Thoroughbred
Sleek and sporty Jaguar is a big cat with a scary amount of horsepower
In the grounds of Fonab Castle Hotel in Pitlochry, there are statues of two horses grazing.
I looked at them as I was about to get into the Jaguar XE and take it out for a test drive.
“One horsepower”, I thought. “Two horsepower.”
Then I looked at the car in front of me and murmured, “300 horsepower.”
My, we have come a long way since a man with a red f lag walked in front of a car to warn pedestrians of the danger.
This 2-litre all-wheel drive Jaguar comes with configurable dynamics for the engine steering, gear shift and suspension. That means you can make this car your own by adjusting it with a softer or firmer suspension, lighter or heavier steering, making the sweet spot even sweeter.
On top of this, because this is the fabulous sleek and sporty version, you can also use the onboard stopwatch feature, the G-Force monitor and get your lap times.
This is a car for fun and adventure and pays homage to the glory day of Jags as kings of the racing circuit. There is nothing quite like the thrill of getting behind the wheel of a car designed for speed ed and power. And this one is a beauty too. Its racy silhouette is enhanced in this R-Dynamic version with a special bumper, rear valance and side sills and an R-Dynamic badge on the grille. There are metal treadplates with R-Dynamic script and inside a special R-Dynamic leather steering wheel.
Should you opt for the new Black Edition, it comes with
19 - iinch nch gloss black wheels, red brake calipers, black side sill inserts, black-capped door mirrors and inside gloss grey ebony veneer and bright metal pedals.
I almost regret not driving the Black Edition until I get behind the wheel of the XE300 in Eiger Grey metallic paint with the Dynamic Handling Pack onboard, which as well as the configurable dynamics adds adaptive dynamics, red brake calipers (I love them) extra powerful brakes and a boot lid spoiler.
It cruises, it schmoozes and just loves the road. For posit ive performance and amazing comfort it is a real winner. There are Eco , Comfort and Dynamic modes – all of which are great to use and this Jaguar
XE300 also comes with Adaptive Surface Response for easing off icy roads in winter.
And in line with greener policies it comes with and air purifier and carbon air ionisation for hay fever sufferers. This Nanoe technology can also destroy up to 98 per cent of the SARS virus.
Inside there is loads of piano black gloss and nothing is a better reminder of what you are driving than that big cat leaping across the steering wheel.
The horses are still grazing when we get back to Fonab – just as well they’re statues, otherwise this big cat would give them the fright of their lives.