I picked up the 2009 Jaguar XKR Coupe at the airport after coming back from a visit with my parents in Florida. I’d been up since 4 a.m. and still had a full workday ahead of me by the time my feet hit the floor at O’Hare at 10 a.m. Needless to say, I was dragging just a little bit.
But my first view of the merlot-colored XKR in the parking garage perked up my senses … and my heart rate.
2009 Jaguar XKR
Engine: 4.2-liter supercharged V-8
Horsepower: 420
Torque: 413 pound-feet
Transmissions: six-speed automatic
Drivetrain: RWD
Wheelbase: 108.3 inches
Length: 188.6 inches
Width: 81.5 inches
Height: 52 inches
Fuel economy: 15/23
Base price: $88,175
As tested: $98,425
After the drive to the office, I was fully awake and ready to tackle the day. Quickly. So that I could head back to the car for another chance to drive.
Hands down, I think the rear-wheel drive XKR is one of the most elegantly stunning vehicles I’ve had the opportunity to test. And with the supercharged engine under the hood, it’s got the grunt to back up the good looks.
The sporty coupe from Jaguar comes as both an XK and XKR model, with the main difference being 120 horsepower. Both vehicles come with a 4.2-liter V-8, but the supercharged XKR delivers 420 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. This translates to a 0-to-60-mph time of 4.9 seconds, which is a full second faster than the XK version.
Of course, the tremendous power also translates to city/highway mileage figures of 15/23 mpg. Which isn’t great. And I was lucky during the test week if I hit 15 mpg. As one of my passengers remarked during the test week, this car just isn’t one you can drive slow. But, I have to imagine, if you’re spending almost $100K for a car, fuel economy and a premium fuel requirement are the least of your concerns.
The ride and handling of the XKR are, as you’d imagine, sublime. With its low center of gravity, the XKR is incredibly fun to fling around corners and sweeping on ramps. And stomping on the accelerator when merging with highway traffic is pure joy as the rear wheels dug in and propel the vehicle forward. You definitely get a good connection with the road, but the XKR is pure luxury, and you won’t feel every divot, groove or bump in the road. Road noise entering the cabin is virtually nil, but luckily, the gratifying feedback from the engine does make an appearance during hard acceleration.
As an XKR, the base price of the test car was $88,175. And that’s one well-stocked vehicle with a 525-watt surround sound audio system, adaptive front lighting, bi-xenon headlights with power wash, Bluetooth wireless technology, navigation and heated 10-way power adjustable front seats. But still, the test vehicle managed to find a way to add $10K in options, including adaptive cruise control ($2,200), 20-inch Senta wheels ($5,000), a luxury interior with walnut burl ($2,300) and a Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system ($750). Really, the only other option that could have gone on the XKR is the Alcon brake upgrade, which would set you back another $8,000.
The exterior of the XKR has long sleek lines reminiscent of a shark that could easily devour an innocent bystander if given half the chance. The supercharged hood scoops add a little mean to the sexy, giving the XKR the overall air of a vehicle that means business.
The coupe has always been a personal favorite, but if you’re a top-down kind of person, the XKR also comes as soft-top convertible. But add an extra $10K for the advantage.
On the inside, all the textures were luxurious from the suede ceiling liner to the sumptuous leather. The wood accents complimented the caramel-colored leather, and I liked the look, but not the feel, of the plasticky brushed aluminum accents on the center stack surrounding the navigation system.
Actually, the whole info screen setup on the center stack needs an overhaul. Throughout the entire vehicle this was the one jarring, dare I say ugly, element. First and foremost, the color scheme is a nightmare of drab lifelessness, and the overall setup comes off looking cheap. Furthermore, I’m not a fan of having to manipulate your climate, audio, navigation and phone through a single touch screen that you have to lean to reach.
And, by the way, if I turned off the car with the map screen on top, it’d be nice to turn on the car and have the map screen still showing. Instead, it defaults to the split climate/audio screen. Plus, hello, rear back-up camera, please. The car graphic with red lines indicating your closeness to an obstacle are OK, but I really do expect more for $90K.
All right, then, since my distaste for this feature is probably evident at this point, moving on. Where was I? Interior. I like the shape of the seats and the lumbar support is really nice. The 10-way power adjustable seats gave me a great driving position with excellent visibility for such a low-slung vehicle. The oddly shaped rear window is going to create a bit of a blind spot, but that’s what side mirrors are for.
The rear seats are mostly for show, even when you have a driver like me who’s going to push the seat to its far-forward position. Someone in the area of 5-feet tall would fit back there, but it’s still going to be a tight fit, especially in terms of head room.
My favorite interior feature by far is the heated steering wheel. We had a chilly patch during the test week, and it was really nice to click that on, and within minutes my hands were nice and toasty.
Really, outside of that dastardly info screen, there isn’t much I didn’t like about this car. From the ride and handling to the break-neck acceleration to the comfort level, this is one hot car that will continually top my list of favorite luxury vehicles.
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