2011 Jaguar XKR – Auto Fastrack

By Charles Donaldson

Typically, when I submit an article to a magazine, I like to vary the manufacturers to provide the readers with information on the different flavors that our available to them. Then there are times that a car rolls across my roadway that is too hot to let lay on the shelf. This review is just that! I had the opportunity to spend a week bathed in the beauty and power of the 2011 Jaguar XKR. We are talking about a car that is stunning in every way.

Jaguar, which was recently acquired by India’s Tata Motors, is continuing its efforts to bring us the sexiest and sportiest vehicles under one hundred grand. The 2011 Jaguar XKR is not only designed as a stunning work of art, it also has the power to accelerate to the league of pure performance driving wonders. The 2011 XKR is sleek, elegant, and ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

For the 2011 model year, all Jaguar models come standard with Jaguar Platinum Coverage that includes 5 years or 50,000 miles complimentary scheduled maintenance, no cost replacement of basic wear and tear items, and 24/7 roadside assistance. Also, new is a special edition XKR175, 75^th Anniversary Coupe with a limited production run of 175.

The 75^th Anniversary Coupe offered only in Ultimate Black and with a less restrictive governor allowing for a top speed of 174 mph vs.155 mph. Aerodynamic enhancements to help distinguish this special edition includes red brake calipers – visible through the 20-inch “Kasuga” spoke wheels, new front and rear spoilers, rear diffuser, and side-sill extensions. Effects on the interior include charcoal leather accented with Cranberry stitching and piano black veneer trim, plus doorsill tread plates inscribed with “XKR175 – 1 of 175.”

The model lineup for the 2010 Jaguar XK consists of the following: XK Coupe ($83,000), XK Convertible ($89,000), XKR Coupe ($95,150), XKR Convertible ($102,125), and the XKR175 Coupe ($104,625).

The XK series is designed by Ian Callum who previously designed for Aston Martin. This latest generation of XKs sports an Aston Martin flare for sure. The Jaguar XKR is built using an advanced aluminum architecture that creates a light, yet rigid and strong body. This helps reduce overall weight and optimize fuel economy. The flowing body lines rise up to voluptuous fenders that form the basis of the XKR’s powerful stance. The frontend of the XKR is cat-like, with the headlights focusing on you like cat eyes. The oval grille renders a nose and the lower spoiler vent and side vents, representing the mouth and fangs. The twin vents mounted on the hood completes the aggressive face.

From the rear the large hips are exaggerated by the outline of the small tailgate. The deep red tail-lights share space in both the rear fenders and tailgate. Chrome tipped exhaust pipes are fitted around a raised rear fascia. A rear spoiler is molded into the rear tailgate with an embedded third brake light. This is one beautiful sports car!

Sliding into the cool leather bucket seats is just the first step of becoming one with the cockpit of the 2011 XKR. The front seats hold you in place like a hand in a glove. The feel is a perfect blend of luxury and performance. You are surrounded by elements of wood, aluminum, and leather. At the push of a button the XKR engine roars and the shift control knob, trademarked as JaguarDrive Selector, raises from the center dash in preparation of being positioned to one of the drive settings.

On paper the XK series states it can hold up to four people. The reality is it is a two seater. My son’s child seat would not fit in the back seat. The rear legroom is a mere 27.6 inches – a fraction of a normal back seat. However, if you are buying an XKR its not about how many people you can carry, its about the performance. My XKR had heating and cooling front seats with the ability to adjust the front seat up to 16 different positions. The center stack houses a large LCD touch-screen that was not as easy to use as you might expect. The built-in navigation system worked fine and kept us on track. Adjusting the radio took a few more steps than I would have liked, but I did get used to the procedure. Despite the small hatch, the XKR actually has a very large trunk area.

Under the hood lies a 5.0-liter all-aluminum, 32-valve supercharged V8 featuring direct injection and 510 massive, wild horses with 461 ft lb. of torque. It maybe a carryover from the 2010 model but perfection is perfection. To say that the XKR flies when you press the accelerator is a true understatement. I had “one” occasion where I needed to accelerate quickly and the rush was more than exhilarating.

The XKR engine is the third generation 5.0-liter and the most advanced engine ever built by Jaguar. Even the naturally aspirated version in the XK produces 385-hp and 380 ft-lb of torque. The XKR Coupe can sprint from stop to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds, thanks to the help of a twin vortex supercharger system with twin water intercoolers. Mated to the 5.0-liter power house is an electronically controlled, fully adaptive six-speed automatic transmission with Sequential Shift ™, which allows you to manually shift by operating steering-wheel shift paddles. The transmission is designed to be maintenance-free with “filled-for-life” fluid.

Room for improvement:

· Very limited rear legroom
· Touch screen usability

Cool Features:

·         510-HP Supercharged V8 engine
·         JaguarDrive Selector
·         Roll-over protection system deploys instantly (on convertible models)

Cat-like reflexes is how I would describe the suspension on the XKR. Both the XK and XKR models incorporate Jaguars Adaptive Dynamics active-damping system which optimizes handling agility and ride comfort. The system monitors body movement 100 times per second and wheel position 500 times per second. Also, automatically adjusts the suspension to provide the smoothest ride and best handling. The JaguarDrive control interface allows the driver to select from different driving modes including Normal, Winter, Track DSC, and DSC OFF. The result of all this technology and tech-talk is that the XK and the XKR feels like it can anticipate the road ahead, feeling solid and planted. The chassis is stiff, the steering is responsive, and the XKR maneuvers around corners with ease.

The 2011 Jaguar XKR isn’t just fast, it is also incredibly safe. All XK models are equipped with front, front side, and thorax airbags. To help prevent whiplash, the front head restraint system is designed to protect against your head bouncing back in the event of a rear impact. Other safety features include adaptive cruise control and advanced emergency brake assist which uses radar to help calculate distance of approach to the vehicle ahead. On the convertible models, the hidden roll-over protection system deploys instantly if sensors identify a risk.

In Summary – The 2011 Jaguar XKR is an icon in the automobile industry. Its ancestry began in the 1960’s with the XKE and was reborn with the XK series. The XKR is the ultimate model in the XK series and has a perfect blend of extraordinary performance, style, and luxury. If you are in the market for jet-rocket acceleration with tight handling and an incredible ride, the XKR needs to be on the top of your short list.

Specifications

2011 Jaguar XKR Coupe

Base price: $95,150 as driven: $101,000 (including destination)

Engine: 5.0-Liter 8-cylinder

Horsepower: 510 @ 6,000

Torque: 461 foot lb @ 2,500 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddles

Drive: Rear Wheel-Drive

Seating: 4-passenger

Turning circle: 36.51 feet (coupe) 37.39 feet (convertible)

Cargo space: 11.7 cubic feet (coupe) 7.1 cubic feet (convertible)

Curb weight: 4,034 pounds