A curiously magnificent Jaguar

published 3 November 2017

The fastest Jaguar XJ in history might not be quite what the world needs now, says Steve Sutcliffe in AutoExpress. In fact, the new XJR 575 puts Jaguar somewhat out of kilter with the rest of the car world. You'll be doing well to get more than 20mpg out of it, for example. But there is something "curiously magnificent" about this two-tonne limo, capable of 186mph and of sprinting from rest to 60mph in 4.2 seconds. It's a "wondrous car": "lovely" to drive, happy being thrown through corners despite its huge bulk, very fast indeed in a straight line, yet luxurious and comfortable too, especially in the "brilliantly roomy" individual rear seats. "It feels special in a way that not many saloon cars do these days."

While its competitors have focused on more eco-friendly powertrains and experimenting with driverless technology, Jaguar has just "shoved more horses under the hood", says Adam Hay-Nicholls in GQ magazine. Yet it has also unveiled bold plans to electrify its range from 2020.So could this be a last hurray, "a final pull of the fat cigar"? If so, make the most of it while you can. The V8 sounds wonderful from behind the wall of leather and carpet, the performance is "unnerving" through the bends but fills you with "barnstorming confidence" on the motorway, and the price is not unreasonable for the power and luxury on offer. A Range Rover may do the luxury-car job better than any saloon, says The Daily Telegraph. "But for those who want to be seen and heard in something different, an XJR 575 fits the bill very nicely indeed."

Price: £93,710. Engine: 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol. Power: 567bhp.