2010 Jaguar XKR

[Sheriff!]

THE CAR: 2010 Jaguar XKR

THE LOWDOWN: A pussycat sharpens its claws.

WHY WE'RE STOKED: Around these parts, "cougars" often come up in conversation, as do "manthers." But Jaguars? Not so much. This must change. Hitherto and henceforth, gentlemen, we shall consider the perfect gentleman's car: the Jag XKR.

Designer Ian Callum's subtly aggressive XK first hit streets in model year 2007�it's arguably one of the prettiest cars on the road, so we're glad to see that in its first major revise, that sexy outward appearance isn't changing much. At all. Instead this aluminum-bodied sleeper is getting majorly muscled-up underneath for 2010: its 4.2-liter V-8 is being replaced with an all new supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 that'll put out a whopping 510hp.


That 90 hp boost over the '09 model will get the 2010 XKR to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds. Uh, we think that'll do fine. The new engine gets tied to a six-speed automatic gearbox that can be manually operated via paddle shifters on the wheel; the same transmission offers nearly instantaneous gear changes on the Jag XF. And just like the XF, drivers select the gear mode (P-R-N-D) by spinning an iPod-like dial that rises out of the console slowly as you start the ignition sequence. Kinda fancy.

So you thought you needed to be a perfect gentleman�or, at least a little older�to lust after a Jag? No more. This is one angry cat.

BUYING IT: The 2010 XKR goes on sale in August. Pricing hasn't been announced, but expect it to cost around $90,000.




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