08 Sep 06
What's so good about this exemplary 21st century grand tourer can be summed up by one simple, magical thing: the noise when the 4.2-litre supercharged V8 engine sends the rev counter needle past the top of the dial. A gradually hardening growl rather than a sudden howl, it means that even with your eyes fixed on the road rather than the rev counter you're totally in tune with what's happening under the bonnet.
These things don't happen by accident, not in a car complying with the latest emissions regulations: extra exhaust valves open to ensure the engine sounds like it ought to. It simultaneously adds to the excitement and stops you losing sight of just how fast you're going.
Leave the auto box in either of its fully automatic modes (regular Drive or Sport) and on twisty roads it will change gear a little too often. Nothing wrong with the action, which is swift and smooth, but it's frustrating that it changes itself up a gear only moments before it needs to change itself down again. The car can't see how close you are to the next bend, but you can, so you end up using the paddles to make the changes yourself , which adds a pleasing extra dimension to your relationship with the car.
Or you can leave it in third. What a fabulous gear: the ratio is 1.521, if you're interested. In third, the XKR is very happy anywhere between 25mph and 100mph, thanks to the 413lb-ft of torque. If there's an award for gear ratio of the year, here's the 2006 winner.
The wing mirrors give you a great view of the XK's haunches. They've got big wheels to shield (19" standard, 20" optional), so they do have a practical reason for being like that, but let's not kid ourselves: they've unashamedly been styled to evoke a big, powerful cat getting ready to pounce, even when the Jag's at a standstill. There's nothing original going on here, but it's superbly well done.
The XK's big bonnet bulge is joined on the R version by a vent on either side. Who cares if they have any function - they tap into a folk memory of what supercharged V8s should have on their bonnets. You can't see them from inside the car, but the R also gets a different grille and two extra tailpipes. Lovely.
