Jaguar XKR test drive since 2009 compartment

Assassins, Paradise and Jaguar

In the 11th century in Persia, there was a state of Assassins, which created the great and terrible Sabbach, or the elder of the mountain. He had a whole army of faithful servants, they went to everything, if only Subbach was satisfied. The secret of such submission was the following Hassan ibn Sabbach gave young people a narcotic drug (hash, hence the name Hashishin, Assassin), they fell asleep, and they were transferred to a certain Garden of Garden. And there, in the shade of the trees of men, beautiful virgins met, who fulfilled any (!) His desires. There were several beauties, of course, otherwise what kind of paradise it is. And after visiting such a place, any person was ready for anything, just to return there again. He understood that paradise exists. He himself saw him.


So. Almost everything you just read is nothing more than an invention, the main distributor of which was Marco Polo. But in Jaguar, like many in Europe, they still believe in this fairy tale. For what else to explain that the British decided to use the methods of the elder mountain. Two days ago, I was an ordinary person, but on the plane they gave me something to chew, I fell asleep and ended up on the ocean, I was fed with exquisite dishes, beautiful girls bathing in the pool at night. And there were also cars. And what: Jaguar XKR, XJ Supersport, XFR and even the most powerful serial jag in the history of XKR-S. If you are already confused in these letters, then do not worry, this is normal. The main thing, know less than 510 hp. There are no in these rear -wheel drive babies. For two whole days they were all at my full disposal. And not only on public roads, where you need to constantly remember the local grannies, but also on the most modern Algarve highway in Europe, which is not far from the Portuguese city of Faro, which was built only at the end of 2008. Is this not paradise?


The updated XK coupe and convertibles, which were presented this year, received new headlights, another front bumper, horizontal, rather than vertical ducts in the front wings. This is the second update of the XK, which has been in six years old

The journey to the country of dreams began immediately after leaving the Jaguar airport offered to warm us on a simple typewriter. Simple, say? Well, if you call the updated XK convertible with a 5.0-liter engine with a capacity of 385 hp, with a chic leather interior and wooden inserts. The latter, however, sometimes resemble cheap plastic, but the general feeling of chic does not spoil even this. Frankly, I have never been a fan of Jaguar, but the journey on the open XK changed my views a little. This is a really cool car.

Yes, she does not have such a murderous sensation of quality as German competitors, but, damn it, there is something in it. Its own, special. There is no need to forget about the same moment of the same BMW 6th series on our roads is already full, and Jaguar still has a raid of exclusivity. Especially in Portugal, one of the poorest countries in Europe. In small villages, passers -by showed a finger at us, and the greatest effect of the thug was achieved when switching to low transfers in this case, the eight published a unique roar, which does not make sense, it must be listened to.


Jaguar XKR-S. The name is long and complex, remembering all these letters is not so simple. It would be much easier to call Jaguar a super-duper and clearly, and understandable. And true, because the British had not yet made a more powerful car (I recall 550 hp). In Russia, this model will appear in February next year, then prices will also become known. Presumably, XKR-S will be about a million rubles more expensive than XKR. And the latter we have 5,770,000 rubles

But still, the main dish of our seduction was not at all restyled XK, but an extreme version of this model called XKR-S. To begin with, it is worth explaining the situation by Jaguar XK already existed a charged version that had a 5.0-liter V8 with a compressor, 510 hp. and 625 N ∙ m. Just think 510 horses! This is enough for anyone. But the British decided that the best was not at all the enemy of the good, the oil could be more oil. And Jaguar XKR can become XKR-S: 550 hp. and 680 N ∙ m, more aggressive design, increased rigidity of the suspension springs (by 28% in front and 32% behind), reduced lifting force by 26%, other wheels, a reconfigurated stabilization system, which does not immediately join the work and allows the driver a little burn rubber. Plus, the engineers decided to move the maximum speed limit from the standard 250 km/h (like the same XKR) up to 300 km/h.


If you are not yet familiar with modern Jaguar, then you will be most interested in a branded washer leaving the central tunnel. She is responsible for driving an automatic. There are several interesting buttons next to her. For example, the one that with a checkered finish flag turns on the dynamic mode, the chassis becomes a little tougher, the ESP system allows gliding a little more, and the gas reactions are more active. Moreover, if desired, the ESP system can be completely disconnected

And what do we have at the exit? No, it turned out not an uncompromising supercar, which could be expected. And this is the main surprise. This is still a machine adapted for ordinary life! With a good level of comfort, with decent sound insulation, a real automatic gearbox and other pleasant trifles. Perhaps that is why Jaguar XKR-S at a parallel start will lose to Porsche 911 Turbo S. The English car accelerates to hundreds of 4.4 s, and 911 Turbo S will perform the same exercise for 3.3 s. The difference is more than one second. This is not just a lot. This is a few light years. Especially when you consider that Jaguar is 20 hp. more powerful.


The basic equipment of Jaguar XKR-S includes the Jaguar High Performance Bracking System brakes, which have cast-iron discs. Why is there no ceramics? In Jaguar, they tell us and these are enough. After all, ceramic brakes, by and large, are needed only at the autrod. XKR-S was not created for track days, but for everyday operation. But, it seems, this is nothing more than an excuse

It's time to trample Jaguar XKR-S, but I admit, the ideology of Jaguar is closer. Well, I do not understand the machines with whom you need to constantly fight, and that's it! I prefer cars that do not require the purchase of their own racing track, even if they are not so fast. Cars with which you can live every day, calmly travel to the store or to your cottage. Yes, to the cottage. Although I do not refuse the ability to drive on the track. Especially on such as Algarve.


During a test drive on public roads on Jaguar XKR-S, we got lost and drove on an ordinary rural path of far from the best quality. But the 550-horsepower jag was not afraid of the road clearance was enough to overcome all the irregularities. So even in this supercar you can get to your villa in the Tver region. True, you need to remember the road clearance of XKR-S reduced by 10 mm compared to the usual XK

The track is complex, and not so much with its turns, but sometimes it is not possible to see where to the height changes where to turn the next time. Go-Go-Go, says the instructor. I shake gas, Jaguar instantly shoots forward. What is the speed? Yes, it doesn’t seem to be selected by 150, I rush with all the dope in the hill, and there should be a turn in front. But where? To the right or left? And what is the steepness? I DO NOT REMEMBER! And the child seemed to ask to buy a toy cowardly leg rises from the gas pedal and begins to slow down. Damn, but it was a quick turn! I am mistaken and next time, only this time I am much more dangerous in the slow speed at too high


You can distinguish XKR-S from XK or XKR not only by the driver’s insane look, but also by another bumper with carbon elements, it has ventilation gills at the edges (fog there are foglights at the XKR). To increase engine power with 510 hp. up to 550 hp The engineers had to change the release system and come up with a new motor management program

So, I think that if my intelligence is not enough to remember the track, you need to connect muscle memory. I say to the instructor to Peter, who sits on the right and watches the children who imagine themselves to be the drivers, they say, buddy, teach. A man revives, and asks to do a very unusual thing. I put my hands on the steering wheel, but I do not twist the steering wheel, but the passenger performs all the turns. It all looks very stupid, but the track is remembered much better. After such a training circle, things went much better! And Peter began to shout at me much more active along the way, this guy likes to teach. Why did you go here? Use the entire width of the track, it is so big. I said all the width, all! And here is gas, gas! Let's turn off the stabilization system


Jaguar XJ Supersport (510 hp) costs in Russia 5,830,000 rubles. for a model with a standard wheelbase (long -drawn model 6,150,000 rubles). An ordinary XJ with a 5.0-liter engine with a supercharger, which is not much slower (because 470 hp is also not jokes) cheaper than 510 thousand rubles. For comparison, the long-drawn Mercedes-Benz S600 with a 517-horsepower engine costs 8,100,000 rubles. The coolest BMW 750i Li XDRive can be taken for 4,850,000 rubles, but under the hood of such a car there will be only 407 hp. Long -breaking Audi A8 with all -wheel drive and a 6.3 liter (500 hp) motor from 6,417,100 rubles. There is also a 500-horsepower Panamera Turbo from 8,315,000 rubles. But I would not compare the big jag and Porsche. These machines have different ideology

In addition to the XKR-S, I managed to try on the track and the large XJ sedan in the Supersport version. And this is 510 hp. and 625 Nm. It’s also not bad, though a big carcass XJ, which is competing with the BMW 7th series, Audi A8 and other similar models, is not so obedient on the track. Although, under the guidance of an experienced instructor on the most modern highway in Europe, with huge zones of safety XJ Supersport allows you to get an incomparable pleasure with the stabilization system, a huge sedan is happy to throw the stabilization when pressing gas (such a herd under the hood), although Peter does not approve of such a ride . Why are you doing this, lose seconds, remember a simple truth: quick turns must be passed quickly, slowly slowly. A deep skid is a mistake. Young girls may like it. But they are not here, Peter teaches.


The main advantage of engines with a capacity of more than 500 hp, which are installed on the charged Jaguar, is not at all that they allows you to very quickly accelerate to 100 km/h. In the end, having so many horses for a dynamic city driving under the hood is not necessary under the hood. The acceleration of up to 200 km/h did not amaze, although it is already much more interesting to recruit them. But when you have 200 km/h on the speedometer, you press the gas pedal, and the car continues active acceleration and simply shoots up to 250 km/h this is strong. To dial a maximum speed of 300 km/h on XKR-S did not work. The spirit was not enough, although the car was capable of it

Now I will not talk about XJ Supersport now Vadim Gagarin in his report with the presentation of the XJ in France. But I note the XJ Supersport turned out to be a very pleasant and comfortable car, which has more than decent dynamics and handling. The great advantage of this model, like other Jaguar, lies in its originality and rarity, I think no one will argue with the fact that the XJ on our roads is much less common than various seven or S-classes.


The line of charged Jaguar is now very wide. In addition to the XKR, XKR-S, the chic sedan XJ Supersport is also a 510-horsepower XFR. In Russia, such a machine is sold for 4,170,000 rubles. (more than a million more expensive than a simple XF with a 5.0-liter atmospheric engine with a capacity of 385 hp). Moreover, this model now has actually the only competitor to Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG with a more powerful engine (525 hp). But such a car is noticeably more than 5.3 million rubles. The most powerful BMW of the 5th series currently has only 407 hp. (Sales of the old M5 is still terminated, we are waiting for a new version). Audi A6 in Russia so far has a motor with a maximum of 300 hp.

Well, from the landfill we returned at another evil Yaguar XFR. It has the same 5.0-liter compressor engine and all the same 510 hp. But I had a slightly different attitude towards this machine. After all, having released this car, the British dared to challenge the three gods who control on Olympus: BMW M5, Audi RS6 and Mercedes-Benz E from AMG. And this is no longer a joke. There is another demand.

But, like the other Jaguar, this sedan liked this sedan most not a herd under the hood or a perfectly configured motor sound, and not an excellent chassis, but comfort. Yes, it is the comfort of the electronics several hundred (!) Once per second it monitors the situation and instantly changes the characteristics of shock absorbers. Moreover, the difference between hard and soft settings is huge. As a result, while driving with high speed along the serpentine, XFR behaves as it should be 510-horsepower. But you just have to go a little calmer (or go on a medium-sized road), then it turns into a soft business sedan. At the same time, XFR is perceived absolutely adequately anywhere. Including in the city when you go 40-50 km/h. At the same BMW M5, driving with a similar speed seems unnatural, but here nothing annoys you. You go to yourself and go. With comfort!


Many believe that Jaguar is a company that brings some losses. Until recently, it was. However, the company showed on the verge of take -off last year. Yes, the sales did not formally increase compared to 2009, but this is primarily due to the fact that the production of the X-Type model was stopped. At the same time, the demand for XF is magnificent, the chic XJ went well. It seems that Ford, which got rid of Jaguar in 2008, selling it along with Land Rover for $ 2.3 billion of the Indian Tata, made a mistake. Indeed, at one time, the Americans spent $ 5.2 billion to buy these two companies. Plus about 10 billion.

And if I were offered something to take from this paradise to my home? But only one one according to the laws of the genre I have to vote by all hands and legs behind the XKR-S compartment, because it is the most powerful, fastest and most expensive. Plus, I can go to the cottage on it, and the child is still small, and it can be pushed into the second row of seats. Yes, and on the racing track, this machine with this machine, it seems, began to find a common language. But for some reason, the XFR sedan is closer to me. Beautiful, comfortable, with handling, which seemed no worse than that of the compartment. And, most importantly, with a full trunk, spacious rear seats and an amazing 510-horsepower engine.
 


Denis Smolyanov
Photo: Denis Smolyanov and Jaguar

 
True and fiction about the assassins
According to modern historians, the vast majority of the legends about the Assassins are fiction. No, Hassan ibn Sabbach himself existed. And he really created a powerful state and had a whole army of loyal servants. But they never called themselves assassins and even more so hashishins. Most likely, the word assassin was invented by crusaders who were afraid of Sabbach and his followers, not understanding how he could rule his state. And it was really very unusual. In fact, the country of Assassins (we will still call them so) with the capital in Alamut was the world's first socialism. Already during the creation of the empire, Sabbach canceled luxury. Its subordinates were forbidden to demonstrate his wealth, they say that classes were even eliminated. All the inhabitants of the country were brought up in the spirit of righteousness, and the apostates were brutally punished.

One of the most interesting features of the new state was the method of combating enemies. Hassan ibn Sabbach created a real sabotage school in Alamut, where the best spies and killers were prepared in the world. Moreover, young people were taught not only the techniques of owning weapons. They studied foreign languages, mastered acting, all kinds of knowledge. The Assassins in those days were one of the most educated people in the world, which allowed them to become doctors, builders, philosophers to complete the task. If necessary, they were even allowed to change the faith that for that time it was unheard of. In general, every graduate of the Alamut school was a real James Bond, who not only had the right to kill, but was not afraid to die himself after completing the task was considered a special valor.

Thanks to his faithful soldiers called Fidai, Sabbach was very brutally dealt with his opponents of the latter simply killed (since then in Europe, assassins often began to call hired killers). And everyone around them knew that immediately after you became an enemy of Sabbach, you can start writing a will. The elder of the mountain did not forgive anyone. Even his relatives suspect his own son in abuse of wine, Sabbach ordered him to immediately be executed!

However, Hassan ibn Sabbach prepared not only killers. He did useful things and created the best system for strengthening castles at that time, which for several centuries overtook its time, actively developed agriculture, engaged in irrigation of land, surrounded Alamut with magnificent gardens, changed the taxation system. Throughout the world, his followers bought the best books, leading engineers, doctors, astronomers, artists, representatives of the arts (and those scientists who did not agree voluntarily, sometimes simply stolen) were invited to Alamut.

Knowing that the Sabbach himself and his entire environment were faithful Muslims (and, we were talking about the orthodox course) there are great doubts that Sabbach allowed his subordinates to drink, smoke and morally decompose. Even in paradise, because already in those days, hash was considered not the most useful substance. And the fact that the word assassin comes from Arabic Khashishin (hash) is also questioned. Most likely, the roots of this name should be sought in the Arabic word Hassas. Which means not a narcotic substance at all, but the basis, truth. It was from Hassas that the designation of the Khasasin (a person seeking the truth) or more harmonious for the European ear of the Assassins went.

However, after the death of Sabbach, his empire, as often happens, began to squeak. The followers of the elder of the mountain were no longer so righteous, the ruling elite again fell in love with gold and luxury, in general, the decomposition began. And then the Mongols appeared in general, 132 after the death of Sabbach, his state ceased to exist, and Alamut was destroyed.

Dmitry Gaidukevich
 

A source: Auto.mail.ru