German Car Zone

Back in January, we fleshed out the specs on Coventry's latest super sports sedan, the Jaguar XFR. One month later, we gave you a cockpit play-by-play at the XFR's launch in Seville, Spain. Now it's time to get down to the business of Racepaks and VBOXes to answer the question: Just how does Jaguar's bad little kitty measure up at the test track?

First let's look at what was promised. At launch, Jaguar claimed the XFR could hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.1 seconds, which, if possible, would indeed make this 4300-pound, leather-swathed sport sedan one quick feline. Too bad Coventry lies.
Our 2010 XFR shaved three tenths off the official 0-60 claim, even on the dusty tarmac of our El Toro testing facility. The 510-horse Jaguar also displayed more top-end speed than advertised, blitzing through the quarter mile in a mere 12.7 seconds at 114.1 mph. Meeeewow.

To put those numbers into perspective, let's compare them with a Jag we're intimately familiar with -- our long-term XF Supercharged. With it's 4.2-liter blown V-8 making 420 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, that car also puts down some serious numbers; 60 mph arrives in just 4.9 seconds, the quarter mile in 13.4 (at 106.9 mph). Not quite the accelerative equal of the $15,000 more expensive XFR, but it is surprising in other situations.

Perhaps because it is lighter by roughly 175 pounds, our XF S/C posts slightly better braking and handling numbers. From 60 mph, the XFR requires 109 feet to stop, the XF S/C just 105 feet. Though statistically a dead heat, it's a bit surprising given the XFR's much larger brakes and wider, stickier tires. The S/C continues to shine on the skidpad, pulling 0.90 g laterally compared with 0.87 of the XFR. In dynamic handling, the XFR manages to best its little brother; at 25.9 seconds at 0.74 g, the XFR is a tenth of a second quicker than S/C (26.0 seconds at 0.70 g) on our patented MT figure eight. Nothing shocking so far as the XFR should be the fastest cat in the XF den, but how does it stack up against a Bavarian benchmark like the BMW M5?……

2010 Jaguar XFR First Test - Motor Trend

To be honest, I saw my first XF this morning while driving. At first the rear of the car felt quite big and heavy, but then I overtook it, and the side profile looked great! Also from the rear view mirror, the front looked a bit distorted, so I can't really comment on it. What I am very curious about, though, is the interior. If it it as good as it looks, then we have a winner!

This is my favourite sports saloon at the moment. The one I'd buy if I had the money.

A Twist on the Fast Sedan Formula


Let's cut right to the chase. The 2010 Jaguar XFR is one of the best sport sedans in the world today.

If you're surprised, consider that the Jaguar XF sedan upon which the XFR is based is one hell of a car in its own right. And lest you forget, these are the same guys who created iconic cars like the C-Type, D-Type and E-Type. Hey, carmakers around the world are still trying to capture the magic of the original Jaguar XJ sedan.

Sure, the company has turned out some stinkers in the intervening years, but the point is that there's a pattern of excellence. It's been obscured now and again, but the XFR reminds us that the heart of Jaguar still beats strongly.

A Delicate Balance
The 2010 Jaguar XFR is more than simply an XF overstuffed with power; it's an XF overstuffed with power, colossal brakes and a lot of chassis wizardry. It's possible to spoil a good thing by simply adding "more" — the Porsche 911 Turbo comes to mind — yet the XFR succeeds beyond the sum of its parts. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.

At $80,000, the XFR is the mightiest version of Jaguar's XF sedan series. No options are found on our tester, yet the XFR is loaded with everything a sybarite could want — navigation, premium audio, multiadjustable seats, parking-alert sensors, you name it.

The external cues are relatively subtle. The 2010 Jaguar XFR wears discreet rocker sill extensions, tweaked fascias, quad tailpipes and hood vents trimmed in not-so-subtle chrome. In the white paint of our test car, the ocular jewelry looks like it would play better in Miami than in New York City. With that said, the wheels exclusive to the XFR are far less heavy-handed in design than the standard XF's visually clunky dubs.


Full Story: Edmunds Inside Line - 2010 Jaguar XFR Full Test and Video


M

Looks stunning on white!

IMO, the edmund's tester would look perfect if it had been optioned with the anthricite suede headliner.