Mother Nature has created almost flawless beauties for us humans to enjoy. But man is also capable of crafting his own masterpieces. One such example is the newly redesigned Jaguar XKR, one of the most beautiful cars in the world.
Descended from a lineage of racy automobiles with sleek and sexy curves, the XKR has a delicate silhouette which outlines a strong, athletic body. The styling of this high-performance model is true to the car’s image which, ever since its introduction, has been about inspired design, charisma and elegance — qualities that made the English brand famous.
The long hood is reminiscent of the old generation’s and shows strong family ties with the Aston Martin Vanquish. That said, the considerable emphasis put on every little detail and the rounded lines have made this Jaguar XKR one of the most stunning cars of the modern era, both in convertible or coupe trim (as tested). I would have liked to believe that my own physical attractiveness was that much head-turning, but I quickly faced the reality: the XKR is definitely and genuinely a pedestrian magnet. Everyone stops and every jaw drops when this car comes around.
In its original and base versions, the Jaguar XK only made do with 300 horsepower, which is a tad low for such a sporty car. That’s why the R was added, along with a supercharger and 120 additional horsepower.
However, this engine is merely a slightly reworked variant of the previous generation’s, obviously fitted with more modern components. And while the total output of 420 hp is not on par with rival German supercars, the XKR still manages to move with authority. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in barely 5.2 seconds and sprints from 80 to 120 kph in just over 3 seconds. All this thanks to a supercharged 4.2-litre V8 as well as an impeccably precise 6-speed manumatic transmission. In normal mode or sport mode, you can manually change gears by using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Read Article