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Weekend roadtest: Jaguar XF R is the cat's whiskers
publication date: Sep 11, 2009
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author/source: Robin Roberts
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Coventry’s big cat is showing its claws with the Jaguar XFR.
One
of the best selling models in the company order books, the XF range has
a new king, with the introduction of the 500bhp supercharged 5.0V8.
This mighty engine pushes out 625Nm between 2,500 and
5,500rpm to give it prodigious power for overtaking safely and quickly
while permitting very long legged cruising at motor way speed.
The
six-speed transmission can be left to its own automatic devices with a
multi-mode setting or the driver can stir it along on a sequential
lever or via column paddles.
|  | The choice is yours but the result is almost the same, knock-out performance delivered in a silk glove.
The supercharged 5.0V8 is very quiet upon start up,
while the engine note rises immediately and becomes more urgent but not
unpleasant as you push up the power.
It’s smooth take up from rest,
linking changes and even going down the box are very impressive and
combined with the engine’s characteristics and output it means the
Jaguar XFR is deceptively quick and responsive.
Steering is
extremely precise without being too light and it turns with agility,
confidence and excellent feedback in any situation.
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The turning circle
is good for town use without being too twitchy at higher speed on main
roads.
I loved the weight and balance of the footbrake, slowing the
car quickly and undramatically from speed and the electric parking
brake securely held it on the steepest slopes I could find.
|  | Tauter
steering settings, modified suspension and bigger brakes go with the
R-package of stability control and active rear differential. Together
they transform the sophisticated saloon that is the XF into the refined
sports model that is the R. |
The seats are more sporting in shape and
covered in leather, the interior has a luxury headlining and upholstery
with premium carpets and the multi-media displays the latest
communications, navigation and entertainment systems.
The test car
was fitted with an upgraded sound system with ear-jamming output, a
digital television and voice recognition along with heated steering
wheel and parking sensors, although I thought the last item should have
been standard.
The wrap-around feel to the cockpit will please any
driver who appreciates being able to immediately see and touch any
instrument or control.
The adjustable steering column and wheel
combined with the 18-way adjustable driver’s seat mean anyone can set
up a preferred position and safely control all that car beneath and
infront of them.
|  | Hands
and fingers quickly find the secondary controls on the column and
spokes while the instruments are directly infront of the driver and
very clear, well illuminated at night and comprehensive.
Climate
control is straightforward, works well and provides good control of
temperature and distribution throughout the cabin.
Powered windows back
it up.Oddments space is good in the front and reasonable behind
although there are no really large compartments to put items. |
The boot
has a low opening and very good capacity rising from 500 to 963 litres
and it’s sensibly shaped.
Access for driver and passengers if very
good with wide opening doors, and inside the room is very good,
particularly for those in the rear seats. The shape and support of all
seats is very good, the front pair having an extremely good adjustment
range and coupled with the movement in the column there is virtually
limitless possibilities for driver preferences.
Visibility is very
good to front and sides, not so good to the rear and over the shoulder
when reversing or pulling out. Good wipers and bright long range lights
help in poor conditions.
Ride quality is extremely good over any
surface and it is possibly the most surprising aspect of the car if you
take the performance for granted. Despite being firm for fine handling
it has a finesse which soaks up bumps very well without passing them
into the cabin too harshly.
|  | Even so, it hangs on gamely around
corners and never seemed to put a wheel wrong on wet surfaces or those
with intermittently good and bad grip.
Even over the worst surfaces
my test car never sounded a rattle or squeak of complaint and under
hand throttle it was not very noisy either.
Occasional bump thump from
the suspension was the only source of noise.
The Jaguar XFR has claws, but most frequently this cat shows the cream. | | | |  | | | |
| | Test panel Jaguar XF R | | | Price: | £59,900 | | Insurance group: | 20 | | Powertrain: | 510bhp 5.0V8, 6sp | | Consumption: | 23mpg | | Max speed: | 155mph | | 0-60mph: | 4.7sec | | Running cost: | 110ppm | | C02/ tax: | 292gkm/ 35pc | | Retained value: | 40pc | | Warranty: | 3yrs/ unlimited |
©Images Owen Roberts
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