The details are as intrinsic on the inside as anyone would expect from a car of this bloodline. The carbon-fibre-like finish adorning the centre console is actually what Jaguar call ‘Dark Technical Weave Aluminium’. Even the premium leather seats, which are immensely supportive, have a stripe down the middle of what looks like pre-baked carbon-fibre in its expensive cloth form. The bronze finish on the engine start/stop button, the mode selector switch and the wheel-mounted gear-shifter paddles adds a fine contrast to the sporty dark surroundings. The eight-inch high-resolution touchscreen in the centre console delivers all the information you need on the move. Select ‘Dynamic’, and it incorporates the ‘Dynamic i’ configurable display — showing everything from throttle, brake and steering input to lap times and G-force. Wicked!
The cabin doesn’t feel compact. There’s enough room for two and the panoramic glass roof helps maintain a healthy light quotient. The view through the rear windscreen is not too bad either. But the all-important aspect of visibility is up front, and, through that wide curved windscreen, is the open road that begs this wildcat to stretch its legs. Let’s not forget, this Jag has the strongest heart of them all.
The earlier-mentioned V8 is a 5.0-litre unit with a Roots twin-vortex supercharger that is mounted in the V to help keep things compact. The maximum of 550 PS comes at 6,500 RPM with a hefty 680 Nm of peak torque available between 2,500 and 5,500 revs. The QuickShift gearbox from ZF has eight ratios, bunched up very nicely indeed, sending all of those twists and screaming wild horses to the electronic centre differential and on to the two fat rubber donuts wrapped around those big 20” wheels. However, what actually brings a wide smile is the Active Exhaust system, which, in Dynamic mode, opens up at 3,500 RPM and lets the big cat sing its tune loud and clear. Next to the button for the rear spoiler, there’s also a button to keep those active exhaust pipes turned on. Thank you, Jag!
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