KansasCity.com's view

The Jaguar XFR is the classic velvet hammer because this four-door sedan packs a serious wallop inside the svelte and sinuous body that looks like a luxury sedan instead of a serious performer.

The XFR has a 5.0-liter, direct-injection V-8 that delivers a massive 510 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque.

The engine is remarkably smooth and docile until you pin the throttle to the carpet. It comes alive with acceleration that hits 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds and gives the car a top track speed of 155 miles per hour. Despite the blistering performance, the XFR is a refined and luxurious sedan that can cruise quietly or pound down back roads with equal aplomb.

Visually, the XFR is recognizable by its 20-inch wheels, hood louvers, four tailpipes and R badging. It also has slightly different side sills and a functional rear spoiler.

The XFR, with its aggressive nose, wide-eyed headlights and coupelike roofline, has a powerful stance. It carries design cues from the XK coupe, and the soon-to-be-released XJ looks similar.

The sporty look, however, does not come at the expense of efficient packaging. Jaguar said the XFR’s waistline rises to meet the roof rather than the roof coming down to meet the waist, and that preserves interior space. The rising waistline results in a high tail that yields good aerodynamics while allowing substantial luggage space. The coefficient of drag is 0.29.

XFR prices begin at $79,150. The test car was from Jaguar’s press fleet.

Jaguar is owned by Tata Motors, India’s largest automobile company.

In addition to its striking styling, the XFR sports a number of technological features. One is the shift-by-wire automatic transmission that has a console-mounted dial selector instead of a shift lever. The dial is not only simple and intuitive, but it also consumes less space than a shift lever.

The XFR’s cabin has accents of brushed aluminum trim and small sections of real wood.

Jaguar’s press materials use this description of getting into the car: “When the driver enters the car, the stop/start button pulsates like a heartbeat until pressed, when the gear selector rises into the driver’s hand and the rotating fascia vents silently open.”

The transmission can be shifted with paddles on the steering wheel, and because shifts are controlled electronically, they occur faster than they would if made by a manual linkage. The transmission has winter and dynamic settings that interact with the sensitivity of the throttle, shift points and vehicle stability control.

The XFR’s active damping suspension automatically adjusts the shock absorber settings according to road conditions and the way the car is being driven.

The 20-inch wheels are not able to absorb the sharp jolts from rough pavement.

It takes time to get familiar with the operation of Jaguar’s touch-screen audio and navigation systems because the menu systems are not as intuitive as some competing systems.

The audio system has eight speakers. The Bowers & Wilkins audio system has HD radio along with Sirius satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity. MP3 and iPod music players can be controlled through the audio system’s touch screen.

The XFR has large, anti-lock brakes, an electronically controlled differential, vehicle stability control, brake assist and traction control.

Price

The base price of the test car was $79,150. The sticker price, with delivery, was $79,535.

Warranty

Four years or 50,000 miles.

2010 Jaguar XFR

Engine: 5.0-liter, 510-hp V-8

Transmission: automatic

Rear-wheel drive

Wheelbase: 114.5 inches

Curb weight: 4,306 lbs.

Base price: $79,150

As driven: $79,535

MPG rating: 15 city, 21 hwy.

To reach Tom Strongman, send e-mail to tom@tomstrongman.com.