The 2011 Jaguar XK Series

The Cat's Whiskers Among Coupés
11 Apr 10, THE SUNDAY TIMES, Jason Dawe
UK --- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but frankly, if the Jaguar XK doesn't make you weak at the knees
you need your eyes tested. The British grand touring coupé makes German sports cars seem as soulless as
politicians, and while their Italian equivalents are initially exciting, their novelty soon wears thin.
Launched in the spring of 2006, 10 years after the original model, the second-generation XK showed that
Jaguar could compete with the best of them.
Built of lightweight aluminium, it performed like a true thoroughbred and yet featured real-world practicalities
such as a lifting tailgate and rear seats you could fit the kids into.
Today one could be yours for less than half the price when new, and the pick of the range is unquestionably
the XKR. For about £32,000 you get a supercharged 4.2-litre V8 developing 420bhp; enough to make the hair
on the back of your neck stand on end.
The R's 0-60mph time of just 4.9 seconds confirms that there is no shortage of pace, but arguably even more
impressive is the way the engine relays its power through the standard six-speed automatic gearbox.
Smooth-shifting and ultra-quick between the gears, it also lets you change ratios manually for a more
involving drive, using steeringmounted paddles.
On the road the XKR's light body and finely tuned suspension system endow the car with a dual personality.
At low speeds the Cats suspension (computer active technology suspension) relaxes the damper settings
into pampering mode, while the rigid body ensures solid, impressively silent progress.
Push the Jag hard and the suspension stiffens to minimise body-roll, pitch and dive, giving the big coupé a
nimble, surefooted feel. A semi-active exhaust system changes the sound of the engine under hard
acceleration, the V8 sounding superb when performing to the maximum, but fading into the background when
cruising gently.
Another big step up from the firstgeneration model is the quality of the cabin's fixtures and fittings. All XKRs
gained an excellent touchscreen satellite navigation system and a centreconsole-mounted starter button. The
large, electrically adjusted front seats memorise the ideal seating position and provide a wide range of
adjustment, so occupants of all sizes can get comfortable. The admittedly tight rear seats can be folded flat to
create extra storage space to supplement what is already a good-sized boot.
Enhancements in early 2009 saw a move to 5-litre direct-injection V8 engines, which substantially increased
power outputs — to 385bhp and 510bhp respectively for the XK and XKR. Jaguar also introduced a rotary
gear selector system, similar to that of the XF saloon.
This may sound bold, but once the iconic E-type was discontinued, Jaguar sports cars became rather hit and
miss. The second XKR hit the mark, though, and Jaguar once again produces one of the world's finest
sports coupés.
RELIABILITY AND SERVICING
Unlike some exotic luxury coupés, running a Jaguar XKR need not be a painful financial experience. The
standard 10,000-mile/12-month service looks decidedly good value at £220, and even the major 60,000-mile
dealer visit is quoted at £340. Jaguar has also avoided building in anything mechanical that might require
costly and involved maintenance later in life — the use of a durable chain for the camshaft drive (rather than
a belt) being a case in point.
The six-speed automatic transmission is well proven and rarely gives any trouble, while the car's uprated
brakes handle normal usage pretty well.
The XKR's supercharged performance means the big cat can eat through rear tyres if driven hard, and the
20in rims (once optional but standard since the introduction of the 5-litre engine) are prone to scuffing, so it's
best to budget for replacements. The 19in tyres, standard on the 4.2-litre model, should set you back
between £230 and £280 per corner, depending on whether it's the narrower front or wider rear tyre.
All new XKRs come with a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, so many used examples will still enjoy
comprehensive cover, making it worth your while to have a second-hand car checked over by a Jaguar
dealer while the warranty is valid. Steer clear of examples with any signs of body damage — good repairs
should be invisible to the untrained eye, and bad ones can be a lingering sign of a chequered history.
RESIDUALS
Once upon a time, buying a Jaguar had to be a case of the heart ruling the head. The British car maker lost
out in terms of residual values when compared with the likes of BMW and Porsche, but today the picture is
quite different and residual values for the XKR now rank among the best in the industry.
With an already generous standard specification, the XKR is likely to have few of those costly extras that can
exaggerate a car's list price when new, and only result in heavy depreciation when used. Classic colour
combinations with a dark exterior and light interior (or vice-versa) work well on the XKR, while the lack of
outrageous colours helps with the resale.
When new, the XKR commanded a premium of about £10,000 over the standard XK, but today this has
eroded to between £4,000 and £6,000 on used examples. You will pay a modest premium for upgraded
alloys (the 20in rims look great) and features such as the clever adaptive cruise control.
With the used-car market still suffering from a relative shortage of stock — particularly of the 5-litre variant —
values remain solid. The outlook for the XKR in coming years is good, as it continues to provide a nearperfectblend of practicality, performance and prestige.