Jaguar XFR : COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE `R'

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Jaguar has joined the super saloon elite with its XFR. Steve Walker reports.

How many £60,000 super saloons are sold to UK customers every year? Not very many, certainly not in the context of the wider market for big executive cars of the less highly strung variety. Despite their accounting for a vanishingly small proportion of overall executive car sales, these 500bhp+ luxury road rockets remain extremely important. That's because they get lots of attention from the press and the public, attention for the brand and attention for the more mundane models that customers are more likely to actually buy. Jaguar received a great response to its XF when it was first unveiled but to keep the population's minds focused and that stream of goodwill flowing, a fire-breathing XFR version was a necessity.

No prizes for guessing where the XFR's main rivals will come from. Like a bratwurst factory in Hull or Bristol's finest lederhosen manufacturer, Jaguar seems condemned to an existence fighting for sales against products emanating almost exclusively from Germany. Toppling the AMG E-Classes from Mercedes, BMW's M5 and Audi's exercise in overkill, the RS6, will not be easy but for the first time in a long time, Jaguar looks to have the ingredients to pull it off. The XFR has a supercharged 503bhp V8 engine which is a good start when your rivals are some of the world's fastest saloon cars. Maximum torque of 625Nm all the way from 2,500rpm to 5,500rpm is another bonus. It helps the big Jag cover the 0-60mph sprint in 4.7s and launch from 50mph to 70mph in just 1.9s. The top speed is limited to 155mph. The XFR is unlikely to be embarrassed in a drag race but the true test will be how it handles its size, weight and power when the road turn's twisty. The car features Adaptive Dynamics and Active Differential Control to help in precisely this area. The ADC is an electronic alternative to traditional standard differentials with more finesse about the way it operates. It optimises the torque distribution between the XFR's rear wheels to give the best possible traction when cornering or on low grip surfaces. The Adaptive Dynamics technology continuously varies the XFR's damper settings according to the prevailing driving conditions. On the flat at lower speeds, it will prioritise comfort but press on and the technology stiffens the ride give more feedback and greater body control. Drivers who really want to cut loose in the XFR can select the Dynamic Mode which sharpens the car's throttle response and the gear changes as well as stiffening the suspension.

"Jaguar's XFR looks the model most likely to break into this rarefied market"

The role of the super saloon as a halo product casting its divine light down onto less extreme models in the range requires it to look the part. In the case of cars in the XFR class, that means aggressive and powerful but not too crass. Jaguar had a great starting point with the XF's beautifully flowing bodywork but the R needed greater purpose. Spoilers and sill extensions lower the car while the front grill itself is also lower and wider with its chromed wire mesh finish. The bonnet is punctuated by twin louvered air intakes and the rear has chromed tailpipes with a modest spoiler on the boot lid. The all-important wheels are huge 20" affairs and chunky silver brake callipers can be glimpsed between their spokes. The XFR's interior is finished in soft grain leather with a dark oak veneer specially chosen for its wood-trimmed areas. The XF's cabin is a fantastic driving environment and the R version aims to capitalise on this to differentiate itself from competitors. There aren't too many wood veneers to be found in a BMW M5. The seat backs are embossed with the `R' logo and the instrument dials have subtle red needles along with the `supercharged' legend, just in case you forget. Those seats could well be the highlight of the whole cabin with their mind-boggling array of adjustment and impressive lateral support. Performance-wise, the XFR can certainly live with the top fast executive cars. It's priced competitively against the M5 and the E-Class AMG while the Audi RS6 operates on a higher pricing plane with its planet crushing twin-turbo V10 engine. The Jaguar also offers something that was missing from the very pinnacle of the executive car sector for a long time: an alternative to buying German. That might count for a lot. No surprises are in store when it comes to the costs associated with running Jaguar's supercharged V8 executive express - it's expensive. The official combined fuel economy is 22.5mpg but you won't need to get too aggressive with the loud pedal in order to see that drop below 20mpg. Emissions are pegged at a hefty 293g/km and insurance could never be anything other than group 20. The good news is that none of this will matter very much to the kind of buyer who has the means to purchase a new XFR in the first place. Taking on the class leaders at the super saloon game is a risky business. Fall even slightly short on power, poise or prestige and your product is likely to be unceremoniously swept aside by the Germanic juggernaut. Jaguar's XFR looks the model most likely to break into this rarefied market where the participants compete as much for brand kudos as they do for sales and profitability. The XFR has the attributes to win out but the battle could be a means in itself for Jaguar as the more accessible XF models bask in the range-topper's reflected glory.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Jaguar XFR
PRICE: £61,000 - on the road [est]
INSURANCE GROUP: 20 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 292g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 4.7s / Max Speed 155 mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 16.3mpg /(extra urban) 32.4mpg / (combined) 22.5mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: twin front/side/window airbags, ABS, DSC
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4961/2053/1460mm