Chequebooks At The Ready
by Stephen Park (10 Sep 06)

I've driven many of the world's greatest sports cars and the adrenalin rush when flooring the loud pedal has to rate as one of life's finest experiences. But living with these extreme machines on an everyday basis almost always involves a lot of compromises. Thanks to Jaguar, however, this is no longer the case. The media may currently be rife with rumours about the future of this iconic British brand but I've just driven the future, a supercharged XKR, and reckon it's better than every rival.

Admittedly that's quite a claim to make - especially when you consider that competitors include BMW's bullet-quick M6 plus the mighty Mercedes-Benz SL500 - but the new Jag delivers at every level. Based on the all-new XK8, which received global praise from the press and public following its launch earlier this year, the XKR boasts a more focused sporting driving experience than the naturally-aspirated model.

Of course the big news is the additional 120bhp which, coupled with 36% more torque, results in awesome acceleration, but this flagship features a host of other engineering enhancements to ensure it can handle the massive 420bhp. Naturally the suspension is stiffer and the already superb steering becomes even more responsive, but CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension) is the big prowler's hidden talent.

This electronic trickery is what gives the XKR its class-leading comfort and refinement - computers continually adjust the car's set-up to deliver an optimum balance between ride and handling. Even on poor surfaces at high speeds, the XKR remained incredibly composed for a car with such breathtaking cornering capability.

Like its predecessor, both £67,495 Coupé and £73,495 Convertible derivatives are offered and, while the drop top is much more rigid than before, the tin top's stiffer structure definitely makes it the enthusiast's choice.

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