Jaguar XKR-S test drive since 2011

All photos of Jaguar XKR-S since 2011

Wild cat for bond

Exclusive Jaguar XKR equipped with a 4.2-liter eight with a compressor with a capacity of 420 forces was expelled to help Bond from the secret laboratory.
Having resolved all the problems in his native Fatherland, the special agent of Her Majesty Queen of English James Bond was sent to Russia for the next special affection of state importance. What awaits him in Russia, the scout did not know, because he should get the details of the operation on the spot, from agent 004 named Katrin. She has been working in Russia for a long time and aware of all the problems of this distant eastern country, but he is not able to cope with them
The only thing James knew about Moscow was that in winter there are severe frosts, and in the summer unbearable heat, bears walk along the streets of the capital, and people travel mainly on tanks and armored personnel carriers.
Exclusive Jaguar XKR was sent to help Bond from the secret laboratory. James was not enthusiastic, but you won’t be ahead of the global economy: Ford Motor Company, while on the verge of bankruptcy, was forced to sell his British branch of Aston Martin, and therefore Bond transplanted to a more affordable Jaguar. Only the fact that the wild cat was created in close cooperation with Aston Martin engineers, and the XKR aluminum body, is almost the same as the DB9 model. Yes, and the Bond motor was selected that it was necessary to 4.2-liter eight equipped with a 420 forces compressor. Perhaps enough, ”James decided and reluctantly opened the envelope with a chip key received at the registration stance at the airport: if the theater begins with a hanger, then a car from the key. By the way, a stylish toy

Finding Jaguar himself in the parking lot turned out to be very simple cherry convertible with a bright cloth top simply could not get lost. In addition, taking advantage of the distance launch of the engine (specialopia, inaccessible to mere mortals), James enjoyed the rollerbuas of the eight, with a flavored hiss of the compressor, and sometimes, as if slightly coughed, Jaguar makes light castles into a silencer.
Looking around the cat, Bond smiled: stylish 20 -inch, different -made wheels and slots on the hood, complemented by a chrome radiator grill, are delights that only compressor versions of HC can boast. It is a pity that it is inconvenient to conspiracy on such a car, but if you are guided by the principle of clothing, then you can enter the Jaguar into any society completely new, and it leaves no one indifferent.
Having opened the door, Bond plunged into the triple alliance of the skin, wood and aluminum familiar to him. It was only after a more attentive consideration of the details that it became clear that the latter for some reason took self-settings and sent gray plastic instead. Even steering liners are made from it. To shoot the chief designer or technologist who made such blasphemy over the British legend, Bond thought, but immediately caught himself thinking that the plastic is not only cheap, but he also facilitates the car. Okay, let him live.

Especially if you do not engage in material science, then the interior looks quite decent. The central console is strict and laconic, like the British themselves. Only the main climate control and audio system control buttons are made on the panel, all other functions are available through the Touch Screen display. The instrument panel is also simplified to the limit of two small scales of a tachometer and a speedometer with salad lighting and small risks. The fuel margin and additional information is displayed on the color display. There is nothing distracting or capable of irritating, especially if you use the key on the ceiling and hide the soft top into the trunk in 18 seconds. By the way, when the roof is closed, the place for it can be used for luggage, but before the opening you will have to pull the restrictive curtain. Jaguar was created for endless movement, and on the road you can concentrate on anything: to speculate on the task, look at beautiful Russian landscapes or just look at the blonde sitting nearby: thoughts in this case are not appropriate, this is already from the category of emotions and fantasies.
As James asked, the Jaguar suspension was set for the maximum possible comfort for such a car, but without annoying swing. To achieve the most impressive characteristics, XKR was equipped with shock absorbers with automatic rigidity adjustment. Moreover, the driver has no

the mechanisms of influence on them in the suspension only one mode of operation, but what! You can skip through the bedridden policemen and less often slow down in front of the potholes. For a sports car on 20-inch wheels, a magnificent indicator. James recalled his past Aston Martin and recently tested Ferrari, they shaken not only the soul, but even seals from the teeth. Of course, Jaguar is not particularly well adapted for racing along the racing highway, however, there is quite enough chalking of the chassis in the city, and insufficient rotation that prevails in the habits of a wild cat is a logical solution for driving for every day.
The 420-horsepower compressor engine is aggregated with a 6-speed automatic, and together they give rise to a union that can compete with Boni and Claid. And if you move the selector similar to the golf ball, by turning on the sports regime, then the XKR turns into a real wild cat. It can be angry even stronger, only using the steering wheel switches made of cheap plastic. When switches down, Jaguar snapps menacingly and with a disconnected stabilization system at the slightest pressing on gas threatens to tear mighty paws into a slip. But the electronics do not doze and extinguishes a possible skid in the bud. Acceleration to hundreds in 5.3 seconds speaks for itself to keep up with a XKR a few and only reaching the treasured mark of 250 km/h, arrow

the speedometer dutifully freezes Jaguar entirely under the control of the driver and control of electronics.
The only serious puncture of the wild cat found by James were the brakes. It seems that they are borrowed from classic models that used the drum circuit. With calm driving, everything within the norm is easy to press the pedal leads to a smooth, clearly dosed slowdown. However, moving away from the chase and slowing down on the verge, and sometimes behind the reasonable line, Bond was seriously scared a couple of times that the XKR would let him down, not having time to digest the kinetic energy given to him. The pedal, choosing a free move, rests against the invisible wall, and the expected slowdown comes only after which the hair manages to enrich himself with a pair of gray hair, and the leg presses the pedal so much into the floor that the wheels are immediately blocked. As a result, it is practically impossible to slow down 2/3 of the maximum: either completely smoothly, or already on the floor, under the crunch of ABS. In addition, the level of slowdown was lower than James expected, probably, relatively narrow front wheels are to blame for this, which accounted for the main load, and the rear tires when braking, alas, work ineffectively: their main task is to disperse Jaguar ...
James parted with Russia and Jaguar with sadness. He got the impression that XKR was built specifically for this distant and cold country with its poor -quality asphalt and fashion for powerful, but not too sports cars. And let sunny weather happen in Moscow even less often than in foggy London, James always loved expensive and exquisite cars with an open top, and Jaguar is completely suitable for his requirements. Let Michael Schumacher and his closest relatives choose the dental Ferrari and Porsche. Gentleman Can Walk, But Never Run.
P.S. That's just plastic in the salon, I would still like to replace with real aluminum it is not necessary for a car for 170 thousand dollars.
Text: Leonid Pavlov

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Power unit
Suspension
Design

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Brakes
Small volume of fuel tank

The price of the tested car is $ 170,000

Complete the test of the tested car
Frontary airbags
Side airbags
Inflatable curtains
Abs
Anti -boom system
The system of dynamic stabilization
Adjustable suspension
Steering amplifier
Automatic transmission
Multifunctional steering wheel
Adjustable steering column in height
Adjustable steering column by departure
Steering wheel decoration with leather
Salon decoration with leather
Lobic glass electric heating
Electric heating of the front seats
Rear -view mirror
Bluetooth kit for phone
Remote Central Castle
Contactless access
Air conditioner
Climate control is two-zone
Electric drive and heating of external mirrors
Electric power drive of external mirrors
Electr -glass lifts are front
CD-audio system
CD changer
Light sensor
Rain sensor
Trip computer
Parctronics
Fog lights
headlight washer
Alloy wheels
Coloring metallic
Electroregulation of the driver's seat
Electroregulation of the front seats
Cruise control
Xenon headlights
Specifications
Body
Body type 2-door convertible
The number of places 2+2
Trunk volume, l 283/200
Equipped mass, kg 1635
Full mass, kg 2075
Length, mm 4791
Width, mm 2070
Height, mm 1329
Wheel base, mm 2752
Road clearance, mm 120
Engine
Basin type with drive supercumener
Front location, longitudinally
Location and number of cylinders V8
Working volume, cm 4196
Cylinder diameter/piston stroke, mm 86/90.3
Compression degree 9.1
The number of valves per cylinder 4
Maximum power, L.S./rpm 420/6250
Maximum torque, NM/rpm 560/4000
Transmission
Gearbox 6-speed, automatic
The rear drive
Two -link front suspension with adaptive shock absorbers
Rack suspension with adaptive shock absorbers
Front brakes Disco ventilated
The rear brakes are disk
Tires 245/35 ZR20 in front 285/30 ZR20 behind
Dynamics
Maximum speed, km/h 250
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, from 5.3
Fuel consumption, l/100 km
city cycle 19.1
country cycle 8.6
mixed cycle 12.3
Fuel tank capacity, l 70.6
Fuel AI-95 gasoline