Going for a face-lift must be a terrifying experience. For every Demi Moore, there's a Mickey Rourke. The opportunity to make hash of something sound is colossal, and it's the same in the automotive world. There was little wrong with the old Jaguar XKR that a quick trip to the surgeon's couldn't enhance.
Chief surgeon Ian Callum has carved some faux air intakes into the front fender, while the new LED taillights will tip you a wink. It's supposed to look sportier and it does. Inside, the once cheapo buttons have been smothered in chrome and the old gearstick's been replaced by a gently rising rotary knob, pinched from the XF sedan. It's better, but the fascia still looks a bit old-school next to the XF.
Hiding under the shapely hood - hinged at the front, just like an E-Type - is Jag's new 503-horsepower supercharged 5.0-liter V8, shared with the XFR. In face-lift terms, this is a giant pair of implants and could ignite the XK's career. The XKR was never a bad car, but it's suddenly hit its sweet spot and is now nothing short of brilliant.
More after the jump.
The engine's a triumph. You just twitch your big toe at a couple of thousand revs, the supercharger takes a spin and you're thrust toward the horizon. You can leave all the high-rev lunacy to the BMW M6 and Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG. This is gentlemanly transport, and thanks to a new active exhaust, it has an epic soundtrack.
It now feels like a proper sports car, not a two-door sedan. It's lighter and crisper than an XFR, turning in more keenly. This car's agile, lithe and beautifully balanced. The steering feel is among the best there is, Porsche included.
The Jag's natural inclination is to understeer, but you can cure that by braking to the apex, then getting back hard on the power. Turn off the stability control and it'll oversteer with much more relish than a 911. But you need to be quick to catch it - that wheelbase is less than generous.
At $96K for the coupe and $102K for the convertible, it ain't cheap, but don't let that put you off. Not since a young Miss P. Anderson walked into surgery and requested "a couple of those" has a transformation been so impressive. This car is a revelation. -- Alistair Weaver, European Editor
jederino says:
10:37 AM, 02/23/09
Oh, geez, I love this car! However, to stretch and afford one would mean shunning charity, abandoning the church, and eating beans. But those curves...
dougtheeng says:
10:58 AM, 02/23/09
hot!
firstwagon says:
11:15 AM, 02/23/09
"Hiding under the shapely hood - hinged at the front, just like an E-Type..... " is the box the engine came in.
I love almost everything about this car. The only failing I can see is when you open the hood and instead of seeing a work of art engine you see a big plastic box.
hondacura4 says:
05:14 PM, 02/23/09
I love the classic British exterior styling of the car but the interior design is a bit bland for a car of this calibre as Ive seen more interesting designs in $25,000 family sedans.
desmolicious says:
02:16 PM, 02/24/09
Did they source those chrome pieces on the front air dam from the Ford Focus fenders?
minibro77 says:
03:48 PM, 02/25/09
Exterior is HOT looking. Captures the essence of the XKE's of yore. Interior is simple and that's all it needs to be in my opinion. The "plastic box" under the hood as firstwagon put it is kind of goofy. Why didn't they show some intake and stuff to make it look more muscular and raw? Good job overall though.