Category: Executive 
Price Range: £59,900 to £59,900
Fine performance, comfortable and stylish, discreet but purposeful styling, enjoyable handling.
High running costs, harsh engine note, not as overtly sporting as some of the German competition.
The XF-R eclipses many of its direct rivals, offering a great overall package.
Jaguar virtually invented the idea of the hot four-door back in the 1960s with the Mk1, Mk2 and original S-type saloons. The British firm stayed loyal to this market even though it became fixated by high-powered German metal. The XF-R's predecessor, the S-Type R, had been largely overlooked thanks to offerings served up by BMW's M division and AMG Mercedes and that was a shame: the beefed-up S-Type may have had a fuddy-duddy image but it was an enjoyable drive.
The XF-R, however, should give BMW and Merc's supersaloons a real run for their money. Chiefly, the new car boasts a lot more power than the old S-type R but, more importantly, a torque output to make potential M5 buyers think twice about a trip to the nearest BMW dealership.
It's all thanks to Jaguar's third-generation V8 engine here in supercharged form for the R model. With 503bhp and 461lb-ft of torque, the new engine enjoys not only an additional 800cc over the old unit (5.0 instead of 4.2 litre) but also direct fuel injection and a much more efficient supercharger installation. The result is 0-60mph in just 4.7sec and a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. Without the leash, this car would be well on the way to 200mph.
Then there's the XF itself, a car that has drawn widespread acclaim for its blend of comfort-with-cool cabin and a fine ride and handling balance. Jaguar has stuck with an automatic gearbox for the R, but offers a paddleshift manual mode for flicking through the six gears, plus there's now continuously adaptive damping and the fitment of a proper limited slip differential with active electronic control. The XF-R, with increased but subtle visual punch such as deep chin air intakes and a small boot spoiler, has all the hardware it needs to go into battle - and it even enjoys a healthy price advantage over its direct rivals.
