2001 Jaguar XKR

Description

This 2001 Jaguar XKR was one of the fastest, most exclusive, and most expensive production Jaguars in the world. With supercharged power and impeccable road manners, the XKR could move like a sports car and not even feel like it was working hard. Today, this is still a rip-roaring bit of British fun, akin to the proverbial iron fist wrapped in a silk glove.

With a coat of silver paint, this Jag emulates the ultra-rare Silverstone models that were also available in 2001. The daring XK bodywork got a little more aggressive and less restrained when you added the "R," including a deeper front grille, revised fog lamps, a deeper rear bumper, and some extra chrome that always looks appropriate on a Jag. The sinuous shape looks as good today as it did in 2001, and thanks to careful ownership that always treated this car as something special, it still has that magical glow that only the British seem to be able to impart to their creations. The paint remains deep and lustrous, fit and finish are what you'd expect from a car with a near six-figure price tag, and if you want to turn heads, this is still a fine way to do it. Note the small deck lid spoiler that keeps the massive rear wheels planted, and the shape of the rocker panels that channels air out from under the car, and the cut of the hood opening that's used as a styling element rather than just a bunch of straight lines. It's almost as if artists put this car together.

Despite being a convertible, the tan leather interior shows no signs of excessive sun exposure and more than a few signs of expert maintenance. The supple hides are incredibly well preserved, yet the cushions underneath are firm and supportive enough for the aggressive maneuvers of which this car is capable. That's real burled walnut on the dash and it looks right at home in the upscale Jag, framing a comprehensive set of instruments as well as the shifter and even the steering wheel's rim. Everything was, of course, standard equipment on the XKR, including climate control, power everything, a trip computer, and a thundering AM/FM/CD stereo system that fills the car with sound without getting boomy. OK, so the back seat is little more than a beautifully upholstered package shelf or a place to punish you children, but if you could afford this car, it wasn't your only source of transportation anyway. A power black canvas top seals up remarkably well and stows under a typically British stack behind the seats.

The XKR uses a 370-horsepower supercharged V8, and offers numerous suspension and brake upgrades to help keep it all under control. With several pages of maintenance records, this is a Ford-engineered machine that permanently dispenses with the reliability problems that once plagued Jaguars, and you shouldn't hesitate to drive this one cross-country. A quick-shifting automatic transmission was the only choice and it will happily bang against its 155 MPH speed limiter all day, straining to go faster but kept in check by electronic nannies. The brakes are massive discs all around and live behind those gorgeous 18-inch alloys with staggered 245/45/18 front and 255/45/18 rear performance radials.

With service records and careful ownership, this Jaguar is a high-grade piece of ultra-luxury machinery that still deserves its place among the great cars of recent memory. Call today!