Elegance and luxury
I parked the XKR, roof down, in my garage overnight. In the morning, the distinctive aroma of Jaguar stitched leather upholstery had permeated the entire garage, suppressing the odour of tools, bikes and garage-type clutter. There is something almost magical about a Jaguar interior, and the XKR exemplifies that mysticism.
Seating up front is tremendously comfortable and infinitely adjustable. A small, almost torturous rear seat is available to accommodate children or additional belongings for a weekend away. Trunk space with the roof retracted is marginal at best. As one would expect, the XKR is a fully loaded beast, although some wheel and premium option packages exist.
Many functions and related settings can only be adjusted through the touch-screen that also serves as a navigation screen. It takes time to acclimate to this process and understand the layering of information in the various programs. As sophisticated as this technology is, I would prefer a few more buttons and dials in place of screen-based manipulation.
Taming the cat
The XKR is a sweet ride, roof up or roof down. It's an easy feline to tame, fostering a sense of simplicity when confined to the limitations of city traffic. When circumstances permit a little athleticism, the XKR is always ready to pounce, but this is a thirsty cat that demands 91-octane or better. The onboard computer indicated an average consumption of 16.3 litres of fuel per 100K of top-down fun.
Of course fuel economy is not likely a burden to XKR owners. Quality and prestige are sure to outweigh such plebian concerns. The level of attention and wishful comments drawn by this car will certainly satisfy in that regard. When it comes to driving performance, satisfaction is a certainty. Yes, the XKR is the "not so poor," poor man's Aston Martin.
photo:Rob Rothwell
I parked the XKR, roof down, in my garage overnight. In the morning, the distinctive aroma of Jaguar stitched leather upholstery had permeated the entire garage, suppressing the odour of tools, bikes and garage-type clutter. There is something almost magical about a Jaguar interior, and the XKR exemplifies that mysticism.
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| When you take place in a Jaguar, you can see, feel and smell the opulence. |
Seating up front is tremendously comfortable and infinitely adjustable. A small, almost torturous rear seat is available to accommodate children or additional belongings for a weekend away. Trunk space with the roof retracted is marginal at best. As one would expect, the XKR is a fully loaded beast, although some wheel and premium option packages exist.
Many functions and related settings can only be adjusted through the touch-screen that also serves as a navigation screen. It takes time to acclimate to this process and understand the layering of information in the various programs. As sophisticated as this technology is, I would prefer a few more buttons and dials in place of screen-based manipulation.
Taming the cat
The XKR is a sweet ride, roof up or roof down. It's an easy feline to tame, fostering a sense of simplicity when confined to the limitations of city traffic. When circumstances permit a little athleticism, the XKR is always ready to pounce, but this is a thirsty cat that demands 91-octane or better. The onboard computer indicated an average consumption of 16.3 litres of fuel per 100K of top-down fun.
Of course fuel economy is not likely a burden to XKR owners. Quality and prestige are sure to outweigh such plebian concerns. The level of attention and wishful comments drawn by this car will certainly satisfy in that regard. When it comes to driving performance, satisfaction is a certainty. Yes, the XKR is the "not so poor," poor man's Aston Martin.
photo:Rob Rothwell
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