14th Jun / Press Launch – The Algarve with Jaguar
Never an easy one packing your bags on a Saturday night for a 4.00am departure on a Sunday morning business trip into Europe…
This was different however for two reasons
1. As it is June it was going to pour with rain the whole day in the UK
2. I had been invited by Jaguar Cars to the press launch of the 2012 Performance range at the Circuit Algarve, Portimao
So it was a very easy decision, despite the protestations of those close to me that I should be at home on a Sunday…
Easyjet down to Faro and within 4 hours of leaving the house and a very wet UK, I was driving along the Algarve in a 2012 MY XK Convertible as the sun shone and the temperature hit 28 degrees… Jaguar have always done these things extremely well and this was no exception. I have to say the team were first class and enthusiasm shown by the engineers who worked on the Performance Programme for 2012 is infectious to say the least, and rightly so these are special cars.
The first car we picked up from the airport, was the normally aspirated 5.0litre with a number of subtle changes inside and out, which to be honest have made an already elegant GT even more so, I have always like the standard car, it did not disappoint.
We then arrived at the Circuit Algarve where we were about to experience the main event, the XKRS. No messing about here this is a seriously quick XK nicely poised, and looks wise it is first class beautifully built, the interior puts Aston Martin to shame and the exhaust note is the best I have heard particularly on over run when it barks louder than a large dog… ours is due for September delivery, it will like its little sibling the XKR surprise and delight our customers of that there is no doubt. Can it justify the price difference over the XKR, I think you should be looking up not down because in my view this is an infinitely better car all round than anything Aston Martin produce. Give me a choice between this and a V8 Vantage S no brainer in fact that goes for the DBS as well.
It then got even better when we drove the 2012 XFR, I have always thought this car defines “wolf in sheeps clothing” where Mercedes Benz AMG models are overt, this is not. It is very subtle but extremely fast and well balanced for me it was the car of the trip in many ways not least because you can seat a family of four or five in total comfort and when they are not there creep off and enjoy the performance, once again build quality and trim levels in my view were a cut above the AMG models, and we are having one in the back half of this year.
Overall a great trip, in good company and the product as one member of the team said is the “best performance range Jaguar has had”… he was not wrong there.