Grace, space and pace has always epitomized
Jaguar's cars. Okay, so maybe boot space has been a little tight at times and
that old X-Type was no looker, yet the mantra has generally rung true.
Nowadays, technology, performance and seductive design is the official Leaper
lingo. However, having just driven the company's stonking new XJR flagship, I
assure you the credibility of that old catch phrase is fully intact.
The
Jaguar XJR offers monstrous, relentless performance
For starters, those controversial XJ looks
have grown on just about everybody. Why, even the head-and tail-light clusters,
which seemed to have been designed for oriental tastes, appear more
cosmopolitan three years on. Adding to the visual appeal here are a
model-specific bumper, grille and sill treatment, bonnet louvres, a rear
spoiler and gorgeous 20-inch forged Farallon alloys shod with bespoke Pirelli
rubber. In the right colour (Carnelian Red), from the right angle (low down,
almost head-on), the XJR is hard not to find desirable. Then there's the space
aspect. The XJ's cabin has felt special right from launch. Its facia
architecture, set below the window sills and angled away from the front
occupants, adds to the sense of roominess. Visually bridging the gap between
glass and facia is a wraparound inlay in a choice of carbon fibre or piano
black, which flows across in a continuous arc from B-pillar to B-pillar. Other
delightful elements are the full digital instrumentation, the rising gear
selector dial, touch-sensitive cubby lid opener and the circular air vents that
are an imposing mix of style and tradition.
The
cabin is as well appointed as you'd expect
And, as if to remind you this is no
'ordinary' XJ, are the 'R' logos sprinkled around the cabin - on the steering
wheel boss, at the base of the windscreen and embossed on the cosseting and
supportive seats. Ours were covered in black leather, with racy Red Zone seat
facings and contrast-colour stitching, though more demure combos are available.
Finishing off the superb cabin is standard headlining in what Jaguar calls
suede cloth, which is remarkably similar to Alcantara. As you'd expect, the
standard equipment list is understandably tome-like though a notable upgrade
can be made from the 380W, 12-speaker Meridian surround-sound system to an
825W, 18-speaker arrangement. Whichever way you like your luxury to sound, the
XJR's cabin is a superlative space to cover ground in, fast.
Rear
passengers won't be left wanting for space
The final act of the triple play is the
car's pace, which thanks to the Roots-type supercharged V8 petrol engine, is
never in short supply. In XJR guise, the 5.0-litre's power and torque outputs
have risen by 30kW and 55Nm, respectively. Now with a mighty 405kW to draw
from, the 0-100kph sprint is dispensed with in just 4.6 seconds. Torque peaks
at 680Nm from 2,500rpm onwards, but you feel the engine really step up at
around 3,000rpm, surging relentlessly to well beyond 6000. Providing smooth,
quick-fire gear changes is an eight-speed automatic transmission with corner
recognition tech - it'll hold the gear through the bend. Leaving the shifter in
Sport mode isn't ideal unless you're really hustling as the shift-up points
make for frenetic progress. I reckoned the glassy-smooth hydraulic steering too
light in general use, but found a fix in the car's 'chequered flag' Dynamic
button. Apart from turning the instrument cluster a fetching red hue, engaging
this mode adds real weight and response to the still-fluid steering. The ride
stiffens up noticeably and can become jittery depending on the surface quality,
but the handling is astounding.
The
all-aluminium, quad-cam 5.0-litre V8 has specific electronic engine calibration
Apart from the impossibly picturesque roads
in the mountains near Seattle, Washington, my time behind the wheel included
several laps around a challenging race track where the XJR simply excelled.
It's an incredibly well balanced and responsive car that is really easy to
drive fast on track with minimal drama. Much of that brilliance is down to the
aluminium-bodied XJR's low weight – it is lighter than the much smaller XFR-
and a recalibrated adaptive damping set-up that has sharpened the already good
XJ's cornering skill set.
Perhaps the only subjective criticism I
could level at the XJR is how well the engineers have insulated the driver from
the exhaust note. Yes, you can hear the V8's roar and this is a truly premium
segment, but it is just so much more unfiltered from outside the car. Every
time I (briefly) unleashed the engine, I thought those bystanders with
petrol-head tendencies must be loving it.
The XJR does large fast luxury as well as,
if not better than, anything in its class. It has unmistakable style and
inherent desirability, but in the world of chauffeur-driven luxo-barges its USP
is an agility and a nimbleness that will not see many owners relinquish the
keys.
