[jag-news] Autoweek tests 2007 XKR for a year, starting now

Autoweek just took delivery of a nearly $100,000 XKR in one of their
continuing series of long-term road tests. The car enters their pool and a
number of staffers have the opportunity to rack up lots of miles on these
cars in real world situations. They report back, if not weekly, at least
monthly, on their experiences.

<http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070531/FREE/70525001/1
528/newsletter01> (The site may require registration.)

If you want to follow their trials over the next year, you’ll probably have
to subscribe. Autoweek posts selected major articles on the website, but the
shorter follow-ups and monthly reports appear only sporadically.

The XKR is off to a good start.

“…But walk up to one in real life or catch a glimpse as one flashes down
the road, and the magic of Ian Callum’s design reveals itself in brilliant
high definition. It’s a pretty little pussycat, to be sure, its taut body
lacking superfluity of ornamentation beyond a handful of punctuation marks
such as its hood and side vents.”

“Jaguar claims the XKR convertible is good for a 5.0-second dash to 60 mph,
yet when we took an example to the track ourselves, we proved Jag wrong: We
managed a best of 4.87 seconds, with the quarter-mile covered in 13.37
seconds at 107.2 mph.”

“The supersticky tires and mondo brakes worked in concert to bring the Jag
to a stop from 60 mph in just 108 feet-smack in the middle of supercar
territory. By comparison, the Ford GT needed a foot more, and the
previous-generation Porsche GT3 took three more.”

Unless there is a serious problem with the car (or speeding tickets start to
pile up), I expect there will be a long line for the XKR.

“Mark 1” Mark Stephenson
'52 XK120 S673129, '59 Mk1, '84,'85,'86 &'95 XJ6

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