2010 Jaguar XKR Coupe: Noticeably improved

Written by Steven Macoy
Friday, 06 November 2009 14:32

We’ve driven test cars that just weren’t good enough to meet our standards. Then there’s the 2010 Jaguar XKR coupe. If this sleek Jag could talk … well, it would let you know in no uncertain terms that we fell short of its standards.

OK, we admit it: We’re not good enough drivers to operate machinery this exalted. Few mortals are.

The 2010 XKR doesn’t look much different from its predecessor, developed when Ford Motor Co. owned Jaguar. It’s still available as a cloth-top convertible or coupe. Now the legendary British automaker has come into the hands of Tata Motors, an Indian company. The improvements are noticeable, and welcome.

Foremost among the changes are under the hood. The 2009 XK offerings included a 300-horsepower, normally aspirated V-8 and a supercharged V-8 that developed 420 horsepower. Jaguar bumped those numbers up to 385 and 510, respectively. Our Lunar Gray XKR coupe was equipped with the supercharged engine.

The engine sounds and feels delicious, but it doesn’t invite stupidity. Managing all that muscle is enough of a thrill; no risk-taking is required.

To ensure the driver will have full control of this beast at all times, the XKR has an Adaptive Damping System as well as an Active Differential Control, all of which maintain constant vigilance over the angles, stresses and forces at work as the car moves. “The XK sets new standards of dynamic balance, succeeding in being both potent and rewarding yet balanced and accessible at the same time,” explains Mike Cross, Jaguar’s chief engineer for vehicle integrity.

Jaguar uses aluminum extensively in the frame of all XK models, utilizing the metal’s stiffness and light weight to good effect. The XKR coupe weighs 3,865 pounds, compared with 4,220 pounds for one of its main targets, the Mercedes-Benz SL550 convertible.

Getting in and out of the XKR is a challenge, mainly because of the high sill. And don’t even try to climb into the back seat. It’s claustrophobia-inducing even for fairly petite adults.

On the other hand, the XKR’s trunk is quite functional, swallowing up to 11 cubic feet of stuff. It’s long and fairly deep at the roof’s high point.

Driving the car, of course, is a joy. There’s plenty of room and luxury features, and the XKR truly brings new meaning to the word “balance” where the never-ending struggle between handling and ride are concerned. In short, it’s lithe without being rough about it.

The XKR is rated at just 15 mpg in the city, 22 highway, and requires premium gasoline. Our coupe’s price was a sticker-shocking $101,000, but the major players in this segment often cost significantly more.

If you happen to one of the few who are privileged to drive an XK or XKR home, it almost assuredly will be the most beautiful car ever to grace your driveway. The lines, shapes and dimensions that form this Jaguar are stunning even by Jaguar standards.

Price: $101,000

Engine: 5.0-liter supercharged V-8, 510 horsepower, 461 lb.-ft. torque

Transmission: 6-speed shiftable automatic

Drive: Rear-wheel

Acceleration, 0-60: 4.6 seconds

Weight: 3,865 lb.

Suspension: Double-wishbone front and rear, active

Wheels: 20x8.5-in. and 20x9.5-inc. rear twin 5-spoke front alloy wheels (optional)

Tires: Front, Dunlop SportMaxx 255/35ZR20; rear, Dunlop SportMaxx 285/30ZR20

Seating capacity: 4

Luggage capacity: 11 ft.

Fuel capacity: 16.1 gallons

Fuel economy: 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway

Fuel type: Premium

Steven Macoy ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is a longtime car enthusiast and full-time editor who lives in Bethel, Conn.