2007 Jaguar XKR Photo Gallery

Jaguar XKR: Photo Gallery – Missing that turn wasn’t our fault. Yesterday we were in the States, and now we’re in Spain following a couple of Jaguar guys – they should know where they’re going, no? As we chase our leader, curvy roads are straightened, paddle shifting is executed with precision, braking perfectly addresses entry speed without scrubbing kph’s, and the laws of physics are repeatedly tested. Available in coupe and convertible versions in January, the 2007 Jaguar XKR proves successful at blending refinement with a GT character. And with all 420 supercharged horses, average Joes and Janes are guaranteed their own level of fun and excitement.

Jaguar XKR – Features

Opting for a 2007 Jaguar XKR coupe avails drivers to a touch-screen navigation system; front-side airbags with head protection and active front headrests; heated, leather bucket seats with multiple power adjustments and memory settings; and a 160-watt Alpine audio system, including a six-disc CD changer and MP3/WMA player. The standard features list goes on with 19-inch Jupiter alloy wheels, a rear park-aid system, dual-zone climate control, keyless ignition, Bluetooth connectivity, and a power tilting and telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel. The XKR convertible adds a power soft-top with a glass rear window and a hidden roll bar.

Jaguar XKR – Options

Options are few, though they make up in price what they lack in abundance. The $2,100 Luxury Package provides unique 19-inch alloy wheels, soft leather on nearly every interior surface, front sport bucket seats with adjustable bolsters and perforated leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and burl walnut trim; 20-inch alloy wheels rolling on front 255/35 and rear 285/30 tires can be had for $5,000; a mere $1,875 purchases a 525-watt Alpine surround sound system with prewiring for Sirius satellite radio; intelligent cruise control is a $2,200 option; and selection of a non-standard color combination requires an outlay of $1,000.

Jaguar XKR – Coupe Pricing

So, you and your money can’t get along. Maybe it’s time to kick the family of greenbacks crowding your portfolio to the curb, exchanging them for a 2007 Jaguar XKR. Adding a $665 destination charge to the $85,835 sticker brings the XKR coupe’s base price to $86,500, which represents an $11,000 premium over the base 2007 XK and a $3,500 price hike over the 2006 XKR.

Jaguar XKR – Convertible Pricing

For sun-worshiping enthusiasts, the 2007 Jaguar XKR can be had for $92,500 including the $665 destination charge. The soft-top version is $6,000 more than the 2007 XKR coupe, $11,000 more than the 2007 XK convertible, and about $4,500 more than the outgoing 2006 XKR convertible. However, with options like $5,000 wheel and tire packages, the sticker can climb considerably higher.

Jaguar XKR – Engine

To most, an engine boasting 300 horsepower and 303 lb.-ft. of torque is more than adequate. However, there are certain folks for whom those seemingly lofty figures simply won’t suffice. For them, Jaguar offers the 2007 XKR. Using the XK’s 4.2-liter, 32-valve V8 with variable-valve timing and dual overhead cams, the XKR adds an Eaton supercharger boosting horsepower up to 420 at 6,250 rpm with torque climbing to 413 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm.

Jaguar XKR – Transmission

During a drive through the Spanish countryside, we came to love the 2007 Jaguar XKR’s exquisite six-speed automatic transmission. Shifts are smooth in normal mode, with hard dumps of the throttle resulting in aggressive downshifts. Click the tranny into sport mode and the 420 horses feel more eager to let loose and revs are held longer before upshifts. Furthermore, the transmission recognizes driving styles, gradients, and speeds, allowing it to react appropriately, such as blipping the throttle and downshifting as the driver heads downhill into a curve. And then there are the paddles, which Jaguar claims will change gears in fewer than 600 milliseconds.

Jaguar XKR – Performance

Weighing in at 3,671 pounds (154 pounds lighter than the previous XKR), Jaguar claims the XKR coupe will reach 60 mph in 4.9 seconds; the 3,781-lb. convertible (220 pounds lighter that its predecessor) in five seconds flat. More important, at least for anyone who drives outside the confines of a drag strip, are the supercharged XKR’s improvements over the normally-aspirated XK when accelerating at speed: 60 – 90 mph is achieved 30 percent quicker and 50-70 mph is achieved 25 percent quicker. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

Jaguar XKR – Hardware

Standard Dunlop rubber reads 240/40R19 up front and 275/35R19 on the rear, backed up by larger ventilated discs, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, and electronic brake assistance systems. Revised traction and stability control technology works in conjunction with a sport-tuned suspension to keep the XKR’s feet planted on terra firma. Compared to the XK, the 2007 Jaguar XKR’s springs and shocks are stiffer, the anti-roll bar grows in circumference by one millimeter, and a rear structural brace has been added. The XK’s adaptive variable suspension has been retuned for XKR use, as has the Servotronic rack-and-pinion variable-assist steering system.

Jaguar XKR – Exterior

Accenting the XKR’s sleek body are reworked front and rear fascias, the former set off by a silver grille and lower insert. Changes to the rear consist of quad chrome tailpipes separated by a body-colored panel and a subtle R badge positioned below the right taillight. The XKR’s side profile differs little from the base XK, though an eye for detail might notice the angled hood vents with Supercharged script, side vents set in an aluminum rather than body-colored finish, unique 19-inch or optional 20-inch alloy wheels, and the fog lights set closer to the outer edge of the front bumper.

Jaguar XKR – Interior

In keeping with the exterior’s understated theme, the 2007 Jaguar XKR’s interior enhancements are subtle. As expected, quality leather coats most surfaces and the few plastics feel durable and substantial. The R logo is embossed into the front headrests (there are no rear headrests), atop the gear shift, and due north on the tachometer. Aluminum dash, instrument panel and center console panels feature a unique weave pattern, though burl walnut is available as a no-cost option.