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rand loyalty is a powerful force, and when it comes to cars it’s more powerful than gravity. Once hooked, a devotee to a particular badge will often stick with their chosen model through thick and thin, upgrading with each consecutive edition, even if it means driving a total dud (Mark 3 Golf GTI fans, it’s not too late to seek help). Every so often, though, a car comes along with such raw appeal that it can cause even the most ardent badge polisher to question their faith. Or at least, that is what the makers of the new Jaguar XKR-S are hoping. The legendary British marque’s new hero model is designed from rubber to roof to be an all-out weapon of mass seduction, with one of the most fiercely loyal fanbases out there, Porsche 911 drivers, as its target. Anyone who’s driven a 911 lately will know that Jaguar have a task on their hands. The Porsche is an iconic car with good reason – a magical blend of usability and driver appeal that rightly sets the benchmark in its class. But if first reactions among garage dwelling types to the arrival of the XKR-S are anything to go by, the 911 could be facing its first serious challenge for decades. At the time of writing the new big cat has yet to arrive on Australian shores, but judging from the froth generated upon its release in Europe, it’s already got it’s claws firmly into the back of Porsche’s sofa.
X-Rated
The new Jaguar XKR-S is a track-honed weapon of mass seduction, packing bags of refinement and blistering performance. Porsche 911 drivers should be prepared to have their loyalty tested, writes Sam Tinson.
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