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Driven: 2010 Jaguar XKR Page 2

 
7 3,635 views Jan 27, 2010

2010 Jaguar XK

By contrast, the joy of a great GT is that it truly can be a daily driver. A good one, like a Porsche 911 Carrera S, or this beautiful Jaguar, is so flexible, from easy-to-ply transmissions to cockpits big enough for overnight bags and even a set of golf clubs, that its owner would take great joy in using it as frequently as any Toyota Camry.

This ain't no Camry

Inside and out, the XKR says “sex.” Women, especially, look longingly at this car. I’d like to think they were looking at me, but it was the car. Men, consistently, think it’s something else. Those somewhat in the know are sure it’s an Aston. Those who drive pickups think it’s a Ferrari. Everyone thinks it’s hot. Jaguar  manages a sly dance with the XKR; it’s more aggressive than the XF and has plenty of chrome, for instance, on the window surrounds, but in a dark hue, like a gorgeous midnight navy, the car looks purely elegant, not bad-boy mean. Some might think all Jags are “chic cars” but here the company has found universal appeal. And that’s even before you climb inside.

The cabin is deeply luxurious, with lovely details like knurled roller knobs for vent and steering-wheel audio controls, chromed buttons for the 10-way front seats (or optional 16-way seats), and saddle-stitching on the leather seats and door inserts. White-lit gauges are clean and sharp, like a pair of chronograph watch faces, but the touch-screen nav system is a little fussy and unfortunately the detail level of the mapping on rural roads is poor, which is ironic since this is when you’d most need granular information. Still, these are very fine quarters, elegant and relaxed and very much what Jaguar should be aiming for as it moves away from former owner Ford towards a niche that isn’t quite like its German, English and Italian luxo rivals.

They would seem to have nailed it, making a car that’s as premium feeling inside and out as an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, but one that’s significantly less expensive, more pragmatic and easier to drive and, given a more ubiquitous dealer network, easier to own as well.



HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 Jaguar XK




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Comments (7)

  1. By Shappy Posted: 1/27/2010 8:53am PST

    Well, the bike you have might be a 0x7, which everyone knows is a little silky if you know what I mean.
    Any who, whose gonna be riding a bike when they got this Gapped Tooth Walrus to ride in? Eh? Eh?
    No one.
    I'm not even a big fan of Jaguars and I'm even a little turned on by the 510 hp supercharged V-8.
    Although I prefer a traditional gearbox, or the Sally Sideways as they use to call in my day, I guess the new age paddles will have to do. Wave of the future, that's what everyone is telling me. Well here's a future for ya... Me riding a bike because I don't have 96K to burn. I spent it on my Sackflap on my new fish tank. Cost me a fortune, but its worth it.
     
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  2. By  My Wheels On Walls Posted: 1/27/2010 9:18am PST

    I hate cyclists especially when they run redlights, ride three abreast on the road and use the sidewalk!!! Also reading three paragraphs on how to get a bike in a car is not helping their case! This article could have been written from a press release and a sales brochure!!!!
    What a wasted of time.
    Here is a car that according to JC was built on a budget of 35p yet its a stunning piece of kit and really takes the fight to the Germans!!!
     
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  3. By Tom Posted: 1/27/2010 12:14pm PST

    @My Wheels On Walls Just to clarify, you hate all cyclists, even those who obey traffic laws?
     
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  4. By  My Wheels On Walls Posted: 1/27/2010 12:51pm PST

    Tom,
    Not all but my parents were pretty clear on the rule it only takes one to ruin it for all.
    I live in a very bike friendly town and you'll see one guy run the light and then because he did so does the guy behind, so the act just continues!!!
    Dont ever get me started on the road bike cycle clubs either, the ones here in Sac are just horrific!!! They run in packs of 30 plus in the summer and when the lights turn they just follow through, absolutely insane....
    I clipped one three years ago (I had the green) he survived but his 6K carbon fiber bike did not. Fortunately there was a red light camera which he triggerd thusly he now carries insrance on his new bike as that day he suffered a 6k total loss, 2k of damage to my car and the CHP gave him a $300 plus ticket for running the red!!!
    Hopefully that clears things up for you Tom.
     
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  5. By Hollinger Posted: 1/27/2010 3:43pm PST

    "Every person riding a bicycle has the same rights and privileges of persons driving cars, the bicycle driver has the same responsibilities as other drivers." - stated in New Hampshire driver's handbook.
    So should you hate driver's because they talk on phones and run red lights too.
    Like you say it only takes one to spoil the pot.
     
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  6. By Tom Posted: 1/27/2010 5:15pm PST

    Thanks for clarifying. I'm not going to try to defend cyclists who flaunt the road rules. I think that cops should step up enforcement really for the safety of the cyclists themselves. It just disurbs me to hear someone say they hate cyclists because I expeience people laying on their horn and seeing how close they can get to me as they zip by with the occasional tossed bottle for good measure. This happens when I'm training by myself on a country road and am riding on the shoulder. But I see why you're so ticked off at cyclists, getting your car repaired must have been a real inconvienence.
     
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  7. By  buy r4i Posted: 1/27/2010 6:59pm PST

    Very impressive for Jaguar to go neck to neck with the HP wars from the German rivals. Now that its not in ford hands they are coming out with the good stuff....
     
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