| First Drive | Goodwood, England | Jaguar XKR Speed/Black Pack |

XKR Speed: no ambiguity there then; this version of Jaguar's lithe coupé comes with an increased top speed - from 155- to 174mph. Pretty academic that, with the Speed's increased V-Max simply the result of uncorking the electronic restrictor - the new limit is still an artificial one. Add some aerodynamic and visual tweaks and combine them with the optional 'Black Pack' to give the XKR a visual boost to match its top speed increase.

In the Metal

Always a good looker, the XKR's Speed Pack and Black Pack mix to give it an even more aggressive appearance. Deeper sills, a larger rear spoiler and revised front splitter add aerodynamic stability, though some might find the changes a bit too extravert in certain colours. Ditto the optional graphics, which drop the XKR down a class level or two; Jaguar should be above such things.

What you get for your Money

The Black Pack features red brake callipers and also removes exterior bright-work, instead covering it and the 20-inch wheels in glossy black. You can only have the Black Pack with the Speed Pack, though you can have the Speed Pack alone at £3,500, the Black Pack adding £500 to that. Confused? We were. We rather like the idea of the Black Pack on its own, as the more overt styling upsets the otherwise dignified lines of the XKR, and the additional speed is ultimately unusable in this country. Otherwise the XKR comes pretty well stocked, with pretty much everything you can imagine included as standard.

Driving it

It's a styling job so we're not looking for any changes in the car's behaviour on the road really. Try as we might there's nowhere that the Speed's additional mph at the top end are of any use to us in the UK. That's not to say that the XKR Speed isn't a glorious driving experience, with the supercharged 510bhp, 5.0-litre V8 providing easy, ample power and the ZF six-speed automatic shifting with no interruption in the engine's rush of power.

For something with the potential to reach 62mph in 4.6 seconds the XKR is a real cinch to drive. Just turn the pop-up automatic gear selector to Drive or Sport and off you go. The suspension is nicely supple despite massive 20-inch alloy wheels and the steering is light and direct. It's easy to forget that you're in something so fast, as the XKR does a great job of pampering its occupants. Push the accelerator a bit harder though and the XKR reveals its more sporting side, with performance that's right up with the best from Aston Martin, Porsche and Ferrari. As an all-rounder there's little to match it, the XKR managing a rare blend of comfort combined with quite shocking performance when you want it.

Worth Noting

For the 2011 model year Jaguar's XK has a new Instant Mobility System instead of a space-saver spare wheel. That frees up 30 litres of luggage space, but scuppers you if you shred, rather than merely puncture a tyre. All XKRs will now feature red brake callipers too, not just Black Pack equipped cars.

Summary

Jaguar's XKR is a great car as standard, and if you want some styling revisions the company already offers a no-cost-option R aero pack. You'd really have to want the bragging rights of that top speed increase or love the more overt looks to choose to spend the £3,500 the Speed Pack costs. Ideally, the Black Pack would be available its own, but Jaguar says no. Increased choice certainly, but why mess with an already very complete package?