Jaguar XKR Portfolio
Some people will happily sell the family silver and mortgage the cat if it means they can just squeak into the entry-level version of the car they most desire. The fact that the model in question often comes stripped down, with the best bits shelved in order to achieve the eye-catching sticker price is less important than the prestige of the badge on the bonnet. Then there are those who will only operate at the very pinnacle of the range. They want the car at its best, fully-loaded with all the bells, whistles and kitchen sinks the options list can throw at it.
Theres something to be said for both approaches but if you fall into the latter category, the Portfolio special edition is the Jaguar XJR for you.
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Behind huge rims that have the capacity to dominate your view of this elegantly-styled car from almost every angle sit the components of a unique braking system designed by Jaguar in conjunction with Alcon. Six piston callipers picked out in red operate 400mm discs on the front which are 45mm larger than those on the standard XKR. On the back, four pot callipers press down on 350mm items for dramatic stopping power. The interior of the Portfolio model takes the studied refinement of the standard XKR and adds to it.
A high quality Engine-Spun aluminium veneer is used thats a far cry from the traditional Jag woodwork but is more in keeping with the XKRs high-tech, high-performance credentials. A special alloy and leather gearshifter also features, as do leather-edged mats with the Jaguar logo and Portfolio branded scuff plates on the door sills. The leather trim is finished with contrasting stitching to complete the effect. Music lovers will be in their element in the Portfolio edition, with Jaguar having employed the services of world-renowned British speaker manufacturers Bowers and Wilkins to develop its sound system.
The 525w Premium Audio stereo with Dolby Pro Logic II drives a set of high-end speakers with the trademark BandW yellow and black finish.
"All in all, the XJR Portfolio looks and feels pretty special"
The XJR Portfolio gives you a lot more practicality than the previous generation XKR and a bigger serving of on-road capability as well. Lets start with the engine. Its still a supercharged eight-cylinder powerplant as before, but this time its good for 420 rather than 370bhp. The Coupe model loses 70kg of weight and the Convertible sheds 100kg compared to its progenitor, so its not hard to imagine the concussive punch the XKR can wield.
Jaguar quotes a sprint to 60mph in just 4.7 seconds with the 50-70mph increment dispatched in a vanishing 2.5 seconds. An electronic limiter intervenes softly at 155mph, fast enough for most of us.
Without the limiter, Jaguar insiders reckon that over three miles a minute are possible given the cars slippery aerodynamics and leggy gearing. It would be tempting to think of this car as an evolution of the old XKR. Tempting but wrong. This latest generation model is built from entirely different stuff.
The advanced aluminium construction and massively superior technology embodied in the latest XKR raise its game enormously. Lets take a closer look at the engine. With fully 120bhp more than the normally aspirated XK and good for a fulsome 560Nm of torque, the XKR has the firepower to make good on its aggressive styling. This is no crude old V8 with a blower bolted on.
Designed to comply with the strictest emission laws, this unit features four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing and an electronic return-less fuel system. A Variable Inlet Camshaft Timing system helps boost torque at low revs while the engines breathing is helped by twin air inlets. Drivers will notice that the four milk floats of the apocalypse sound of the old XKRs supercharger under full acceleration has been muted to allow more of the engine note to dominate. This is a good thing as at higher revs, the 4.
2-litre unit has an almost Aston-like aural signature. A paddle-operated six-speed Jaguar Sequential Shift automatic transmission handles the gear changing duties. Theres also a welcome injection of practicality to the XKR. The high hipline remains, but Jaguar has worked at making the interior feel a good deal airier, with a low scuttle and clever use of colour combinations.
The wheelbase has increased by 162mm, and rear occupants will notice the difference immediately. Up front, theres way more room around the pedal box and beneath the steering wheel. Gone is the rather mean boot of its predecessor unforgivable in a car with Grand Touring pretensions and in its place is a more versatile hatchback arrangement. All in all, the XJR Portfolio looks and feels pretty special, targeted firmly at those who appreciate the finer things in life and are willing to pay for them.
At £75,597 for the coupe and £6,000 more for the convertible, it doesnt come cheap but even more crucially, it also narrows the gap between the XK and its Aston Martin Vantage sister vehicle. Some buyers in this bracket will find that theyre seduced by the added prestige of that Aston Martin badge and others will be drawn to the ultimate XKR. The rest of us can dream about one day being faced with a similar dilemma.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Jaguar XKR Potfolio
PRICES: £75,597 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 304g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 155mph / 0-60mph 4.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 23mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS / EBD / TRACS stability and traction control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4791/2070/1322mm
