Jumping into the spacious cockpit of the XKR, I was immediately struck with the sense that this is no ordinary car (having said the cockpit is spacious, the same can not be said of the rear seat room. Child car seats barely fit, and forget about folding in an adult).
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| Understated and easy to navigate, the interior of the XKR is superb in every aspect. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
Real wood and real leather combine in an intoxicating aroma that is rivaled only by the visual eye-candy that defines the XKR's interior layout. Controls and gauges are understated in that oh-so-English manner, yet very simple to operate and read. A touch-screen mounted in the centre of the dash operates most of the systems, including climate control, the stereo and navigation system. Jaguar engineers have created one of the most user-friendly touch-screen interfaces I've yet to use in a vehicle, with a focus on simplicity of function so as to keep drivers' eyes off the controls and on the road.
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| The real crowning achievement of the XKR is the smooth supercharged 390-hp V8 engine. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
I couldn't think of one luxury creature comfort that the XKR was lacking; there's even a valet button that limits accessibility to the car. As much as the interior is a jewel, the real crowning achievement is the supercharged V8. I can't say I've driven too many 400-odd horsepower vehicles, but I can say without hesitation that the XKR's 390 ponies are the most refined, elegant horses I've ever had the pleasure of trotting out.
A new six-speed ZF automatic tranny is perfectly mated to the big power. Its silky smooth acceleration is just a foot flex away, unlike anything I've ever experienced.
