Just test drove XKR 5.0, XFR and XF 3.0D S
Discussion
Courtesy of Stratstone, just had the opportunity to have a good drive in each of these cars, and imho they are a quantum leap forward for Jaguar.
XKR 5.0 - the only differences between this and a DB9 now are the exhaust system, which remains quiet, the seats, which still need to be more sculptured and supportive, and the price, which is too cheap. Needless to say the performance is immense. Internally the ambience is significantly more luxurious, there is high quality leather everywhere, and everything feels more expensive. Styling mods are very effective - the whole car seems more lithe and curvy.
XFR - Immediately fits like a glove and feels capable of monstering anything. It is a car which you want to put your foot down in and chuck around, and it generates confidence. I would want to spend a lot more time with it however before I went anywhere near its capabilities.
XF 3.0 D S - In some ways the most surprising of all. The others you know are going to be stupendously good, and they are, but a 3.0 diesel is going to be impressive if it is simply comparable to the petrol equivalent. Not so. Some kind of magic trick seems to have been worked. In normal mode it is really very good. Put it in Sport mode, and it becomes a different car, the smooth even and forceful power delivery is extraordinary. The only way of knowing you are in a diesel from inside the car is that the car changes up automatically around 4500 rpm, before you are quite ready to pull the paddle, but the fun never stops. It is a real high performance car. Put your foot down in this and you are headed for the horizon. All the while you are getting 28 mpg. How do they do something like this?
These have to be among the best cars in the world.
XKR 5.0 - the only differences between this and a DB9 now are the exhaust system, which remains quiet, the seats, which still need to be more sculptured and supportive, and the price, which is too cheap. Needless to say the performance is immense. Internally the ambience is significantly more luxurious, there is high quality leather everywhere, and everything feels more expensive. Styling mods are very effective - the whole car seems more lithe and curvy.
XFR - Immediately fits like a glove and feels capable of monstering anything. It is a car which you want to put your foot down in and chuck around, and it generates confidence. I would want to spend a lot more time with it however before I went anywhere near its capabilities.
XF 3.0 D S - In some ways the most surprising of all. The others you know are going to be stupendously good, and they are, but a 3.0 diesel is going to be impressive if it is simply comparable to the petrol equivalent. Not so. Some kind of magic trick seems to have been worked. In normal mode it is really very good. Put it in Sport mode, and it becomes a different car, the smooth even and forceful power delivery is extraordinary. The only way of knowing you are in a diesel from inside the car is that the car changes up automatically around 4500 rpm, before you are quite ready to pull the paddle, but the fun never stops. It is a real high performance car. Put your foot down in this and you are headed for the horizon. All the while you are getting 28 mpg. How do they do something like this?
These have to be among the best cars in the world.
I thought it would be a bit intrusive to take a lot of pictures, sorry, I should have done better.
When the original XKR came out I didn't think the quality of the interior was good enough. Now it is, but all that it needs is the options of leather trimmed Recaro seats, and a switchable exhaust that sounds like a banshee from hell. The strange thing about the seats is that the XFR seats were grippier than the XKR and the seats on my S-Type Sport were better than either of them. I don't understand it.
When the original XKR came out I didn't think the quality of the interior was good enough. Now it is, but all that it needs is the options of leather trimmed Recaro seats, and a switchable exhaust that sounds like a banshee from hell. The strange thing about the seats is that the XFR seats were grippier than the XKR and the seats on my S-Type Sport were better than either of them. I don't understand it.
cardigankid said:
Now it is, but all that it needs is the options of leather trimmed Recaro seats, and a switchable exhaust that sounds like a banshee from hell.
Fantastic drive aren't they. Must admit whilst I do think the Aston's are stunning and seriously considering one when I swap my current XKR in a year or so I will be keeping an eye on the 5.0 XKR prices as I'm sure it is another step up in terms of the driving experience (and faster).With regard to the exhaust I seem to remember reading that it has a valve simliar to the Aston V8V which I am sure will mean someone will come up with a way of controlling via a switch. On the Aston you can pull a fuse which leaves the valve open, wonder if similar on the Jag?
Graham
Edited to add: only thing I'm not keen on is the new wheels or the naff chrome intakes in the front bumper. I think I would opt for a different set of wheels and colour code the intake trim!
Edited by ParanoidAndroid on Friday 27th March 09:56
I can assure you I planted my boot on the metal and no valve opened up that I was aware of. Maybe the battery in my hearing aid has gone dud.
The chrome trims would be better in that satin finish, but they look good in the flesh. What it also needs is the wheels from the XKRS if we are to be picky and the red Alcon brake calipers from the same. The standard 20" wheels are okbut not the car's best feature. This is being ultra picky though. The car is beyond sublime.
The chrome trims would be better in that satin finish, but they look good in the flesh. What it also needs is the wheels from the XKRS if we are to be picky and the red Alcon brake calipers from the same. The standard 20" wheels are okbut not the car's best feature. This is being ultra picky though. The car is beyond sublime.
cardigankid said:
I can assure you I planted my boot on the metal and no valve opened up that I was aware of. Maybe the battery in my hearing aid has gone dud.
Just checked, it was last issue of evo I read it in, Driven - Jaguar XKR, "If you want to know how the new blown v8 really sounds, this is the place to hear it. Thanks to the Ferrari-style active exhaust valve , it has a fine, gravelly timbre that went completely unsuspected in the XFR."Of course they could be talking tosh but knew I'd read it somewhere.
Edited by ParanoidAndroid on Friday 27th March 22:11
My write up disappeared in another thread.......
Read this report http://blog.drivers-republic.com/wp-content/JagAJE... and see the graph on the bottom right of page 31........
Triple7 said:
If you want a very un-scientific personal view then I'd gladly give you my thoughts.....
As a former keeper of the current 4.2 XKR I was looking forward to seeing what the new 5.0 XKR was about. Like some of the other chaps on here, I also went up to Gaydon to try out a selection of the latest Jaguars to arrive on the scene. Namely the new 5.0 XK, 5.0 XKR, 5.0 XFR and the 3.0D XFS.
We tested the 5.0 XK on normal UK roads and the power, noise, pace, ride and feel was very much comparable to my 4.2 XKR. (Kryten22, you'll be pleased to hear that the satnav now gives you directions on the LCD screen in front of you!) We tested the 3.0D XFS on their test track and literally wafted around at 140MPH. This car is superb, you won't believe you were in a diesel! The way the car is set up and linked to the new 6 speed auto is magic. Next was what the day was all about. For me I was there to drive the XFR (got a family now) and boy we were not disappointed! But what you want to know is what the new XKR was like? IMHO it is NOTHING like the 4.2 XKR. The only connection between the two is that they look similar!
Bearing in mind I was doing more than 150MPH around an unfamiliar circuit I'll see what I can remember...The biggest changes for me is not just that it had an awesome new 5.0 V8 giving it 90BHP more over the 4.2 XKR, (which is very much welcome!) but it was the new technology I was interested - namely the new e-diff and Adaptive Dynamics. Like the current 4.2 XKR, you still have the auto g'box with 'Sport' setting which allows you to turn what is a very comfy GT into a Porsche killer in the blink of an eye. But in addition you can press the checkered flag button and switch on the Adaptive Dynamics. This among other things, turns the automatic gearbox fully MANUAL via the paddles and the car will bounce off the rev limiter all day in 1st gear if you want. Obviously it doesn't just do this, it also hones the cars set up, from braking (moves the brake pads closer to the discs for instant response to brake application - boy the brakes are awesome!) to suspension damping and engine and gearbox mapping.
This car is BLISTERINGLY quick and dare I say for a Jaguar, feels quite raw! I think this is what Jaguar are after, as the XFR has a totally different feel, not only to sit in but also to drive compared to the XKR. You feel more cosseted in the XFR, in the XKR you feel like it's going to bite you! It is light years better than the 4.2 XKR. The e-diff allows you to lay down the power without the DSC cutting in even from a standing start and I'm sure will out wit a 997S in the twisties as well.
It goes without saying that the XKR is a fabulous place to sit. The interior is classy and functional, not quite as luxurious as the XFR, but Jaguar want to make this feel like a sports car and not have any excessive opulence, which only adds to weight. The car comes with everything you would want as standard and included in the £72k asking price. TBH after trying out the new 5.0 XKR I wouldn't even bother going to an Aston or Porsche dealership or you may find them somewhat lacking.......
Cardi, this car's exhaust is much louder than the 4.2's, time to get a hearing trumpet. I know Jaguar have thought about it and decided to make the XFR quieter, but wish you had the option to make it as loud as the new 5.0ltr XKR.As a former keeper of the current 4.2 XKR I was looking forward to seeing what the new 5.0 XKR was about. Like some of the other chaps on here, I also went up to Gaydon to try out a selection of the latest Jaguars to arrive on the scene. Namely the new 5.0 XK, 5.0 XKR, 5.0 XFR and the 3.0D XFS.
We tested the 5.0 XK on normal UK roads and the power, noise, pace, ride and feel was very much comparable to my 4.2 XKR. (Kryten22, you'll be pleased to hear that the satnav now gives you directions on the LCD screen in front of you!) We tested the 3.0D XFS on their test track and literally wafted around at 140MPH. This car is superb, you won't believe you were in a diesel! The way the car is set up and linked to the new 6 speed auto is magic. Next was what the day was all about. For me I was there to drive the XFR (got a family now) and boy we were not disappointed! But what you want to know is what the new XKR was like? IMHO it is NOTHING like the 4.2 XKR. The only connection between the two is that they look similar!
Bearing in mind I was doing more than 150MPH around an unfamiliar circuit I'll see what I can remember...The biggest changes for me is not just that it had an awesome new 5.0 V8 giving it 90BHP more over the 4.2 XKR, (which is very much welcome!) but it was the new technology I was interested - namely the new e-diff and Adaptive Dynamics. Like the current 4.2 XKR, you still have the auto g'box with 'Sport' setting which allows you to turn what is a very comfy GT into a Porsche killer in the blink of an eye. But in addition you can press the checkered flag button and switch on the Adaptive Dynamics. This among other things, turns the automatic gearbox fully MANUAL via the paddles and the car will bounce off the rev limiter all day in 1st gear if you want. Obviously it doesn't just do this, it also hones the cars set up, from braking (moves the brake pads closer to the discs for instant response to brake application - boy the brakes are awesome!) to suspension damping and engine and gearbox mapping.
This car is BLISTERINGLY quick and dare I say for a Jaguar, feels quite raw! I think this is what Jaguar are after, as the XFR has a totally different feel, not only to sit in but also to drive compared to the XKR. You feel more cosseted in the XFR, in the XKR you feel like it's going to bite you! It is light years better than the 4.2 XKR. The e-diff allows you to lay down the power without the DSC cutting in even from a standing start and I'm sure will out wit a 997S in the twisties as well.
It goes without saying that the XKR is a fabulous place to sit. The interior is classy and functional, not quite as luxurious as the XFR, but Jaguar want to make this feel like a sports car and not have any excessive opulence, which only adds to weight. The car comes with everything you would want as standard and included in the £72k asking price. TBH after trying out the new 5.0 XKR I wouldn't even bother going to an Aston or Porsche dealership or you may find them somewhat lacking.......
Read this report http://blog.drivers-republic.com/wp-content/JagAJE... and see the graph on the bottom right of page 31........
Edited by Triple7 on Saturday 28th March 12:04
It really depends on your needs.
The XKR is by far the better 'sports' car. But it is limited to just that role. The XFR can be a rocket ship, a saloon or family car. You get to pick which ever suits the current requirement. For £15k less and added flexibility, the the XFR wins. Which one would I prefer to own, the XKR.....
The XKR is by far the better 'sports' car. But it is limited to just that role. The XFR can be a rocket ship, a saloon or family car. You get to pick which ever suits the current requirement. For £15k less and added flexibility, the the XFR wins. Which one would I prefer to own, the XKR.....
Edited by Triple7 on Tuesday 31st March 16:02
I agree. I felt that it would take a bit of time to get 'into' the XKR and use it properly, while you could just get into the XFR and it felt relaxed and chuckable. You get the impression that you could simply go straight off and do 'the Monte'.
I still thought both cars could do with being noisier. It's not just the boy racer thing - it helps you drive the car accurately.
I still thought both cars could do with being noisier. It's not just the boy racer thing - it helps you drive the car accurately.
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