Jaguar XKR Portfolio Part 1: Design Review

Jaguar is a company with a rich history full of amazingly beautiful and influential car designs. Arguably, the car that epitomizes the British automaker most accurately is the iconic XK-E of the 1960s - also referred to as the E Type.

The Jaguar E-Type is one of only six cars on permanent display at the Museum of Modern Art. Its long powerful hood, lengthy dash-to-axle proportion and fastback styling stunned the world when it was introduced in 1961 - provoking Enzo Ferrari to call it the most beautiful car ever made.

The E-Type was last produced in 1974 and since then there have been other Jaguar coupes, but none has quite captured the magic of the legendary XK-E.

The fastest and most exclusive member of the current Jaguar coupe family is the XKR Portfolio. It features similar proportions to its iconic forefather and borrows several design cues as well. But can its design deliver the oooos and aaaas of the sensuous E-Type? Tall order to be sure, and one that fell on Jaguar chief designer Ian Callum and his design team. So, how did Ian do? Let's have a look...

Overall, the Jaguar XKR - especially this limited production Portfolio model - is a lovely car to look at. As with most cars, there are elements that are pretty successful and others that are less so. Starting with my favorite angle - the rear view - we see what is perhaps the most beautiful rear fender form on a current production car. Trust me when I tell you that photos don't do it justice. You need to look at this piece of modern sculpture in person to truly appreciate it. Looking truly feline, it is both muscular and elegant, as are the taillights and the sloping profile of the back of the car.

At the front however, we start to run into a few issues. The headlights of the XKR have caught some flak for being less cat-like and more Ford-like than might be ideal. They look modern to my eye, but I have to say that they could be more brand appropriate if they were a bit sleeker and more organic.

Even less successful are the mesh inserts of the front end. Completely acceptable and appropriate on the main oval intake, the aluminum mesh looks a tad busy on the lower intakes - especially on the corners where the piece housing both the mesh and the driving lights is the only really unfortunate design element on the entire car. Well, that and the "supercharged" lettering embossed on the hood vents. Come on guys, Jaguars are about subtlety. Apart from those two elements, the XKR Portfolio has great detailing.

Aluminum plays a major roll in the XKR's styling. Not only is the body crafted from the alloy material, but many of its details are as well. The heat extracting front fender vent is made from billet aluminum, milled to perfection. It works pretty well here as a stylistic and functional element that adds some contrast to the Shadow Grey painted body side. The big 20-in. shadow-finish wheels are also nicely detailed with a contrasting chrome-finish element within each split spoke and the Jaguar "heritage" badge on its center caps.

In a category based on style and performance, the Jaguar XKR Portfolio stands apart as an elegant, comfortable and handsome alternative to the more sporting, but aesthetically challenged BMW M6 and the less-swift and more expensive Maserati GranTurismo. It looks similar to the significantly more expensive Aston Martin DB9 - never a bad thing - and it has an equally rich British heritage. Combined with its sensuous curves, clean lines and long-hood proportions it still generates enough seductive looks to merit that famous Jaguar badge. It may not live up to the XKE in terms of all-out gorgeousness, but then again, what car does?

Watch the video
Read Part 2: Interior & User Experience
Read Part 3: Performance

Jaguar XKR Portfolio

Performance
- Acceleration: Big horsepower and torque from the supercharged V8 plus BIG traction from the 285 section rear tires add up to instant acceleration
- Handling: Active eCATS suspension helps when speed builds, but only to a point - more GT than sportscar
- Braking: Big optional Alcon six-piston calipers bring things to a standstill immediately with zero fade in road use

Design
- Exterior: Great looking rear 3/4 and side view - slightly less successful from the front - some excellent detailing, some less so
- Interior: Typical Jaguar opulence - the world's best headliner

Utility
- Comfort: Great seats and every convenience item you'd expect
- Space: Headroom a bit limited in cozy cabin - back seats as useful as Humpback whale's pelvic bone

Safety
- Dynamics: Chassis leans toward luxury more than sport, but there's plenty of moves here to avoid trouble
- Technology: Active eCATS suspension plus traction and stability control and all of the requisite airbags

Value
- Price: Suspect at just over $100k loaded, but competitors cost more - if the past is any indicator, depreciation might be an issue
- Mileage: Big V8 and supercharger would have you think big appetite, but not too shabby considering - six-speed auto helps

Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Lovely to look at and plenty fast, but doesn't quite stir the soul
- Fun to spank: Prefers a brisk cruise to hooligan behavior - out of sorts at silly speeds

SPECIFICATIONS

Layout: Front engine / Rear wheel drive
Engine: 4.2 liter, supercharged V8
Power (SAE): 420 hp @ 6250 rpm
Torque: 413 lbs-ft @ 4000
Redline: 6250 rpm
Gearbox: 6 speed automatic
Curb Weight: 3820 lbs.
0-60 mph: 4.2 sec.
1/4 mile: 12.6 sec. @ 111 mph
Top Speed: 155 mph (electronically limited)
Mileage: 15 city / 23 highway
Base Price: $ 95,675
Competitors: Maserati Gran Turismo, BMW M6, Mercedes-Benz SL550