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03/04/2008 - 01:09 PM
Monte Carlo, Monaco
3-time Formula 1 champ Nelson Piquet used to say that racing at Monaco was like trying to ride a bike around your living room. What he omitted to add was that the “living room” he was referring to was the kind you’d find in an Airstream trailer.
Jeez this track is tight. For 2.09 miles, it snakes around the waterfront of this mega-moneyed principality on streets that are way too cramped for a Vespa let alone 20-odd 900-horsepower-plus F1 racers.
There’s no real point in counting the corners, either, because the whole track is nothing but curves and corners. The pit straight? That would be the pit-curve-to-the-right.
And I’m blown away by how any F1driver can hammer through the legendary Monaco tunnel, with its right-hand sweep, achnied surface and exit into blinding sunlight, flat out at 175mph in seventh.
Right now I’m punching Jaguar’s brand-new XF Supercharged up the super-steep Beau Rivage hill to Casino square, feeling the grunt of 420 horsepower, and watching the speedo needle sweep past a highly-illegal 70 mph – pretty pathetic when you consider that right about now, Kimi would be touching 170 in sixth.
Jaguar recently set up camp at the glitzy Hotel Port Palace right on the Monaco harbor-front for the global media launch of its make-or-break XF sedan. While this wasn’t the last week of May for Grand Prix week, mid-Feb does have two advantages; no tourists, less traffic.
But before we head off into the nearby Alpes Maritimes mountains to test-out the XF’s mettle along 300 miles of fast, curvy backroads, how about we indulge in a lap of arguably the world’s greatest grand prix circuit?
This new XF has all the right sporting credentials. Essentially the car’s a four-door version of Jag’s XK sports car. Same lineup of 4.2-liter V8s, same hyper-responsive six-speed ZF automatic with paddle shifters, same suspension, steering and brakes. Even the same instruments and steering wheel.
And it’s wrapped in one of the sexiest bodies to come out of Jaguar since the original XJ6 from the late-’60s. Forget about any comparisons with Lexus’ GS or the Merc CLS; this swoopy-roofed four-door has its own distinctive style, its own visual energy.
Some of the detailing is just drop-dead gorgeous. Like the power-bulged hood which gives a stylistic nod to the classic E-Type. And the brushed aluminum surround that highlights the lovely sweep of the side-windows.
That said, the plastic mesh grille looks pretty cheap and cheesy and lacks the authenticity of real metal mesh. And I’ve yet to see a wheel design – even the optional 20 – that doesn’t look like it came off a Hyundai.
But slide behind the wheel and this new Jag all comes together. Cynics and Lexus marketeers may dismiss the heart-beating starter button as Vegas-kitsch. But press it and watch as the cylindrical shifter rises out of the center console and the dash vents rotate 90 degrees, and you can’t help but mouth the word “Cool.”
And unlike the cabin of the previous S-Type, with its mish-mash of dollar store materials, the XF oozes quality. From its twin-stitched dashtop, to its sleek aluminum trim, to its sexy “phosphor” blue instrument lighting, the cabin sets a new benchmark in style and sexiness.
Even in mid-February, the Monaco waterfront is a parking lot for multi-million dollar nautical indulgence.
Gin-palace mega yachts line the quayside getting prepped and preened for $500-grand a week charters, or for their new-money Russian owners to jet in for a cruise up the Riviera coastline.
As for us, we’re now coasting along the start/finish line towards the sharp 90-degree right-hander at Sainte Devote, scene of usual raceday first-corner mayhem. Then it’s hard on the throttle for the blast up Beau Rivage, through the sharp left-hander at Massenet, past the Prada and Gucci stores, and into Casino Square.
The Jag feels downright sensational in these tight confines. There’s real precision and tremendous feedback in the beautifully weighted steering and tons of grip from the generously rubbered 19-inch rims.
But what impresses the most is the quality of the ride which couples sports coupe firmness with luxury car suppleness. Even over Monaco’s urban ruts and ridges, the Jag feels calm and composed.
Now it’s past the Hotel de Paris and the not one, but two Bugatti Veyrons parked outside, down to Mirabeau, through the impossibly tight Grand Hotel Hairpin, the hard right at Portier, and into the Tunnel.
Instinctively I power down the front windows, click the paddle shifter to drop down to second, stand on the throttle, and listen.
As the tach needle sweeps past the 4500rpm mark, the exhaust note hardens, the whine from the blower cranks up liked a muted dentist’s drill, and the aural crescendo amped-up by the tunnel walls sounds better than anything Bon Jovi has done in years.
But just in case you need a little heavy metal to help spike your already surging adrenaline levels, crank-up the optional 14-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio and prepare to have your ears bleed.
You fire out of the Tunnel like Coco the Clown out of a circus cannon, trying not to “do an Ascari.” Back in 1955, racer Alberto Ascari launched his Lancia into the Monaco harbor. Not surprisingly, it didn’t float.
On Grand Prix day, there’d be a chicane pretty much right outside the Port Palace Hotel, which would drop the F1 cars down to 30mph. Then it’s a blast along the harbor-front to the left-hander at Tabac, down past the swimming pool, through the super-tight Rascasse – where back in ’06 Michael Schumacher supposedly crunched his Ferrari to prevent Fernando Alonso out-qualifying him – and it’s back on the pit straight.
Magical. Even with local traffic cramping your style, you still get a feel of the history, the uniqueness, the sheer wonderment of this place.
The new XK officially goes on sale in the U.S. next week with the 300-horse V8 Luxury on offer for $49,975, the more lavishly equipped Premium Luxury version selling for $55,975, and our 420hp Supercharged coming in at $62,975.
It’s a car that’s going to do exceedingly well for Jaguar. In a long, hard, fast day of driving through southern France, the car absolutely shone. Normally it’s easy to find fault with any new car, but the XF left me struggling to identify anything I’d want to change. Well, maybe that plastic grille.
Tampa-based writer Howard Walker has been covering the auto beat for more than 30 years. Former editor of Britain’s Motor magazine and Editor-in-Chief of Classic & Sportscar, Walker now reports on the U.S. auto scene for more than a dozen international publications. He also edits the duPont Registry’s Exotic Car Guide.
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Gorgeous detail touches position the XF seamlessly amid Monaco's mega-yachts. » More Photos
Jeez this track is tight. For 2.09 miles, it snakes around the waterfront of this mega-moneyed principality on streets that are way too cramped for a Vespa let alone 20-odd 900-horsepower-plus F1 racers.
There’s no real point in counting the corners, either, because the whole track is nothing but curves and corners. The pit straight? That would be the pit-curve-to-the-right.
And I’m blown away by how any F1driver can hammer through the legendary Monaco tunnel, with its right-hand sweep, achnied surface and exit into blinding sunlight, flat out at 175mph in seventh.
Right now I’m punching Jaguar’s brand-new XF Supercharged up the super-steep Beau Rivage hill to Casino square, feeling the grunt of 420 horsepower, and watching the speedo needle sweep past a highly-illegal 70 mph – pretty pathetic when you consider that right about now, Kimi would be touching 170 in sixth.
Jaguar recently set up camp at the glitzy Hotel Port Palace right on the Monaco harbor-front for the global media launch of its make-or-break XF sedan. While this wasn’t the last week of May for Grand Prix week, mid-Feb does have two advantages; no tourists, less traffic.
But before we head off into the nearby Alpes Maritimes mountains to test-out the XF’s mettle along 300 miles of fast, curvy backroads, how about we indulge in a lap of arguably the world’s greatest grand prix circuit?
The XF's supercharged V8 delivers 0-to-60mph sprinting in 5.1 seconds. » More Photos
And it’s wrapped in one of the sexiest bodies to come out of Jaguar since the original XJ6 from the late-’60s. Forget about any comparisons with Lexus’ GS or the Merc CLS; this swoopy-roofed four-door has its own distinctive style, its own visual energy.
Some of the detailing is just drop-dead gorgeous. Like the power-bulged hood which gives a stylistic nod to the classic E-Type. And the brushed aluminum surround that highlights the lovely sweep of the side-windows.
That said, the plastic mesh grille looks pretty cheap and cheesy and lacks the authenticity of real metal mesh. And I’ve yet to see a wheel design – even the optional 20 – that doesn’t look like it came off a Hyundai.
The XF's supercharged V8 delivers 0-to-60mph sprinting in 5.1 seconds. » More Photos
But slide behind the wheel and this new Jag all comes together. Cynics and Lexus marketeers may dismiss the heart-beating starter button as Vegas-kitsch. But press it and watch as the cylindrical shifter rises out of the center console and the dash vents rotate 90 degrees, and you can’t help but mouth the word “Cool.”
And unlike the cabin of the previous S-Type, with its mish-mash of dollar store materials, the XF oozes quality. From its twin-stitched dashtop, to its sleek aluminum trim, to its sexy “phosphor” blue instrument lighting, the cabin sets a new benchmark in style and sexiness.
Even in mid-February, the Monaco waterfront is a parking lot for multi-million dollar nautical indulgence.
The XF's supercharged V8 delivers 0-to-60mph sprinting in 5.1 seconds. » More Photos
The Jag feels downright sensational in these tight confines. There’s real precision and tremendous feedback in the beautifully weighted steering and tons of grip from the generously rubbered 19-inch rims.
But what impresses the most is the quality of the ride which couples sports coupe firmness with luxury car suppleness. Even over Monaco’s urban ruts and ridges, the Jag feels calm and composed.
Now it’s past the Hotel de Paris and the not one, but two Bugatti Veyrons parked outside, down to Mirabeau, through the impossibly tight Grand Hotel Hairpin, the hard right at Portier, and into the Tunnel.
The XF's supercharged V8 delivers 0-to-60mph sprinting in 5.1 seconds. » More Photos
Instinctively I power down the front windows, click the paddle shifter to drop down to second, stand on the throttle, and listen.
As the tach needle sweeps past the 4500rpm mark, the exhaust note hardens, the whine from the blower cranks up liked a muted dentist’s drill, and the aural crescendo amped-up by the tunnel walls sounds better than anything Bon Jovi has done in years.
But just in case you need a little heavy metal to help spike your already surging adrenaline levels, crank-up the optional 14-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio and prepare to have your ears bleed.
You fire out of the Tunnel like Coco the Clown out of a circus cannon, trying not to “do an Ascari.” Back in 1955, racer Alberto Ascari launched his Lancia into the Monaco harbor. Not surprisingly, it didn’t float.
On Grand Prix day, there’d be a chicane pretty much right outside the Port Palace Hotel, which would drop the F1 cars down to 30mph. Then it’s a blast along the harbor-front to the left-hander at Tabac, down past the swimming pool, through the super-tight Rascasse – where back in ’06 Michael Schumacher supposedly crunched his Ferrari to prevent Fernando Alonso out-qualifying him – and it’s back on the pit straight.
Magical. Even with local traffic cramping your style, you still get a feel of the history, the uniqueness, the sheer wonderment of this place.
The new XK officially goes on sale in the U.S. next week with the 300-horse V8 Luxury on offer for $49,975, the more lavishly equipped Premium Luxury version selling for $55,975, and our 420hp Supercharged coming in at $62,975.
It’s a car that’s going to do exceedingly well for Jaguar. In a long, hard, fast day of driving through southern France, the car absolutely shone. Normally it’s easy to find fault with any new car, but the XF left me struggling to identify anything I’d want to change. Well, maybe that plastic grille.
Tampa-based writer Howard Walker has been covering the auto beat for more than 30 years. Former editor of Britain’s Motor magazine and Editor-in-Chief of Classic & Sportscar, Walker now reports on the U.S. auto scene for more than a dozen international publications. He also edits the duPont Registry’s Exotic Car Guide.
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