which has been supercharged to improve the cars performance over the already swift naturally aspirated XK. This all new engine is something that Jaguar can rightly be very proud of, not only does it provide plenty of power right the way through the range, but the engineers have also managed to make significant efficiency gains over the out-going 4.2 litre engine. The maximum power output of the engine is an impressive 510bhp at 6000-6500rpm, this coupled with the relatively lightweight of the car propels the XKR from 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds, which knocks over half a second off the naturally aspirated XK’s time. Top speed, like all Jaguars’ latest models has been electronically limited to 155mph – one wonders what top speed the engine could attain without the limiter! This tremendous performance is backed up with significant improvements in efficiency, the new XKR can boast 16% improvement in fuel economy (to 23.0mpg combined cycle) and 17% reduction in CO2 emissions (to 292g/km) so while it could never claim to be a frugal car, fuel economy is good for the segment the car sits in. A further change for the 2010MY XKR is the inclusion of the JaguarDrive gear dial, first seen in the XF, this is attached to a six-speed automatic transmission, which has been lovingly built to fully appreciate and tame the 5.0litre engine. Getting behind the wheel and putting your foot down is a real thrill, with the automatic racing through the gears without complaint. It’s very hard to find fault with the performance of the Jaguar XKR.

Read the full Jaguar XKR road test

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