Jaguar’s boast that the Jaguar XKR is a grand tourer with the heart of a sportscar is boosted by a new more powerful engine.

 We put the bigger-toothed big cat through its paces for a week to see what difference this makes to one of the best-looking cars on the road.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

The Jaguar XKR is available in coupe or convertible body styles. The combination of sporting twin bonnet louvres, quad exhausts and 20-inch wheels turns heads and rightly so. You’d almost want to keep getting out to have a look if driving it wasn’t so much fun.

9/10

2. Looks inside

The big cat snarling at you from the R-branded steering wheel the interior breathes agression. That R also finds its way into the dials and head rests. From the start button to the seat adjustment buttons – this is a well-thought-through interior which will put a smile on your face.

9/10

3. Practicality

It’s a grand tourer with the heart of a sportscar says Jaguar, and its right: as long as there are only two of you. The rear seats are for little ones only. Keep the canvas roof on top of the car and there’s 313 litres space, stow it and that reduces to 230 litres. The roof flips at the touch of a button from the comfort of the driver’s seat.

6/10

4. Ride and Handling

There’s active differential control, adaptive dynamics and three-mode dynamic stability control to keep you attached to the road in a pleasing way. The external noise which leaks in through the canvas roof is the only indication you’re in a convertible – there’s hardly any shake from the chassis.

9/10

5. Performance

The first time I put my foot down I had to check whether I was in Sport mode. I wasn’t, and that tells you everything you need to know about the car’s performance. The red-lining Sport setting was even more fun. Like a smooth and comfortable punch in the back – and a lot nicer than that sounds.

The  XKR applies the supercharge treatment to the XK’s all-new 5.0-litre V8 engine to increase power from 380bhp to 503bhp and reduce the 0-60mph time from 5.2 seconds to 4.6 seconds. This also equates to a 23 per cent increase in power compared to its predecessor. The engine is mated with an all-new six-speed automatic transmission. Top speed is an electronically limited 155mph. All in all, something to give the rivals sleepless nights.

10/10

6. Running Costs

This is Jaguar’s most efficient XKR engine yet but it still only manages an average fuel return of 23mpg and a big insurance and tax bill. But then that’s the choice you make when you buy this kind of car. More promising is the fact it will still hold a hefty slice of its value, not far off a half, three years down the line.

7/10

7. Reliability

You won’t find Jaguar near the business end of the Reliability Index but its cars are currently enjoying a renaissance which bodes well for the new XKR’s endurance.

7/10

8. Safety

There are front and side airbags for driver and front passenger as well as passive driver aids including anti-lock brakes, emergency brake assist and electronic brake distribution

7/10

9. Equipment

Everything described comes as standard including soft grain R leather seats, 7-inch touch screen with satnav and cruise control. You also get a Bowers and Wilkins 525W premium sound system with 6 disc CD changer. Optional extras include DAB radio at £342 radio and adaptive cruise control at £978

9/10

10. X-Factor

The car’s acceleration just wins out over its looks as the Jaguar XKR’s biggest draw. Few cars can match the response and feeling when you put your foot down.

9/10