This review originally published in the February 2010 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin' News published out of Folsom, California.--mg
Sacramento, California – A lot of questions go through your mind when someone hands over a $102,000, 510-horsepower car for you to test.
Questions like: Can I really be trusted with this thing?
Well, I did not crash my 2010 Jaguar XKR convertible after a week behind the wheel, so at least I have that going for me.
Talk about Fantasy Island, my time with the XKR was a dream-come-true for someone who appreciates horsepower and fine engineering. And I’m serious about that last part.
Sure, Jaguar has taken some lumps in the past for glitches, goofs and breakdowns in its cars, but this XKR is not shaping up that way. For the record, other car-reviewing colleagues agree with me on this score.
This XKR not only performed at a stunning level, but it felt rock-solid. Fit and finish were excellent. No rattles or whistles to be heard. On sharp corners taken at not exactly safe speeds, this XKR held the line like a purpose-built road racing car.
Engineering acid test: Even the sound system was easy to figure out.
Yeah, Jaguar seems to have its head together on this XKR. And for the price, that’s only fitting.
How is it on the eyes? The XKR droptop looks like a Corvette-breaker. There are vertical inlets at the front sides and atop the hood, sweet aerodynamic rooflines and a tail section that actually allows for some baggage (think small!) in the boot.
The soul of the Jag is the 5-liter, direct-injection, supercharged V-8 with 510 horses. The car makes the zero-to-60 mph run in a mere 4.6 seconds. Alas, the beast is electronically limited to 155 mph – a threshold I did not personally check out. But given the fact that you actually could take the XKR up to 155 with comparatively little effort probably makes the case for the electronic ankle bracelet.
Where does that kind of speed come from? Well, besides the engine, there’s the lightweight aluminum bodywork to speed things up. And while the supercharger provides a satisfying, snap-your-neck blast, it’s not a staggered jolt and does not fill up the cockpit with shrieking levels of noise. Like I said, Jaguar has engineered this baby.
The electronically controlled six-speed transmission also helps out, managing all that power with seamless beauty.
While the suspension is stiff, it’s not nearly as stiff as that found in the 2010 Nissan 370Z convertible I recently tested. Likewise, the XKR convertible’s cabin is much quieter than the Z droptop. Credit a triple-lined fabric top on the Jag.
For all its pricey glory, the Jaguar XKR convertible is actually pretty simple and civilized inside. The center stack of controls includes an easy-to-read digital readout for your radio stations, CD tracks and navigation map. Setting all this up is a snap. You don’t need an advanced degree in electronics to make it all work within minutes.
There are some obvious things that tip you off that this is a $100,000 two-seater. The 19-inch Tamana alloy wheels, for example. And there are the heated/cooled seats, with 10-way power adjustments. Lots of silver and rich wood surfaces are present. I mean even the storage compartments in the doors are carpeted on the bottom.
Other things aren’t so obvious, like the rollover-protection system that deploys in an eye-blink and just might save your life if you test that 155 mph maximum speed limiter. Oh, and there’s an engine immobilizer, perfect for turning a car bandit’s day bad.
If you long to customize the 2010 XKR, think long and hard about making that first cut. This Jag already looks pretty terrific, with an engine that dishes up about as much juice as any of us will ever need. I think you have to guard against messing up an already-good thing, like putting mudflaps on a ‘Cuda. Don’t go there.
Obviously, the XKR is beyond the reach of those of us making workingman’s money. I can’t imagine spending 100-grand on a two-seater, but then it’s all relative. If you have a zillion bucks, putting down 102 K on a Jag is not going to ruin your fortune-fueled bliss.
Everything considered, I’d say the XKR is worthy of its bottom line. It’s stuffed with power, sexiness, technology and fun. I think that adds up to $102,000.
Questions like: Can I really be trusted with this thing?
Well, I did not crash my 2010 Jaguar XKR convertible after a week behind the wheel, so at least I have that going for me.
Talk about Fantasy Island, my time with the XKR was a dream-come-true for someone who appreciates horsepower and fine engineering. And I’m serious about that last part.
Sure, Jaguar has taken some lumps in the past for glitches, goofs and breakdowns in its cars, but this XKR is not shaping up that way. For the record, other car-reviewing colleagues agree with me on this score.
This XKR not only performed at a stunning level, but it felt rock-solid. Fit and finish were excellent. No rattles or whistles to be heard. On sharp corners taken at not exactly safe speeds, this XKR held the line like a purpose-built road racing car.
Engineering acid test: Even the sound system was easy to figure out.
Yeah, Jaguar seems to have its head together on this XKR. And for the price, that’s only fitting.
How is it on the eyes? The XKR droptop looks like a Corvette-breaker. There are vertical inlets at the front sides and atop the hood, sweet aerodynamic rooflines and a tail section that actually allows for some baggage (think small!) in the boot.
The soul of the Jag is the 5-liter, direct-injection, supercharged V-8 with 510 horses. The car makes the zero-to-60 mph run in a mere 4.6 seconds. Alas, the beast is electronically limited to 155 mph – a threshold I did not personally check out. But given the fact that you actually could take the XKR up to 155 with comparatively little effort probably makes the case for the electronic ankle bracelet.
Where does that kind of speed come from? Well, besides the engine, there’s the lightweight aluminum bodywork to speed things up. And while the supercharger provides a satisfying, snap-your-neck blast, it’s not a staggered jolt and does not fill up the cockpit with shrieking levels of noise. Like I said, Jaguar has engineered this baby.
The electronically controlled six-speed transmission also helps out, managing all that power with seamless beauty.
While the suspension is stiff, it’s not nearly as stiff as that found in the 2010 Nissan 370Z convertible I recently tested. Likewise, the XKR convertible’s cabin is much quieter than the Z droptop. Credit a triple-lined fabric top on the Jag.
For all its pricey glory, the Jaguar XKR convertible is actually pretty simple and civilized inside. The center stack of controls includes an easy-to-read digital readout for your radio stations, CD tracks and navigation map. Setting all this up is a snap. You don’t need an advanced degree in electronics to make it all work within minutes.
There are some obvious things that tip you off that this is a $100,000 two-seater. The 19-inch Tamana alloy wheels, for example. And there are the heated/cooled seats, with 10-way power adjustments. Lots of silver and rich wood surfaces are present. I mean even the storage compartments in the doors are carpeted on the bottom.
Other things aren’t so obvious, like the rollover-protection system that deploys in an eye-blink and just might save your life if you test that 155 mph maximum speed limiter. Oh, and there’s an engine immobilizer, perfect for turning a car bandit’s day bad.
If you long to customize the 2010 XKR, think long and hard about making that first cut. This Jag already looks pretty terrific, with an engine that dishes up about as much juice as any of us will ever need. I think you have to guard against messing up an already-good thing, like putting mudflaps on a ‘Cuda. Don’t go there.
Obviously, the XKR is beyond the reach of those of us making workingman’s money. I can’t imagine spending 100-grand on a two-seater, but then it’s all relative. If you have a zillion bucks, putting down 102 K on a Jag is not going to ruin your fortune-fueled bliss.
Everything considered, I’d say the XKR is worthy of its bottom line. It’s stuffed with power, sexiness, technology and fun. I think that adds up to $102,000.
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