2008 Jaguar XKR Portfolio Preview

2008 Jaguar XKR Portfolio Preview – Geneva Auto Show: Like most luxury buyers, Jaguar aficionados are concerned with exclusivity. After all, if you just plunked down $90,000 on a new XKR coupe, the last thing you want to see is yourself coming and going in your neighborhood. Heaven forbid. So Jaguar has introduced the very limited edition Portfolio model of the XKR, boasting style and a few performance upgrades over the standard XKR. Sales numbers have not been announced, but previous Portfolio models have been limited enough in numbers to sell out almost the instant they’re announced, and we suspect the same will be true here.

Why it Matters

The XKR Portfolio offers a few noteworthy upgrades over the standard car. Inside, available spun aluminum or American Walnut trim is available. The sound system features upgraded speakers from Bowers & Wilkins, and is the first production application of the relationship that began with the C-XF concept car. The supercharged 4.2-liter V8 engine is unaltered, but the brakes are larger by 45 mm, and are the largest brakes ever fitted to a production Jaguar. The exterior is any color you want, as long as it’s Celestial Black, and 20-inch polished five-spoke Cremona wheels are standard equipment, along with all the other exterior styling cues of the XKR that make us drool.

What We Think

We think the standard XKR is a stunning machine to look at, and a pretty darn good one to drive, too. Improving on an already powerful formula is always fine with us, and we see little reason to think that the Portfolio will enhance an already elegant driving experience. However, having recently driven an XKR, we do hope that along with the cosmetic enhancements comes a greater attention to detail in the XKR’s assembly.

Photos courtesy of Jaguar