Jaguar XKR - Review: Anybody with a pulse will feel it quicken when gazing upon the 2007 Jaguar XKR. From the fender vents to the hood louvers to its tight proportions, its sleek lines promise performance. Looks have never been Jaguar’s shortcoming, but previous XK’s delivered an underwhelming driving experience that failed to deliver on the styling’s promise. This new XKR largely changes that. Its supercharged powertrain is a masterpiece, the suspension is a good compromise between handling and that silky Jaguar ride, and from the driver’s seat there are few cars that fill the high-performance GT role as well as this car. Despite this, we were distracted by several refinement shortcomings in the XKR that buyers may not accept on a $90,000 car.

The Frost Blue 2007 Jaguar XKR we drove had a base price of $86,500 including a $665 destination charge. For that you get the supercharged 4.2-liter V8 engine and excellent six-speed automatic, an active exhaust system that keeps things quiet at cruise but lets it roar at full throttle, a navigation system, Bluetooth phone synching, dual climate control, bi-xenon headlights and most – note we said most – of the luxury equipment you’d expect of a car in this price range. The only option noted on the sticker was the $2,200 active cruise control system, however, our test car was also fitted with the $5,000 20-inch wheel package, which means our car stickered for $93,700.

If you see an “R” in a Jag’s nomenclature, you’re in for a good time. Under the long louvered hood of the XKR rests a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 engine that produces 420 horsepower and 413 lb.-ft. of torque. Routing that power to the rear wheels is a six-speed automatic transmission with manual control through paddles mounted on the steering wheel. The thrust is prodigious, pinning you in your seat as the automatic shifts effortlessly. Use the paddles and it matches revs on downshifts, blipping the throttle with the expertise of a Formula 1 driver. Shifts are harsher in manual mode, and the transmission upshifts redline in either mode, but otherwise this is an excellent powertrain that also netted us 15.6 mpg.

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