Jaguar XKR (2009-) Review

On the road

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Let's be clear: the old XKR was a winsome combination of impressive pace, driving pleasure and the kind of cosy comfort that made long journeys a pleasure. Messing with that formula was a gamble for Jaguar, but it was worth it - the new car is a wonderfully accomplished GT with a brand new sporting edge.

It now has the accelerative force its looks have always suggested: yes, it was fast before, but it can now overtake whole lines of cars in one go rather than just one or two. The tremendous low- and mid-range torque of the new engine -some 461lb-ft from just 2,500rpm through to 5,500rpm - is what does it; a rich seam of surging V8 muscle that's always available thanks to the slick changes of the six speed auto gearbox and its superb paddle change functionality.

The supercharger's whine has been virtually banished, replaced by the deep wooffle from the new exhausts. This is a Jaguar that actually sounds as good as its charismatic European class rivals. There's even a pop and crackle from the exhausts on the over-run.

Thanks to the firmer suspension and the intervention of the differential, the new XKR is more agile than before, but ride quality has suffered a little. It's still a vastly more comfortable car than something like a Porsche 911, but in Dynamic mode especially, the ride is firm - even on smooth roads. Overall, we think it's a fine trade off. It lacks the sporting edge of the Porsche, but it's a great all-rounder - surely the ultimate goal of a great GT car.