From Autocar, 15th April 2009

Today’s revitalising Jaguar is refocusing on the high performance strain of its DNA, as spectacularly demonstrated by the mighty new XFR, which can lay claim to being the bet sports saloon in the world, and with barely any sacrifice in civility.

This performance-oriented development thrust is also evident in the recently face lifted XK. It is much faster thanks to the all-new direct-injection 5.0-litre normally aspirated and supercharged V8’s and much of the supporting hardware has been fettled with heightened dynamism and driver entertainment in mind.

It may be aluminium-shelled but the bigger bodied, bigger-engined XKR weighs more, though not so much that its supercharged V8 can’t storm up a power surge to overwhelm both its heft and the 911: its 287bhp per tonne outmuscles the Porsche’s 248bhp power to weight ratio.

The Subdued ease with which the Jag compresses distance is utterly compelling, all the more so when you discover that its fat tyres and upgraded chassis can sluice you through bends like the waters of a breaching dam. You’re well protected from tail slithers by the XKR’s dynamic stability control and the active differential, and there are games to be played by switching to the DSC track mode, which allows small-scale slippage.

Alternatively, you can engage the cars dynamic mode, which firms up the dampers (almost but not quite to the point of excess), sharpens the throttle and alters the strategy of the active differential to suit a more ambitious driving style.

The Jag’s size, grip and potency are such that you’ll need wide roads and bravery to get near the edge, through early XKR experience on a race circuit uncovered a remarkably well behaved and highly enjoyable repertoire.

The Jaguar is more complete because it is more comfortable, more refined and more usable, and because it combines this with a beguiling potency and a slow-burn dynamism that’s a pleasure to uncover!