Jaguar XKR vs. Aston Martin DB9

Credit: Jaguar.ca

Bill Ford has added to his monopoly taking ownership of Jaguar Motors and partial stake (as of March 2007, shared with ProDrive’s David Richards) of Aston Martin. Ian Callum was the design chief on both the XKR and the DB9 -- building on the tailored chassis of the Jaguar XJS -- and his creative control resulted in two aesthetically identical cars. Both have engine capabilities of 400+ horsepower and have enjoyed success in premier road races, but how does that success translate to your everyday drive?

We've pit these two British powerhouses against one another to find out which is a more fitfully race-inspired consumer vehicle. Both were evaluated in six categories from interior design to bang for your buck, with 100 points awarded at the checkered flag.

Jaguar XKR

MSRP (base): $86,700
Engine: 4.2-liter, 32 valve, DOHC supercharged V8
Horsepower: 420 bhp
Torque: 413 ft. lbs @ 4,000 rpm
MPG: City: 15; Highway: 23

Performance - 16/20
The RWD XKR rests atop an aluminum-based frame, shaving 70 kg of drag mass over its predecessor, despite the XK’s chassis being abbreviated in inches. Rigidity-minded dampers and springs were applied along with 38% stiffer shocks in the front and 24% at the rear. Couple the recalibration of the hydraulic power steering and a rear shock tower strut brace with a well-developed e-stability control system and the result is a drastic improvement in accurate handling and maneuverability. Twin air intakes aid the coupe in breathing as an Eaton supercharger brings the 4.2-liter V8 and its available horsepower to a whopping 420. With a 0-60 mph time of just a hair over five seconds, the XKR will reach top end speed of 155 mph. But no worries -- this Jag is also outfitted with the largest performance brakes ever to be put on a production Jaguar.

Exterior - 18/20
2007’s XK was regarded by a slew of critics as being the aesthetic epitome of the British GT bracket and has seen some modifications for the sport-tuned R version. Heightening aerodynamic performance, the entire lightweight cast including all panels and the frame were implemented to make a uni-spaceframe design. Unique to this year's offering are the quad tailpipe afterburners that were derived from the manufacturers FIA race car. The XKR was also garnished with a freshly meshed grille, aluminum hood vents, and a convertible at the consumer’s prerogative.

Interior - 6/10
New engine mounts allow for very minute reverberation in the cockpit, enabling the pilot to enjoy the interior styling of the XKR without the engine taking over -- mind you, there's no reason why you wouldn't want that, really. The cabin employs race-inspired buckets with the signature R emblazoned on the headrests, as well as on the steering wheel, shifter knob and tachometer. Much of the interior, being the center console and transmission pod, is pronounced by brushed aluminum panels -- which are in actual fact plastic -- although for no extra cost these can be swapped for a Satin American Walnut veneer. The mechanically adjustable seats and door grids are all outfitted in leather, as are the A and B pillars. And while Jaguar pitched their latest installment as a true 2+2 configuration, we found that the rear arrangement could only fit very small children or packages comfortably.

What's the XKR's final score and how does the DB9 fare? Next Page >>