Weekend roadtest: Jaguar XF R is the cat's whiskers


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.
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