• Cherished car in regular use

• Instant performance accompanied by the delightful supercharger whine

• Ideal for use as an interesting everyday car

After discontinuing the ageing XJS, Jaguar looked to the past for its new grand tourer model. The XKR takes some very obvious styling cues from the E-type, but benefits from an additional 35 years of technological progress to make it a much more practical, comfortable and reliable car for everyday use.

First appearing in 1998, the XKR was derived from the XK8 of 1996. The XK8 itself was rather a covetable thing, with a four-litre version of Jaguar’s AJ26 V8, but the XKR took things a step further by supercharging the engine for even better performance. Various upgrades arrived over the course of production, including the replacement of the AJ26 by the AJ33 in 2003, which increased the engine size to 4.2 litres. With this specification, the XKR produced 400bhp. Also offered with 18-inch wheels, all-leather upholstery and burl walnut trim as standard, it created the perfect package of performance and luxury.

Leaving the factory in Pacific Blue with Ivory upholstery and first registered on 18th March, 2003, this Jaguar is now with its eighth owner. The vendor acquired it in 2019, since when he has enjoyed using it as his everyday car for runs between Kent and London, but he is now looking at using something more modern. 

He has looked after the car well, servicing it as necessary and keeping on top of new parts and maintenance.

In addition to the V5, the vendor has kept a full record of all the work he has had done to the car during his ownership. The car has an MoT until 16th December, 2021. Bidders will be advised that the car currently wears a private registration number, which is to be retained by the seller.

Given that this is a car which is 18 years old and has been in regular use, the interior is far better than you might expect – not far from perfect, in fact. While the leather seats have obviously mellowed somewhat over time, there is no evidence of them having incurred any damage or excessive wear, and the rear seats look as though they’ve barely been used.

The burr walnut, in a more subdued shade than some other cars, complements the upholstery well in terms of both its colour and its fantastic condition. The doors are similarly good, and the carpets have been kept nice and clean. 

We understand all the dash controls and gauges are in working order, which extends to the electric windows, radio and multi-CD player, digital clock and the somewhat quaint early satnav system which is of the sort that is now becoming something of an historical curiosity.

The boot is extremely clean and houses the original warning triangle and a spare wheel in excellent condition, which we suspect has not been used before.

Since the car has worked a bit for a living, it does sport a few signs of cosmetic wear on the exterior which is to be expected after 18 years. In all respects, the Pacific Blue paint – a beautiful deep colour with a subtle purple tint when the light hits it at the right angle – is very good, although there are a number of scratches mainly on the bumpers, and there is some bubbling appearing between the bumper and the offside rear light. In all ways, the car appears to be extremely solid, although, as is often the case, the sills are an area to keep an eye on.

There is not much in the way of chrome or ornamentation on the XKR, but the badges all seem to be in excellent condition and the bonnet badge, depicting the Jaguar’s head on a background of emerald rays is a rather beautiful item in itself.

The glass is generally very good, although we did notice a crack in the offside front indicator lens and some scratches on its nearside equivalent. The 18-inch alloy wheels also present very well and do not appear to have been scuffed, although there are some cosmetic blemishes in keeping with their age. The Vredestein Ultra Vorti tyres, however, are almost brand-new and are therefore excellent.

This car appears to be in the very best mechanical health. It fires immediately and runs almost deceptively quietly. The civility of the well-insulated interior belies the power that is stored under the bonnet, and we can confirm from our own experience that this car is capable of extremely rapid acceleration. 

The vendor advises that it will go from 80mph to 125mph without hesitation (on a private test track, of course). Naturally, it has power steering and this example also has the automatic transmission, so one can really relax behind the wheel. In fact, with adaptive cruise control, the car almost literally drives itself. It will maintain a steady speed and slow for obstructions without any driver intervention; only a safe hand on the steering wheel is required.

The car’s current MoT certificate confirms that it is safe for use. It was last serviced in December, 2020, and it has been treated by the vendor to new brake pads, suspension bushes and thermostat. Perhaps surprisingly, the vendor tells us that the Jaguar is actually compliant with the London Ultra Low Emissions Zone, which is something of which a lot of modern classics are falling foul.

We’ve always been fond of the XK8 with its attractive styling, accessible power and sumptuous interior, but isn’t the XKR with its performance-enhancing supercharger just that little bit better? It really does go like a rocket, but you might not even notice when you’re being cossetted by the lovely leather seats. 

The vendor has demonstrated that the XKR is quite capable of being run as a practical everyday car, and we see no reason why it shouldn’t continue to be so used. It’s practicality, power and class all in one neatly styled, well-appointed package.