2012 Jaguar XKR-S Test Drive

I can’t get the words out fast enough… about the new Jaguar XKR-S.

1. If a car isn’t attractive, I don’t bother.

2. If a car doesn’t perform, I move on.

  Listen to this sound…

Video via Autoblogger

3. If a car is not comfortable and make ergonomic sense, I’m not interested.  Hey, us females care about these things!

So, I’m a sucker for contrast stitching and piping, I am a designer.

One of the great things about attending Car Week at Pebble Beach is every car company with something to say, says it there.  There are plenty of test drives of the latest and greatest.  Of the cars I wanted to drive, a Jaguar was never on my list.  It is a granny car!  Well… it was.

Having almost needed attention for whiplash after seeing the new 2012 Jaguar XKR – S (Note to Jaguar, you need betters names it is hard to remember XJ, XK, X whatever –  only complaint is come up with a name) at a display at Mazda Raceway, I had to learn more.  As my husband says, when I set my mind to something…  Not two hours later I was behind the wheel.

Normally, I can be a bit timid on a test drive – I don’t want to mess up someone else’s car and showing my track skills is not my thing.  But the second I strapped into the, oh so body-hugging (16-way adjustable, heated & memory) seat, I was at ease.  Everything was where it should be.  Easy to reach, easy to shift (well placed paddle shifters if you care to) and completely secure.  Good mirrors, good visibility, and well balanced.

In one word: intuitive.  I thought, it went.

Thanks to my great TD partner from Jaguar, he told me where I could safely hit it, and I did.  When clear, I warned him when I wanted to jam on the breaks… not an inch out of straight.

As a girl, numbers don’t mean… anything.  I’m not a statistician.  I care how the car feels and how it performs compared to others.  To be fair: 2012 Jaguar XKR – S 0-60 is 4.2 seconds and the Porsche 911 Turbo 0-60 is 3.5 but unless one is racing who needs to quibble over .7 seconds. Read Automobile Magazine’s blog of a  test drive  dirty details.

The sound is a whole other element of excitement.  The blistering burble of a nice throaty engine… perfect car to drive a around with the window’s cracked so you can hear yourself go.  Okay it was a bit addicting.  Sounds way better than a Porsche and many Ferraris – no tuning necessary.  (But as I girl I think tuning is just silly noise embellishment – like adding a tassel, not required.)

Bottom line I’ll willingly trade the Porsche Turbo for it – no I am not kidding.  I would even if it wasn’t blue, they do have a nice white.  The French Racing Blue (like a Bugatti Type 57) is a limited edition color and while some call it “Smurf” the color is quite captivating.

I expected to be underwhelmed, not impressed!  There was nothing to pick apart.  The 2012 Jaguar XKR – S is an awesome ride in the Supercar category.