By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

As worn as the cliche is, there is just no better way to describe the 510bhp Jaguar XFR than 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'.

Only in this instance, the sheep has a bit more bling than usual to distinguish itself from the XF flock - huge wheels, quad tailpipes, a bulging louvred bonnet and, to hammer home the point, large chrome-lined portions of a mesh lower grille.

Beneath the bling is a 5-litre blood-thirsty sabre-toothed version of the award-winning XF sedan.

Its direct injection V8 does not thrive on sheer displacement alone. It is supercharged for good measure and produces a jungle-thrashing 625Nm of torque - from just 2,500rpm.

Like the big AMG and M cars from Merc and BMW respectively, the XFR masks its brute with smooth delivery, superb insulation and fantastic chassis control.

Its refinement level is up there with the best. So, even when you are outgunning a big manic motorcycle on a sweeping incline, it feels like you are merely taking a Sunday drive.

The revs remain relatively low and the Jaguar glides along on its 20-inch wheels, oblivious to the envious (and angry) eyes following its effortless progress.

At the helm, the driver feels just as unflustered, nestled in snug ventilated seats and enjoying the car's 14-speaker Bowers & Wilkins hi-fi.

The ride is firmer than what Jaguar used to offer in its R cars, signalling a more serious attempt to woo the driving enthusiast. It works. The car offers the most graceful cornering you can experience in a sedan its size.

Shove is delivered not by the buckets but in one unrelentless tidal wave. To tame that tsunami, the XFR has sizeable brakes (front 380mm ventilated, rear 376mm). They do a creditable job of hauling the 1.9-tonne car doing 90kmh to a quick halt, with minimal dive.

Its steering comes across as one of the best in the business. The wheel is thick set and leather-wrapped. The turning ratio is decently tight, with just the right amount of assistance at any speed. A tad heftier by Jag standards, perhaps, but gratifyingly lag-free and communicative.

Then, there is the Sport selection on the transmission dial. No other S-mode transforms a Dr Jekyll into a Mr Hyde like it. Especially if you use it in conjunction with the car's Dynamic program, accessible via a chequered flag button.

Driven thus, the XFR is a snarling, growling beast that is rev-happy and throttle-sensitive.

To prevent accidental activation, you have to depress the transmission dial to turn to Sport and press the chequered flag button for a few of seconds to activate it.

At its best (or worst), the XFR takes less than two seconds to exceed Malaysia's highway speed limit from 80kmh. This makes it a joy in day-to-day driving, where overtaking can be accomplished at the drop of a hat.

For a car its size (it is in the same ballpark as models such as the Merc E-class and BMW 5-series), its 0-100kmh timing of 4.9 seconds is not too shoddy, either.

But of course you wonder, can you achieve the same with a smaller engine? Yes, you probably can. It will not be exactly the same, though.

The deep, bassy drone of a big V8 and its laid-backness, where most driving is done with less than 2,500rpm, are charming traits that are hard to replicate with a smaller power plant. The advantages are tangible too, whether on long hauls at high speeds or tooling about in the city.

And that remains Jaguar's unique proposition, even as a couple of the German marques are closing the gap fast.

No one in the price segment quite matches the XFR's interior, though, especially not its futuristic cockpit. When you punch the Start button, a rotary gear selector rises from the centre console, and the air-conditioning vents swivel open.

A master touchscreen provides access to all the functions. Even the cabin lighting and glovebox lid are touch-operated. You get two-tone leather upholstery, and suede lining the ceiling and pillars. Suede!

Its elegant ambience is marred only by sounds. Namely, sounds of the parking beepers (too loud), signal lamps ticker (too loud) and the window servos (too loud). From 4,000rpm, you even hear the supercharger's mechanical whine.

Nevertheless, it is still an outstanding car with a big presence and an equally big performance. And more importantly than most critics care to point out, it appeals as much to the driver as to passengers.

And just so you do not put your licence at risk driving this deceptively quick car, you can set a speed limit via a prominently placed button on the centre console - right next to the chequered flag button.

christan@sph.com.sg

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