Jaguar XK

Overview:

The Jaguar badge is the unit of Jaguar Land Rover which is a British company and has been running royally on the streets since 1922. Recently it was acquired by the Indian Automobile giant Tata Motors. The Jaguar is famous for its beautiful and powerful cars and one such car is the Jaguar XK which is a Grand Tourer which first made its appearance in 1996. This 2-door coupe is one of the finest looking GT coupe available on road, all thanks to its royal blood. The short overhangs on the front and rear along with the iconic mesh grille nose, gives it an attitude of its own. However beauty is not the only thing that the XK flaunts. It also packs a spell bounding 5.0-litre supercharged V8 that churns out a massive 550 hp in the XKR-S variant. The XKR also gets an enthralling 510 hp power output producing engine of same size. The XKR-S is the sports version of the coupe and is one of the best sports GT offering distinctive looks and unparalleled performance. The sound of the engine is music to the ears and can be unmistakably recognized from a distance, all thanks to its Performance Active exhaust with Quad Tail pipes. The exteriors look extremely sporty, packed with a hint of elegance. The Bonnet Louvres aids the super charged engine in maintaining the cooling efficiency of the engine and also accentuates the looks of the XKR. The interiors are also in accordance with the variants, the XKR gets 10/10 sports seats where as the XKR-S gets 16/16 performance seats. The 7-inch touch display on the center console offers a good source of infotainment. The steering looks decent and has the audio controls mounted on it along with handsfree connectivity. The rear row can get a little congested, but the fact that the 2-door coupe offers four seats is a treat in itself. The XKR-S also gets a 10mm height reduction to improve its aerodynamics which comes in handy at high speeds. The electronic automatic 6-speed transmission perfectly supports this massive engine. The sound system is a Bowers & Wikins 525 W audio system that offers surround sound. The XK, overall, is an all-sports drive without going low on practicality.

Mileage and Fuel Economy:

The fuel economy of the XKR is undoubtedly low. But considering its power output and acceleration, this figure is justified. The XKR and XKR-S both have a fuel consumption measuring 8.3 kmpl along with CO2 emissions of 292g/km which are definitely decent for a sports coupe.

Power:

It seems that the Jaguar XKR-S was built for only to deliver astounding power. The numbers are a breath taking 550 horsepower at 6000 rpm and an astonishing torque measuring 680 Nm at 2500 rpm. All this is possible due to its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine and rear wheel drive. The XKR also offers a brilliant power measuring 510 hp alongside a great torque of 625 Nm.

Acceleration and Pick up:

The supercharged engine increases the engines acceleration considerably. The increase is such that the XKR-S touches the 100 kmph mark from naught in a blazing fast 4.4 seconds. The top speed of the XKR-S is also a staggering 300 kmph, that too is electronically limited as the car is capable of doing much more.

Exterior:

The royal blooded Jaguar stays true its name. The super sleek body and cat eyed head lamps makes it look like the jaguar cat itself. The XKR-S gets 10mm height reduction to make it even sleeker and cut through the winds like a blade. It also gets additional performance front bumpers with vents to maintain the downforce. The headlights are Bi-functional Xenon lamps that look magnificent. The front nose grille is the sleeker version of the iconic mesh grille front nose with the Jaguar insignia on it. The wing mirrors are power foldable and heated with auto dimming feature to reduce reflections. The bonnet louvres have a class of its own and impart that much needed sporty feel to the car. The roof line is ultra smooth and blends into the atmosphere. LED tail lamps are a treat to the eyes for the people driving behind you. The rear fenders slightly bulge out and completely shade the wheel which is reminiscent of the vintage racing Jaguars.

Exterior Measurements:

Talking about the dimension, XKR is long, low and sleek just as prescribed by the doctor for a sports coupe. The overall dimensions of Jaguar XKR measure 4794mm x 1892 mm x 1312 mm which provides for better aerodynamics. (L x W x H) The wheelbase of Jaguar XFR also measures a long 2752mm so as to get that extra traction on the road.

Interior:

The interiors get an option of 7 color themes and 7 veneers to personalize the XK according to taste. This ensures you get only the best of the best inside the cabin. The dash gets leather with fine stitching and remarkable quality. It also gets a 7-inch color touch screen display that incorporates the navigation system of the vehicle. The pedals are bright and are made of stainless steel to add to the refined looks. The seats are sports with leather lining which are electronically adjustable with memory function. The steering wheel is three spoked and also gets leather over it along with the appealing Jaguar logo over it. The dials are classic looking analog just like the earlier models. The centre floor console and the window buttons get chrome outlining which adds a touch of elegance in the interior. The gear knob on the floor console beautifully pops out as soon as the car is in ignition. The big front and rear glasses offer perfect visibility of the surroundings.

Interior Comfort:

The interiors of the XKR-S are luxurious enough. The Jaguar Drive Selector along with Jaguar Drive Control. The sports seats add to the sporty spirit of the car and also provides enough comfort to both of the front occupants. The rear seats however can get congested due to the low ceiling and 2 doors coupe style. The electronic seats are completely adjustable according to individual comfort and also has memory function for remembering the preferences of the driver and passenger. The steering is electronically tilt adjustable which is very comforting for drivers of varying heights. The audio controls of the audio system are also mounted on the steering wheels along with hands free connectivity for telephone which makes the driver in control of everything.

Interior Measurements:

The leg room and head room for the front passenger is ample, but on the rear seat they are scarce and can be a problem, especially for tall occupants. The boot space in the XKR is a generous 330-litres, which is appreciable since most super cars do not get any boot.

Engine and Performance:

The XK comes in two engine options in Malaysia, in the XKR and XKR-S. Both the variants get a 5.0-litre super charged V8 petrol engine but the power output of the both is dramatically different. This is due to the upgraded performance tail pipe and dynamics and also due to the use of carbon diffusers. The XKR-S delivers a power output measuring a massive 560 hp whereas the XKR gets a comparatively low 510 hp. The maximum torque output is also different at 680 Nm for the XKR-S and 625 Nm for the XKR. Due to the extra horses, the top speed of the XKR-S is electronically limited at 300 kmph whereas for the XKR this measures 250 kmph. The transmission in both the variants is a 6-speed conventional automatic paddle shift that does a fine job in transmitting all that power to the wheels.

Stereo and Accessories:

The Stereo system inside the XK is also high end and successfully damps the rumbling of the engine if you don't wish to hear that piece of music. The audio system is a Bowers & Wikins 525 W audio system that offers surround sound and a great audio experience. The 7-inch touchscreen colour display is also a great accessory on the dash. The system is compatible with USB, AUX, socket and iPod. It also comes with a 6 disk in-facia CD player.

Wheels:

The wheels on the XKR are a class in itself. The 20” alloys look magnificent and makes it look faster than it actually is. The front wheels get the tyre dimensions of 255/35 R 20 and the rear tyres are 285/30 R 20. The rear wheels are broader to maintain traction at high speeds.

Braking and Handling:

The brakes on the XKR are ventilated disc type on both the front and rear wheels and do a fine job in stopping the vehicle. The disc size is a good 385mm with advanced calipers on them. The braking is complimented with ABS, BA and EBD. The suspensions on both the front and rear is of double wishbone type with hydraulic power assistance that provides for a comfortable ride and handling.

Safety and Security:

The XKR has ample safety features on board the vehicle. The features it has includes ABS, EBD, BA(Brake Assist) and traction control to ensure max safety on road. The Lights have unique cornering feature that gives some extra lights while on corners and turns. It has two front airbags and two side mounted airbags for the rear passengers to provide for cockpit safety. The structure has Roll over protection system to protect against toppling. The Electric Parking Brake with drive way release offers extra protection while parking.

Pros:

Humongous Power
Beautiful looks
Brilliant Handling

Cons:

Low fuel economy
This price band has many other more extreme competitors