The Jaguar XKR

Jaguar XKR

The XKR Marketplace

Like the normally aspirated XK, the new XKR competes within the global sports car sector. In 1999 this sector accounted for just under 50,000 sales per year worldwide. Since that time the sector has doubled in size.

The XKR will appeal to a select group of affluent potential customers, who have an affinity with luxury products. They are looking for a grand tourer as well as a car with pure sporting credentials; one that provides exhilaration and escapism combined with status and exclusivity - ‘luxury in a sports skin’.

The new XKR, like all Jaguars, offers excellent value for money in the sports car market. With prices starting from £67,495, the XKR ensures customers will enjoy a considerable increase in performance over the normally aspirated XK for a relatively small price premium. They will also benefit from a significant performance advantage over rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz SL500, which is slower and heavier than the XKR, despite costing over £8000 more.

Furthermore, the XKR offers a full suite of comfort, convenience and technology features, the large majority of which (such as satellite navigation, BluetoothTM telephone, Touchscreen display and keyless start) are not standard on many rival cars of similar price, or even available at all.

And because of its advanced lightweight body structure and powerful supercharged engine, the XKR’s performance even matches cars that are not direct competitors in terms of either price or technical specification. For example, it beats the £81,760, 5.0-litre BMW M6 on torque-to-weight ratio and virtually matches the £99,045, 5.5-litre SL55 AMG on power-to-weight ratio.

Summary

When the new XK range was unveiled in late 2005 it clearly pushed back the boundaries of sports motoring. Now the supercharged XKR extends those boundaries even further. The most potent of all Jaguar’s beautiful, fast cars, it effortlessly straddles the gap between out-and-out performance supercars that struggle to cope with everyday use and more sedate grand tourers that are hampered by excess weight.

Now, for the first time, customers can purchase a car capable of hitting 60mph in less than five seconds, which handles like a thoroughbred sports car, yet still offers levels of comfort, style and craftsmanship unheard of in its class. And the new XKR also represents remarkable value for money, with a performance increase of over 25% in terms of power, yet an increase of just 12.5% in terms of price when compared to the normally aspirated 4.2-litre XK.

Like every great Jaguar it combines beauty with power, and style with dynamism to deliver a world of performance and luxury that is quite simply exceptional.