REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Fast motoring

After Labour Day, everyone knows that summer lives on borrowed time and that open air drivers already look in the closet for a scarf and gloves. Those who don ’ t feel they ’ ve been in the sun long enough this summer can count on the new Jaguar XKR to rapidly correct this situation, even with a few extra shivers.

The XK8 (coupe or convertible) successfully blends older Jaguar ’ s tradition and romanticism in a resolutely modern and reliable package. But is it also the sportiest Jaguar?

It only seems so since the XJR sedan and its supercharged engine were, not so many years ago, much more aggressive. Jaguar was not unaware of the situation and corrected the situation by offering a supercharged engine in the XKR. The result speaks for itself: 370 hp and 387 lb.-ft. torque should be more than enough to mess up you hair. Unfortunately, opening the hood will not reveal its secrets; metal parts are covered with moulded plastics, supposedly for aesthetics reasons.

To improve air circulation, small vents have been made in the hood. The XKR also differs from more civilized versions by its wide tires and its mesh grille.As its famous ancestor, the E-Type, the XK shows its British origins in its unmistakable style. Sober, yet virile and massive, the body is exempt from any fashion-dictated influence or fancy. Only the roof cover break the pure lines created by the late Goeff Lawson.

Sitting into a Jag is like entering a fabulous palace designed for pleasure seekers. The warm, voluptuous felling that takes you comes from the odor of leather, the wool carpets and the sober layout.

The XK8 offers two front seats as well as two back seats with minimal legroom (not for the claustrophobic.) All seats are covered with Connoly leather but remain too short and too high, placing shoulders well above body level. With its high number of dials aligned in front of the front seat passenger, the rich walnut-clad dashboard looks like a million bucks.

The instruments are too disperse to be easily legible. Moreover, at the foot of the wide console placed between the two front seats, you ’ ll find a number of buttons of similar sizes that can be hard to differentiate. So, beware not to start the anti-skid when trying to turn the heating seat on.

British cars mean tradition. Although this Jaguar is now part of Ford ’ s extended family, it remains deeply rooted in Great Britain. At least for now, because the next edition could be a totally different story. Meanwhile, the XKR still has a soft roof, a pleasure for purists and unfortunately, for knife-toting vandals as well. This roof is equipped with an original electric that allows for removing the roof without stopping (under 15 km/h). Let ’ s also mention that the rear window is made of glass and equipped with a handy defroster. To little avail, though, because the visibility is so poor that one must rely almost solely on captors for safer manoeuvring. In concrete terms, this is an energetic and flamboyant car, quite heavy on gas though(14.9 L/100 km). Acceleration is simply breathtaking (0-100km/h in 5.74 sec.) and pick-ups are just as impressive. Sunbathing lovers should be aware that this XKR accelerates fast, but won ’ t break you back. The smooth and quiet Mercedes-designed 5-speed automatic transmission is stepped up to keep the horses well in control. Posh, gracious and noble, the XK8 does not appreciate being roughed up. Its tires, with the help of an efficient antiskid, hug to the road like Velcro, but are not enough to make it a true sports car. After test-driving it over several hundred kilometers, its reactions become familiar and the central rear view mirror ’ s vibrations betray the fact that the chassis is not very rigid. And its bulk and weight are no help when driving on windy roads.

With roof down on a quiet side road (with adequate pavement, that is), wind turbulence in minimal and body noise inexistent. The suspension smoothly absorbs road imperfections and driving on the highway is surprisingly relaxing. In short is shows supreme elegance. Sporty ? Not in every aspect, despite the tremendous power of its engine. This Jag is built for smooth driving and behave with sobriety and composure. Its steering is somewhat light and takes time to get accustomed to.

Yes, some convertibles are more sophisticated, more modern and more affordable than the XKR, which can only count on charm, beauty and power. But it a good start, don ’ t you think?

PROS
Line elegance
Materials quality
High performance car

CONS
Poor visibility
Light steering
Control ergonomics