Not many five-seaters make it into our supercar category, but the
Jaguar XJR does. Why? Because the combination of the lightweight aluminum body and 400 bhp supercharged V-8 engine gives it extraordinary performance - zero to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds, true supercar territory, for example.
The XJ is a good basis for a sporty sedan because it has remarkable suspension combining excellent handling with superb comfort. OK, so Jaguar buffs are used to that unusual combination, but most other sedans cannot compete. It is not just the excellent suspension, but also the fact that the center of gravity of the car is lower because the aluminum body has less weight high up.
More sporty looks - overdue
The XJR is a new addition to the XJ range which has had a facelift, so the XJR looks the sporty sedan it is - just as the Jags of yesteryear looked sporty. At the front, there is now a mesh grille, with broader surround, with a big air intake below, with a pair of low air intakes at the side - complete with the extra lamps on bars in the air intakes.
At the sides, there are subtle vertical air outlets behind the front wheels, and otherwise the car is the typical XJ shape we know, with five-spoke alloy wheels. A real improvement, needed to match the performance of the XJR, but some potential buyers might be put off by the fact that all XJ s get the facelift, even though the XJR has a few but very subtle marks.
Inside is the usual Jaguar neat but comprehensive office for the driver, with simple clear instruments, and a large display in the center console for the navigation system. Now, though, there are a myriad of buttons round the display, with the usual buttons for cruise control and audio on the steering wheel.
400 bhp verson of the V-8
Mechanically, the big change is the use of the supercharged 4.2 liter V-8 rated at 400 bhp at 6,100 rpm - the XKR gets an extra 20 bhp - and 553 lb ft (408 Nm) of torque at 3,500 - that's a lot of torque, and it is this that explains why this engine behaves more like a 5.5 liter V-8 - that's the power of supercharging, which gives you power through the range. Of course, this is almost the same as the engine in the old XKR.
Jaguar uses the ZF six-speed automatic which is a real gem, although the plot gets lost when it comes to the shifter, which is the old J-gate. You push it over for manual, but then have to push forward to engage the lower ratios one by one. Sporty drivers would prefer paddle shifters, or at least a manual push-pull shifter, but most drivers leave the lever in D all the time.
Advanced aluminum body
Although the basic XJ has been around for quite a while, it still has one of the most advanced body structures in the world - a structure made mainly of aluminum sheet, but with various extrusions and castings where extra strength is needed. The body is 60% stiffer and 40% lighter than the old steel XJ, which is why the car accelerates so quickly. It also improves fuel consumption, so reducing C02 emissions.
This lightweight body is combined with Jaguar's double wishbone suspension, mounted on specially isolated sub-frames to reduce road noise while giving sporty handling. The XJR has air suspension, which gives a soft ride, but remarkable control, thanks in part to the computer-controlled adjustable damping.
Still wondering whether the Jaguar XJR is right for you, or whether you should have something with more extreme looks? Well, it depends whether performance matters. The XJR takes just 0.1 second more to get to 60 mph than the XKR, and 0.4 seconds less than the heavier S Type R, which is a good deal smaller.
Of course, there are bigger, heftier and much heavier German sedans you can buy - and the BMW M5 is more powerful and 0.3 seconds quicker to 60 mph at 4.7 seconds, and like the Jag is limited to 155 mph. However, the Jaguar does not need to be revved up to 4,000 to get going, and with 370 lb (168 kg) less to lug around, it has plenty power at any speed.
