Base price: $86,035
As Tested: $98,275
420-horsepower
4.2L Supercharged V8
15 city / 23 hwy
More info:
www.jaguarusa.com
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A luxury car can do a lot worse than being compared to James Bond's vehicle of choice, the Aston Martin. And that's exactly what happened constantly when we drove the lunar gray 2008 XKR. The tricked-out "R" version of Jag's XK coupe oozes power and elegance, especially head-on, with its muscular hoodline, deeper front bumper, aluminum-finish upper and lower grills and side vents. The optional 20-inch rims, rear spoiler and quad exhaust pipes add up to one sexy beast. Along with Land Rover, Jaguar's been sold off to Indian automaker Tata, perhaps best known for making the least expensive car in the world. It remains to be seen what will happen to Jaguar, but let's hope Tata keeps alive Jag's recent streak of gorgeously designed cars.
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The XKR is a four-seater in name only, because a toddler would be cramped in the microscopic backseats. But you'll be too enthralled by the plush, amenity-packed front cabin to care about any miserable rear-seat passengers. The 16-way adjustable "R" sports seats, lush suede-feel Alston headliner, a forest of burl walnut, leather dash and aluminum trim, optional 525-watt premium Alpine sound system and new polished stainless steel pedals barely scratch the surface of the upgraded interior appointments for '08.
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The XKR comes standard with a 420-horsepower supercharged 4.2-liter V8 (compared to the XK's 300-horsepower engine) that growls like a pissed pitbull when you crack the whip. Jag's new, limited-edition XKR Portfolio boasts an all-new braking system that is touted as the company's most powerful ever, but the XKR's ABS is firm and reassuring. The six-speed sequential automatic transmission has steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters that let you unleash the XKR's power yourself using the "manual" mode, or sit back and let the transmission smoothly shift. Standard speed-sensitive steering ups driver feedback noticeably at higher velocity. The power steering kicks in at lower speeds, making the XKR cuddly as a kitten in city driving.
-- by Sam Jemielity
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