Jaguar XKR

     While the new Jaguar F-Type is a stunning coupe, its arrival unfortunately means the end of the Jaguar XK. This grand tourer was a beauty as well, due to the car's great proportions and slick bodywork.
     Starting with the front, the car really seems to fit into the cat-like ethos of Jaguar. The oval grille with its chrome webbing is fancy but also reminds me of a jaguar, its mouth open wide. The grille is flanked by teardrop shaped headlights, which feature a projector lamp that provide a more modern look than reflector lamps. The lower front fascia is comprised of a wide rectangular intake with chrome diagonal bars, and two vertical chrome-outlined slits that hint at the potential for speed. The hood's two indents stemming from the glass down to just above the grille, along with the "Supercharged" branded vents, create a powerful impression; and this car is powerful, producing over 500 horsepower. Extending from the headlight is a curving character line that flows into the window line. Just behind the front wheel is a vent that further adds to the image of a car ready to jump into action. Just behind the rear section of the window, massive haunches appear, creating a pouncing cat look. This powerful stance reminds me of many 2000's Aston Martins, which is no surprise since the designer of the XK, Ian Callum, also designed the DB7 and Vanquish for Aston.
      Around back, the teardrop shape appears again in the taillights, which feature circular and rectangular white sections in the center for the turning and reverse indicators. The rear lamps are connected by a skinny chrome bar featuring the Jaguar name. The fact that the letters are engraved into the chrome and are very spaced out create a luxurious feel. Just above this is a lip spoiler, adding to the image that this car is capable of high speeds. Down below, the car features two sets of dual exhaust pipes, further reinforcing the sporting image started by the front hood design.
     Overall, a mixture of chrome and smooth lines with vents and haunches create an elegant yet muscular grand tourer.

Grade
Front: A
Back: A-
Overall: A-

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster

SLR McLaren in Naples, Florida

     Mercedes-Benz and McLaren  had grand ambitions when they collaborated on this grand tourer,  but while it sports a sleek look, those aspirations did not show through, as the SLR's design is too simple. While there is nothing terrible about the Merc, much of the design failed to make a lasting impression.
        The grille is often literally what sticks out most in a car. If this car wanted to grab our attention, it should not have had a boring, rectangular grille running on a slight downward angle into the hood bulge--a splash of chrome on the grille's bar could have livened up the front fascia. Below the grille, there's just nothing there and, again, some chrome would provided panache.
       The headlights, two joined vertical ovals featuring xenon headlamps, fit in with Mercedes' brand look from that era--this car was produced from 2003-2009--but while they fit in with the W203 C-Class, which was a more conservative car, it is a bit too basic for this luxury sports car.
        Walk around the back and it's more of the same. The lower rear fascia wears nothing more than a frowning look, with an arch curving over the reverse lights and down to the underside of the SLR. The brake light is mounted on the underside of the lip spoiler, and the designated license plate spot is simply an indent in the rear bodywork. Again, I was disappointed by the simplicity of the design of the rear fascia, expecting something more flashy, maybe a chrome bar connecting the taillights or more glamorous license plate spot.
    Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to like about the SLR McLaren. The car's long hood features a bulge that is a reminder of the might of the 617 horsepower V8 engine underneath. This bulge stretches from the windscreen down to the grille, where it comes to a point, a protrusion that holds a large Mercedes-Benz emblem and is flanked by sporty silver horizontal vents close to the windscreen. The vents are split into three pieces by silver dividers--the car's vents are my favorite touch and exactly what  this car could use more of. 

     Just behind the luxurious 10-spoke silver wheels is another sleek air vent, with a similar design to the ones on the hood, except the dividers are horizontal and the vents themselves are vertical. These vents have a retro feel, reminding me of the vents on the 300SL Gullwing. The bottom of the vent runs into a clean character line which forms the outline of the doors. Another strong character line, actually more like a small inversion, runs from in between the oval headlamps, along the body, and around the seats, making almost a full circumnavigation of the vehicle.

                               SLR McLaren in Naples, Florida

     The highlights of the rear are the complex and futuristic taillights, similarly shaped to those on the current C-Class, with the silver C-shaped housings within the taillights that contain the LEDs being my favorite detail. 

     When the SLR McLaren cruises by you may think it's a real looker, but when examined closely, we realize that the Mercedes-Benz didn't live up to its potential in design.

Grade
Front: B-
Back: B-
Overall: B-