Ask any auto journalist and they'll admit to having a vehicular crush. No matter what, we all have our favourites. Of course, we're all told to be as unbiased as possible, but as human beings it's impossible for us not to feel more for one car over another – or one car over all the rest.
While it's no secret that I'm having a bit of an affair with the MINI brand as a whole, there is one car in particular that gets me all hot and bothered every time I see it, and especially when I get a chance to get behind the wheel. And that car is the sumptuous and stunningJaguar XKR.
I know, I know; Jaguar's gained a bad rap when it comes to reliability and build quality (my esteemed colleague Matt spent a week with an XJ Supercharged outfitted with a rattling sunroof that nearly drove him over the edge, quite literally), but I think it's that personality flaw that drags me in.
Here's a vehicle that's renowned for being luxurious and high-class, and yet it still has foibles. Hell, my XKR tester had a creaky backseat that made me think the rear suspension was fabricated out of bamboo shoots – but I didn't let that deter me from having a phenomenal week behind the wheel.
There's something sly about the Jaguar XKR, which also adds to its appeal. There's no questioning the fact that it's a supercar, but it's aggressive in a subtle, sensual way that's right up my alley. The lines on the XKR haven't changed much over the past few years, and that's also fine with me. From the elongated front nose to the stubby, powerful rear, the 2011 Jaguar XKR is like a piece of art come to life.
And even though the XKR is the XK's hopped up evil cousin, you have to be observant to spot the differences in the body design. Slits for air intakes in the hood and a pair of gills behind the front wheels are really all that give it away in the front. And, of course, the green and red “R” badge on the turned-up rear along with the quad tailpipes give it away.
Step inside the XKR and those subtleties continue. While some sport models are brash and in your face with decals and colours and sport buttons, the XKR remains classy and pristine inside with only an “R” on the steering wheel and on the passenger-side dash. Oh, and of course the fabulous “Dynamic” race-flag button by the shift dial and the “S” gear selection. Decked out in brushed chrome and black, the XKR's cabin is functional and roomy. The centre stack is surprisingly simple for such a high-end vehicle; finally, a company that realizes “more buttons” does not equal “better.”
While it's no secret that I'm having a bit of an affair with the MINI brand as a whole, there is one car in particular that gets me all hot and bothered every time I see it, and especially when I get a chance to get behind the wheel. And that car is the sumptuous and stunningJaguar XKR.
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| Here's a vehicle that's renowned for being luxurious and high-class, and yet it still has foibles. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |
I know, I know; Jaguar's gained a bad rap when it comes to reliability and build quality (my esteemed colleague Matt spent a week with an XJ Supercharged outfitted with a rattling sunroof that nearly drove him over the edge, quite literally), but I think it's that personality flaw that drags me in.
Here's a vehicle that's renowned for being luxurious and high-class, and yet it still has foibles. Hell, my XKR tester had a creaky backseat that made me think the rear suspension was fabricated out of bamboo shoots – but I didn't let that deter me from having a phenomenal week behind the wheel.
There's something sly about the Jaguar XKR, which also adds to its appeal. There's no questioning the fact that it's a supercar, but it's aggressive in a subtle, sensual way that's right up my alley. The lines on the XKR haven't changed much over the past few years, and that's also fine with me. From the elongated front nose to the stubby, powerful rear, the 2011 Jaguar XKR is like a piece of art come to life.
And even though the XKR is the XK's hopped up evil cousin, you have to be observant to spot the differences in the body design. Slits for air intakes in the hood and a pair of gills behind the front wheels are really all that give it away in the front. And, of course, the green and red “R” badge on the turned-up rear along with the quad tailpipes give it away.
Step inside the XKR and those subtleties continue. While some sport models are brash and in your face with decals and colours and sport buttons, the XKR remains classy and pristine inside with only an “R” on the steering wheel and on the passenger-side dash. Oh, and of course the fabulous “Dynamic” race-flag button by the shift dial and the “S” gear selection. Decked out in brushed chrome and black, the XKR's cabin is functional and roomy. The centre stack is surprisingly simple for such a high-end vehicle; finally, a company that realizes “more buttons” does not equal “better.”
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| The cabin is a model of simplicity and subtleness. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |