Top Gear: Jaguar XF-R vs. BMW M5

[Plex]

Top Gear has decided to answer the question many of us have been asking; can the new Jaguar XF-R be a legitimate alternative to the BMW M5?

On paper, the comparison looks quite promising. The Jag features a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine which produces 510 hp (380kW) and 625Nm of torque, while the M5 packs a 5.0-liter V10 with 500 hp (373 kW) and 520 Nm of torque. Sounds like a pretty even match up, so let's see what Clarkson has to say about it.

While the XF-R doesn't look like a typical super sedan, Clarkson says "don't be fooled by the plain Jane" exterior because the speed is "simply unbelievable." Despite being surprisingly comfortable, the car handles brilliantly thanks to an electric differential and a suspension that constantly adjusts itself. He sums up by saying the Jag is two cars in one, it's "amazingly comfortable and quiet when you're not in the mood for fun and games, and it's savagely fast when you are."

When the two cars are pitted up against each other on the track, Clarkson says the M5 has better brakes. While he won't suggest the Jag is better than the Beemer, he admits the XF-R "is as good as" the M5. Back in the studio, he contends that the Jag is nearly as good as the M5 on the track, but far better (than the M5) at almost everything else.


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