For a lucky few, there comes a point in life where you have the flexibility to focus less on whats necessary and more on what you want. And needless to say we were fairly certain we wanted a 2012 Jaguar XKR before one showed up to our offices a few weeks back. Its the type of luxury sports coupe that aspires to be right up there with Porsches seminal 911, the Maserati Gran Turismo, and BMWs 6-Series, the 2012 Jaguar XKR is a beast of a car that is out to deliver thrills and a heart-pounding drive experience more than anything else. Does this prowling hellcat on wheels manage to do so? Do we still want one?
Lets find out
Conveying power through design
Stepping into the cockpit of the 2012 Jaguar XKR is a lot like putting on a bespoke Tom Ford suit, not only does it look great, but it feels like the car was tailor-made and rolled out of the companys Coventry plant for you and only you. For the 2012 model year, Jaguar has added its equally stylish, equally cool, dial shifter we first encountered in the 2012 Evoque. Truthfully we really like the dial-shifter; its different, its chic, and its just plain cool. Sure there are those out there who dont like it, but we do.
Aesthetically speaking the XKRs cabin is uniquely smart. There is an impressive blend of sport and sophistication throughout, and the generous use of chrome accenting on everything from the power seat adjuster controls to virtually the entire cabins buttons and dials gives the cabin a dramatic feel. A lot of credit should be given to Jaguar for conveying the vehicles power and dynamism simply through the cockpits design.
As for driver comfort, the XKR is great for passengers up front. The vehicles beltline is naturally high, and the greenhouse is little pinched so taller drivers might long for more headroom. Still, you and co-pilot shouldnt have too much trouble getting comfortable, and with the XKRs 16-way power adjusted seats nor will you find it difficult to stay warm with heated front seats and steering wheel. That said, while there is technically space in the rear for two more passengers, unless they have the flexibility of a Cirque du Soleil performer or the height of a Hobbit, forget it. Its not happening. Of course, this is a sports coupe and the lack of rear passenger space probably wont be a dealbreaker for many. The 2012 Jaguar XKRs cabin is not without its low notes, though. Well get to the issues surrounding its tech features in a moment, but for now well focus on a few other issues we encountered. Seeing as how our review XKR was a convertible, we expected a degree of road noise to creep into the cabin and it did. Its a minor nuisance, but a nuisance all the same. Buyers, be prepared to hear virtually everything going on outside the vehicle when stopped. Thankfully, getting that soft top down is simple, with a flick of a switch the XKRs convertible top can be lowered or raised in about 20 seconds.
A fast car bogged down by its tech
How well a car delivers its tech features is becoming increasingly more important for drivers. Whether you appreciate the connectivity and convenience tech provides, feel indifferent to it, loath it or a little bit of everything we just mentioned, the reality on the ground (or in the car) is things will only become, well, techier. We figure most drivers, even luddites, wont mind a sprinkle of tech, but it needs to be done right, and when its not, it only fuels a skeptics fire even further. The 2012 Jaguar XKRs tech suite is rather mediocre when placed under close scrutiny.
To be clear, were mainly talking about the Jaguar XKRs infotainment system. A 7-inch LCD display is strewn across the center console. Housed here are touchscreen controls for everything the system can operate. Here you will find climate, audio, and navigation controls. Truthfully the interface itself looks good enough, its nothing dazzling, but its clear enough to navigate through. What makes the system frustrating is the way in which the menus are laid out. While most infotainment systems have dedicated buttons to help quickly jump from function to function, i.e. an Audio button for Audio, a Navigation button for navigation, and so on, the XKRs system possesses none of these, with only a home and power button on hand as physical buttons. That means every time you want to switch between functions you need to go back to the home screen to do so. Its an extra, unneeded step. Truthfully, that might not have been as much of an issue as it was were it not for the interfaces woefully slow responsiveness.
For the road-going traveler, were pleased to report that navigation and backup camera are both standard in the 2012 XKR. While both system are welcome features, we found both to be average at best. The rearview camera lacks the trajectory displays of other systems found in cars much, much cheaper, but it does provide audible warnings when encroaching upon objects like a curb or a parked car. Unfortunately, drivers searching for further connectivity will be disappointed to learn that the XKRs system does not support services like Twitter, or Facebook updates. Again, this wont bother most, but compared to similar systems sported by its rivals, Jaguars system isnt quite up to snuff.
One curvaceous and cunning cat
Were not going to deny the sheer allure and sexiness this feral feline exudes, why would we? The 2012 Jaguar XKR is one great looking car. It will turn heads, drop jaws, and may even lead to a lot of other things wed probably get in trouble for writing here.
Simply put, the 2012 Jaguar XKR is one beautiful grand tourer. From its sculpted and curvacious Kate Winslett-inspired body to its athletic stance, the XKR exhibits an aggressive aesthetic while also managing to keep its design demure and elegant.
Atop its hood the XKR is swathed with running character lines, and its LED teardrop headlamps are just as eye-catching prowling the streets during the day as they are stalking the streets at night, while a stretched out oval-shaped front grille brings it all together nicely.
Around the side the XKR cuts a striking figure just as well. It looks ready to pounce with a low, cat-like stance and a stretching hood. Our review model came equipped with sport-inspired, five-spoke 20-inch Takoba wheels, upgraded from the standard 19-inch Tamana variety. And while there is certainly a lot to admire about the XKRs dashing good looks overall, around back we arent fans of the abrupt rear end. Because of its short, almost tapered look, we dont feel it fits as well as it could with the rest of the cars design. The duel exhaust pipes so closely placed to the center of the rear doesnt help the pinched look either. Simply put, while the rest of the vehicle looks absolutely stunning the rear design comes off as simply too boring and understated.
A V8 that roars
Merely looking at the 2013 Jaguar XKR is enough to deduce that its fast. The base model XK, and the entire XK lineup for that matter, feature an FR layout, meaning it sports a front engine rear-wheel-drive design, and is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 that pumps out 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Thats all well and good, but if you really want to make this cat scat, our 2012 XKR review model featured a supercharged version of the same engine thats tuned to churn out 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. Of course if that isnt enough to get your motor running then an even more supped-up version exists in the XKR-S. Introduced in 2012, this thundercat on wheels cranks it up even further by spitting out 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. We dont have figures for the XK or the XKR-S, but during our road test our XKR was able to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in about 4.6 seconds. Meow, indeed.
Prowling the streets
Of course a car can be as fast as the wind, but if it handles like a burly lass then whats the point? As it turns out, thats not the case here, which is exactly why were more than impressed by the 2013 XKR and its cat-like reflexes.
On the road the XKR conducts itself with aplomb. There is no denying that this fast cat can rocket down the track without even batting an eye, but where we found ourselves really impressed was how easily it slices up the open road like a piping hot piece of apple pie. Dont be fooled though, the XKR can get away from you if you dont know what youre doing. Throw down the throttle too forcefully out of a turn and the sheer amount of torque on hand causes the body to jolt with little regard for its passengers or its surroundings. You dont have to be a pro to drive the XKR, but driving this beastly V8 isnt for amateurs or the fool-hardy. Respect the XKR and all the roads you encounter are yours for the taking.
Overall the 2012 XKR is a thrill to drive. Virtually everything about its lusty engine and solid underpinnings manages to converge elegantly and impressively on the road. The engine note rivals anything ever created by Beethoven (yes, it does) and the sheer giddiness we felt every time we started the engine is downright embarrassing. Couple that with the XKRs adaptive suspension and uncanny ability to soak up road imperfections and what we are left with here is one engaging, demanding, and utterly satisfying ride. It might not look as sexy as stunning as a Maserati Gran Turismo or deliver the kind of road-nirvana afforded by the Porsche 911, but the XKR is getting there, and truthfully its not that far off and a more than viable alternative to some of Italy and Germanys best.
Finish Line
At the end of the day the 2012 Jaguar XKR is every bit the British beast its nameplate suggest. What we have here is an excellent blend of power, performance, and luxury all wrapped up in a sexy aluminum shell. At the same time, those seriously considering an XKR will do so knowing that other alternatives, really good ones, exist in this particular segment, and dropping over $100,000 should probably be done so with a modicum of caution or maybe it shouldnt.
Nevertheless, if you havent already gathered, we really liked the 2012 XKR. Like the Range Rover Evoque, its exactly the type of car that branches the brand away from the stuffy monocle-wearing aristocrats (read: rich old folks) we generally associate with Jaguar and the nameplate at large. Yes its expensive, yes its tech is slow, but all that doesnt really matter when youre out on the road carving away at every twist and turn like a warm knife through butter. The bottom line: this is one fast cat we would love to make purr over, and over again.
For more pictures, check out our 2012 Jaguar XKR photo gallery.
Highs
- Excellent exterior design with very few blips
- Cabin quality is among the very, very best
- Fast and furious V8 coupled with uncanny handling
Lows
- Tech feels ancient and slow
- Cabin can seem cramped at times
- No Bluetooth audio streaming
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