Car Spot: Jaguar XKR

It’s sex on wheels!

When I think of British sports cars, Jaguar comes to mind maybe from watching too many Bond movies. There’s just something about a Jaaaaaaag! Mark and I have driven a couple of them and they are fun. This week’s spot, an XKR is a perfect example of that.

Built between 1996 and 2014, it featured a supercharged variation of their V8 engine rated at 370 hp or later on 510 hp thanks to a supercharger manufactured by Eaton and displaced at 2.0 liters. It generated 11.9 pounds of boost pressure. It could do 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 13.8 seconds at 105 mph. To keep the Jag well behaved every U.S.-bound XKR got Jaguar’s Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS), which uses two-stage damping to improve adhesion while maintaining a cushy ride. It rode on 18-inch wheels fitted with 245/45ZR-18 front and 255/ 45ZR-18 rear Pirelli P Zero tires.

Inside was an all-leather interior, burl walnut trim, and side airbags. Two interior configurations were offered, the sport configuration was aimed at young buyers and had a leather interior with cloth seats while the classic trim featured more goodies. At the product launch Michael Dale, head of Jaguar Cars, North America said says the mission of this car, as of all Jaguars, is to make you feel elegant. The XKR was the most desirable Jag two-door sold at the time here in the US in at least 25 years. At $84,715 for the convertible, it represented some real value in comparison with other high-end performance cars such as t Aston Martin’s DBS.

RELATED Spot: Another classic British sports car, the Morgan.

Ok now to the downside of owning one. Ford owned Jaguar from 1989 to 2008 so, you guessed it, there were problems with reliability such as starting problems, the failure of the convertible top to open. the touchscreen feature on some Jaguars failed to work, The AC to adequately cool the interior, and moisture in the headlights. But hey, you’re driving a Jaaaag.

What are they worth now? I found dozens of them for sale on the car sites, and their prices ranged from 12 to 45 grand. It’s not a lot for a classic British sports car and hopefully, you don’t get burned by the reliability issues. It’s really a sad time for Jaguar right now. A company in India owns them and they are going all-electric in 2025. Lost will be the sound of a supercharged V8 rumbling down the road as its driver goes through the countryside on twisting roads. Generations to come will be driving nothing more than kitchen appliances.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out this week’s spot. I hope you found it entertaining. I have lots of others on our site so go check them out. Come back next Friday for another one of my spots and some of its history and have a great weekend.

The louvers don’t vent much heat, but they do reduce front-end lift and help airflow through a tightly packed engine bay,

: built between 1996 to 2014

being named “Best GT” by Top Gear magazine in 2006. Today, the Jaguar XKR is considered a classic and highly sought-after car among collectors and enthusiasts. Its combination of style, performance, and luxury make it a true icon of the automotive world.