Video: 2007 Jaguar XKR Duo

If you’ve been following the blog the past few weeks, you already know we had our hands on Jaguar’s top-of-the-line XKR convertible and coupe. We almost universally drooled all over them, but you can check them out for yourself in the video above. Kelsey Mays walks you through why they had us so gaga.

Related
Friday Fleet Notes: 8.10.07 (KickingTires)
Bank Breakers: The Cadillac XLR-V and Jaguar XKR (KickingTires)
2007 Jaguar XKR Expert Review (Cars.com)

Friday Fleet Notes: 8.10.07

This week we had a trio of $100,000 cars in the office. That’s a rarity, let me assure you. Still, we don’t turn our noses up at cars like these when they do arrive.

Cadillac XLR-V

My time with the XLR-V was tragically brief, but it didn’t take long for me to appreciate its exceptional powertrain. The gutsy supercharged V-8 alone will get your attention, but its harmonious integration with the six-speed automatic is inspiring. The gearing is very well matched, and the revs stay at remarkably low rpm in normal driving, much like the Chevy Corvette on which this Caddy is based. Stand on it, though, and the XLR-V takes off like a shot. Chirping the tires when already in motion is one thing; doing so when moving at highway speed is an accomplishment — one I accomplished enough to ensure I wasn’t imagining it. Though it’s not marked, if you move the gear selector into the manual-shift gate, it seems to activate an eager automatic sport-shift mode. Only when you push up or back does it start locking in gears. There are no shift paddles, and I certainly didn’t miss them.

Bank Breakers: The Cadillac XLR-V and Jaguar XKR

If you're considering a high-performance convertible like the Cadillac XLR-V or Jaguar XLR — both of which are at or around six figures — it's not asking too much to expect everything to be top-notch, right? You would think so, but after driving and examining these two cars, it's clear that certain areas received more of those hard-earned dollars than others.

Friday Fleet Notes: 6.22.07

One perk about working around cars is that you get to drive a lot of luxury brands that you’re probably not going to end up plunking down your own hard-earned money for. That’s the case with two recent entries into our fleet from BMW and Jaguar. We were all easily swayed by the luxury cruisers, but that’s because they did a terrific job impressing us with their substance and style, not because we pine away for them. Well, for the most part.

2008 BMW 550i

Question: What does the 550i do that I like? Answer: Everything. The seat's good, the drivetrain’s good, the shifter was good; I liked the steering wheel, headroom, visibility, exhaust note … heck, I even liked the white paint. I drive everything that comes in here with a manual transmission if my bosses let me (they hogged the Mini we had), and this was the best.

2007 Geneva Motor Show: Jaguar XKR Portfolio

Jaguar has a hit on its hands with the new XK sports coupe and convertible. The even more expensive XKR features a supercharged V-8 engine, and now there’s an even higher trim level, just introduced at the Geneva Motor Show: the XKR Portfolio.

The XKR Portfolio starts out life as a regular XKR but adds unique 20-inch wheels, custom Celestial Black paint, larger brakes, new interior trim choices and an upgraded stereo system with Bowers & Wilkins speakers.

No prices have been announced, but dealers are taking orders. Photo gallery below.

Jaguar Dealers Really Satisfy

J.D. Power is all about ranking stuff. It doesn’t matter what you buy, they want to rank it. When it comes to cars, they even rank customers’ satisfaction with the dealership where they bought their new car. A surprise occurs in the latest such study. Of all automotive brands in the land, folks were most pleased with Jaguar. We say that with a smirk because Jaguar has just one significantly new model in its showrooms — the sexy XK — and isn’t known for overall product quality, either. According to J.D. Power, half of all customers who walk out of a dealership point to poor treatment as the cause, and that means Jaguar is keeping walk-ins happy enough to sell them a car, sexy or not.

Cadillac, Lincoln, Porsche and Toyota filled out the top five, but we’re giving Jaguar its moment in the spotlight.

[Jaguar Tops in Buyers' Dealership Satisfaction, Detroit Free Press]