Endless joy / Jaguar test drives

The new XK generation is the most technically advanced car in the history of the English brand. Even against the backdrop of advanced competitors from Germany and Italy, it looks worthy. Take, for example, the aluminum monocoque body, thanks to which even the soft-top version boasts the highest rigidity. Or the CATS variable-damping shock absorbers. Interestingly, this system is fully automatic – unlike most competitors, whose active suspension has a forced stiffness adjustment function (apparently, Jaguar engineers are completely confident in the electronic algorithm they developed).

The six-speed automatic can be considered one of the best today. The exterior and interior are also among the XK lineup's assets. The engine... But here, by and large, there was nothing to boast about. The car was equipped with a V8 that didn't reach for the stars, and it was difficult for it to resist more powerful competitors. For example, the Mercedes-Benz SL500 dealt with the Jaguar XK like a hot hatch. Now this problem is eliminated – the family has been joined by a special sports version R, which is ready to fight its eternal rivals.

The philosophy of Jaguar's R-cars is simple and beautiful. The top version of the standard model with a naturally aspirated V8 receives a solid addition in the form of a supercharger, increasing engine power by about a third. The suspension and brakes undergo a corresponding revision. Of course, the interior and exterior are also refined. The result is a hot dish, as we were convinced last autumn when we tested the E-Type R sedan – a very interesting car in terms of handling and dynamics.

For the sake of its best and most beloved model – the XK – the company slightly broke tradition. If all previous "R" models had 400 horsepower under the hood, the XKR engine got an extra 20. But it's not the horses that impress as much as the 560 Nm of torque. With such an arsenal, the XKR should show decent dynamics. We look at the specs – the coupe accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds (the convertible – one-tenth more).

Good, but not great. However, upon careful study of the English press release, I discovered that the car accelerates to 96 km/h in 4.9 seconds. It turns out that the interval between 96 and 100 km/h involves a shift from second to third gear, and precious moments are lost. If the British had slightly changed the gear ratios, the car would be closer to the coveted five-second mark. However, Britain keeps its distance from the rest of Europe, so the emphasis there is on "0-60 mph".

But why fixate on the 100 km/h figure? For a car like the XKR, the discipline of acceleration to "a hundred" is not so important. Much more interesting is what 420 hp and 560 Nm can do beyond that mark.

How richly the exhaust system bass at low revs! By the way, it works relatively quietly even at fairly high revs, but only with gentle handling of the accelerator pedal. As soon as you give it some serious gas, the exhaust pipes start firing like machine guns. And in the upper range of engine operation, the exhaust in response to an energetic pedal movement thrashes so that pedestrians get scared, and passing cars pull over to the roadside. Loud, but beautiful. When speed is low, the convertible allows itself to be a bit lazy: the steering wheel is empty, the gearbox is calm, the shock absorbers are set for comfort. To make the car shake itself up and tense its muscles, you need to engage the sport mode of the automatic transmission and press the accelerator properly – not a trace of relaxation will remain...

The tachometer needle darts between 4500 and 7000 rpm; in this rev range, the XKR behaves like a real beast. The "cats" in the suspension become stiff, the automatic obediently holds the right gear, the steering wheel is filled with excellent feedback. The car quickly licks the "hairpins", flies irresistibly along the highway, stops as if rooted to the spot, and accelerates again like crazy. All this is accompanied by an exhaust cannonade and the squeal of hot rubber. The blood begins to boil... And there's also the folding roof. If you take it off, the sharpness of sensations and the strength of emotions double.

18 seconds – and above your head is a blue sky. The magnificent light interior of the XKR – leather, noble wood, chrome trim – is open to view. When this handsome man takes off his hat, the hall stands up, and the applause turns into an ovation. Well, the lucky ones inside get a powerful charge of positive emotions. This Jaguar is damn beautiful and fast!

The exterior is true English style, seasoned with sporty touches. In the wide arches are 20-inch wheels with five pairs of spokes, befitting the status. Behind them, powerful ventilated brake discs painted dark gray are visible, with the R-version emblem on the front calipers.

The predatory front end with aluminum mesh, slits in the hood adorned with the "supercharged" inscription – who, tell me, will remain indifferent to all this? At the rear – four exhaust pipes, a diffuser, an elegant spoiler on the trunk. The curves of the aluminum body, painted in an unusual cherry shade, are endlessly attractive. This car is good in any form. Without the roof, the XKR looks aristocratic, even somewhat poetic, and when the top is in place, there is a touch of sporty aggression in its image.

It's a real feast for the heart to use such a beautiful thing. The sun is beating down, the wind tousles your hair, the speed is getting higher – hello Hollywood! And then suddenly – an air charge throws a bag with documents from the back seat! Yes, it seems it's time to return to reality, and operating convertibles definitely requires knowledge of special rules.

However, you quickly remember these rules: don't drive without the roof around the city on weekdays (you'll get dusty), don't leave valuable light items on the seats (they'll fly away), don't smoke with the roof down (you can burn your clothes)... It's easy to get used to – hard to quit. Hard to quit the good stuff. It was not easy to part with the strongest antidepressant that has no side effects. But I was lucky anyway: now at least I know what the XKR Convertible is.

PRICES AND TRIM LEVELS

The car is offered only with a V8 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The cost in the basic configuration is $167,800, but this configuration is quite rich. It includes ABS, TC, EBD, EBA, DSC, ARTS, CATS variable damping system, front and side airbags, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, bi-xenon headlights, light sensor, rain sensor, driver and passenger seats with memory and heating, heated windshield and engine, alloy wheels R19, interior trim with natural wood inserts, leather steering wheel with gearbox control buttons, navigation system with touch-screen display, audio system with 6-disc changer, phone preparation, Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, automatically folding side mirrors, "metallic" paint.

Additionally, you can install a more advanced audio system (plus $1500), Keyless Entry system ($690), R20 wheels ($1500), and tire pressure monitoring ($850). Various interior trim options and much more are also available.