>> It's the country club meets CNET. Let's go for a ride in the '08 Jag XKR convertible. And check the tech.
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>> Now the technology interface on this XKR convertible is pretty unique in the business. First of all, you're looking at the only macromedia flash based interface on the road today. Touch screen as you can see. That's a 7 inch LCD: really nice resolution. I think it's a really well done information display.
Let's dive into the audio: AM/FM, no HD radio, satellite radio, Sirius only, and CD's, 6 disc in dash changer. You've also got of course, the king of the road here. Here's our navigation. Let's get into it. That's a good looking map to my eye: very latest generation in the way that it's been laid out. Destination entry, very clear. You've got a button right there at the top of the stack. Now as I'm doing all this, do you notice the speed of the interface? It's a little bit slow. I know flash is slick but I don't need all this slidy, slippy crap. Just go to the next menu.
And notice the Jaguar wireless key here. A very slick little item, but what happens if the battery goes dead? Well they've got a little dock here that you'll find in the console where if the battery is dead, or somehow it's just not working because of RF interference. You dock this guy. And it's kind of cool. It's got a little motorized thing. There it goes. Now it's in. You hear the motor grab it and pull it in and you've got to turn the car back off. I'm learning right now, to get the key back out.
Now of all the luxuries on this car, one you won't find is, and probably logically, is a rear view camera. The rear view technology in this car is made of canvas. When the top's down, you've got a great view out the back. When it's up, well you gotta make due. But, when I go into reverse that LCD screen does not become a rear view camera. It becomes a display for the park distance sensors.
Now in terms of trunk space, don't expect much. It is a roadster with a drop top. Here's a very early E-tive [assumed spelling] touch. You've got these chrome rails with these rubber rump [assumed spelling] strips on them. Very nice for keeping your cargo from sliding around.
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>> Now the power underfoot in our XKR is the 4 point 2 liter, supercharged JAG V-8. It's the HA Series motor. It's been around since '98 I want to say? So it's a well proven V-8 block -- aluminum block in heads, 4 overhead cams, yada yada ya. The supercharging is the key and that's a Jaguar R-Type thing: 420 horse, 413 foot pounds, delivered very nicely. The combination of engine programming and transmission in this car, I find is particularly nice. The transmission is a 6 speed, automatic made by ZF. It's your only choice. The paddle shifters are particularly well thought out because they're always available. I don't have to go to the S-mode to get to them. I can be driving along, and snick a gear like that.
Okay, let's price out our country club bomber: 92-7 is the base for an XKR convertible. Pretty much everything's in there including the touch screen with the macromedia flash and the nav and all that, but you can add on. 24-50 will get you adaptive cruise control and front park distance technology. We saw the rear in our case. Now I think you're going to be hard pressed to find one of these without that, but it may happen.
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