Jaguar XKR-S test drive since 2011

Wild cat collar

After Jaguar in 1989 fell under the control of the Ford concern, the wild cat went into circulation. At first, the average size S-Type was launched, which competed with the Mercedes E-class, and then the mass X-Type appeared on the Ford Mondeo chassis, which was the first front and all-wheel drive car in the history of the brand. Jaguar snoting fans were disappointed with exclusive machines became available to mere mortals. Fortunately, in the early 1990s, Ford acquired an even more pathos brand Aston Martin, which also discarded its elegant shadow on Jaguar.
 
It is no secret that mass Jaguar models are built using units supplied by the Ford concern. Such unification helps the manufacturer save, but at the same time it reduces the cost of the brand. A close relationship with Ford repels some customers accustomed to the fact that Jaguar is always elegant and original cars. Remember the design of the representative sedans XJ, which does not change from generation to generation, or legendary E-Type. After several years of adventures of a wild cat in the mass market, the company's marketers were seriously concerned about the image of Jaguar. This was especially important after the Ford concern was forced to sell its most prestigious brand Aston Martin and Jaguar took the top line in the ranks.
Having parted with Aston Martin, the Ford concern retained a contract for the sponsorship of the next series of Bond and, accordingly, the ability to put agent 007 on one of its own cars. Currently, the most suitable candidate for the role of James Bond is a convertible Jaguar XKR, which we took on a test drive.
A cherry swift silhouette, covered with a beige cloth top, looks luxurious, and if in 18 seconds a roof is folded into the trunk, then Jaguar turns into an authentic Eye-Stopper. The first generation of HC, which appeared in 1996, collected a weighty set of awards for style and elegance. The current model continues this tradition. Sharp edges are slightly noticeable through smooth contours, showing that we have not just a cat, but Jaguar. Add aggression of the slot on the hood. A distinctive sign of the most powerful version of XKR, which is characterized by a compressor 420-horsepower engine instead of an atmospheric V8 with a capacity of 300 hp. The magnificence of a two -story chrome radiator grill, gills on the front wings and a whole scattering of exhaust pipes are complemented.
The interior decoration is dominated by a triple union of skin, wood and aluminum, characteristic of the upper class British machines. However, in fact, the winged metal turns out to be a plastic fake. From it, the steering wheel inserts and the steering wheel switches of such liberties and simplifications do not allow themselves even mass Japanese brands, and in Jaguar such solutions look like a mockery of a buyer who has forced $ 170,000.
The rest of the interior is very stylish. The central console is a minimum of buttons, and all auxiliary functions are hidden inside the interface system with the Touch Screen display. Of course, it fades a little when you go in sunny weather without a roof, but it is still more convenient to use it than to understand the chaos of buttons, what many cars with an abundance of options suffer. The seats electroregulates control unit in Mercedes is carried out on the door, which allows you to quickly take a convenient position, and the usual manual brake is replaced by a modern electro-hydraulic.
It is almost impossible to use the rear seats for their intended purpose, that is, to carry people on them. Although Jaguar is declared as a car with a landing formula 2 plus 2, it is actually double. Adults simply do not fit behind, and a child under the age of 5 years old, if it can climb there, then claustrophobia will immediately develop. He can not see anything but the sky, and on the go there is so strong turbulence that he lays his ears. It is better to make these places closing and turn them into an additional compartment for things. By the way, the main luggage compartment of the car is made transformable. If you do not fold the roof, then its volume is 283 liters, but if the top is folded, then the trunk decreases to 200 liters.
But enough statics. Gentlemen, Start Your Engines. In response to touching the red button on the central tunnel, Jaguar wakes up, the key-tank is calmly stored in the driver's pocket, the doors are also unlocked automatically. At idle, the motor rises quite a bit, not yet showing its true essence. But it is worth clicking on the gas, as a light cotton is heard in the silencer, and the rumbling turns into a real roar, supplemented by the poisonous hiss of the compressor. The bewitching sound that cannot be described in words. A 6-train machine operates in pairs with the engine, and this pair is perfectly balanced. In response to any touch to the XKR gas pedal is ready to give out another portion of acceleration. And to those who do not seem fast to the automatic response, it is proposed to use the sports regime, in which the machine becomes even more responsive, or by steering wheel gear shifts, as in Formula 1. Even when the speedometer arrow approaches a magic mark of 250 km/h, on which an electronic speed limiter is installed, Jaguar continues confident acceleration. The only thing that harms the mobility of the convertible a small volume of the gas tank. With active driving around the city, 70 liters are barely enough for 200 km, after which you have to call in a gas station again. It's not about money, for such a dynamics and a magnificent soundtrack, it’s not a pity to pour 35 liters of the 95th per hundred, but the need to attend dressings is somewhat annoying. True, there you can show off in front of colleagues and collect a bunch of escorting views.
The Jaguar is based not by the folk Ford chassis, but by the Aston Martin DB9 supercar platform. It is entirely made of aluminum, which, despite the large dimensions and a huge list of basic options, made it possible to keep the mass of the convertible within 1635 kg is 200 kg less than that of the XKR of the previous generation. In addition, aluminum allowed the body to make the body more rigid, and the car is more obedient. Unlike the BMW 6th series and Porsche 911, which are close to the price and class, Jaguar has more comfortable settings. Active shock absorbers that automatically change rigidity depending on the nature of the movement and quality of the road, first of all, pay attention to comfort, and only then handling. Even on enormous 20-inch tires, a wild cat has a soft gear and allows you to storm the bedridle police officers on the move, which is real achievement for a sports car.
With a fast driving, Jaguar is under the control of an electronic collar, which works quickly and at the same time smoothly the slightest delay can become fatal, reactions to the steering of the steering wheel in XKR are instant and accurate. If desired, the stabilization system can be partially disconnected, it will still be insured by the driver from gross errors, but it will allow you to start with the smoke from under the wheels and slightly increase the speed of turning the turns due to the fact that it does not interfere in the engine operation. At the jaguar turns, it is quite safe, it is very difficult to send it in a skid due to the use of different -made wheels (the rear are wider than the front ones), this allows the machine to accelerate faster and makes it more flexible and controlled.
But what the engineers pierced with is with the brakes. In the pursuit of comfort and soft reactions of the machine to any actions of the driver, they somewhat dabbled the brake pedal. As a result, if a calm ride does not cause any complaints, then with sharp braking at high speed you can cover with a cold later fear. Before the car reacts to the driver’s team, who was stamped on the pedal, it will think for a split second: is it worth it to execute his command? Of course, then the brake pads will firmly hook the discs, and XKR will quickly pay off speed, but the lost fractions of the seconds in the sports car can cost expensive.
Still, whatever one may say, despite the colossal motor and a successful suspension tuning, Jaguar is not a very sports car. It is better suited for imposing trips around the city or distant voyage, the main thing is to monitor the supply of fuel. I would like to say about XKR with the words of an old British proverb: Gentleman Can Walk, But Never Run. This fully reflects the essence of the most powerful Jaguar all horsepower under his hood in an elegant harness and are able to show their true capabilities only with sensitive control from their master.

Jaguar XKR
Cabriolet body
Engine 420 hp
Acceleration to 100 km/h 5.3 seconds.
Maximum speed 250 km/h
Price from $ 165,000
 
Igor Sirin
 
 

Source: Wheel (company)