2002 Jaguar XKR Coupe Photos, engines & full specs

Jaguar refreshed the entire XK lineup in 2002, and along with the XK8, it also improved the XKR coupe and convertible, upgrading their performance and features.

While the styling imagined by Sir Ian Callum was difficult to improve without spoiling it, the interior and the drivetrain could. Thanks to financial support from Ford, Jaguar worked on the six-year-old XKR and introduced some upgrades to it. In 2002, it launched the facelifted version of this British grand tourer vehicle. It took a keen eye for detail to distinguish the 1998 and the 2002 model years of the XKR. Still, nevertheless, those were present in several key areas, and customers appreciated them.

At the front, the automaker continued installing the metallic mesh grille on the oval gap in the bumper that allowed the air to cool and feed the air to the engine. But unlike its predecessor, the new version came with a slightly different lower side of the bumper, featuring larger fog lamps. It also got a new apron that had a three-slat air intake. The hood looked similar, with the same wide crease and the two louvers that helped hot air escape from the engine bay.

From its profile, there were more changes, including the new five-spoke alloy wheels. Moreover, the rear tires were wider for a better stance and faster cornering speeds. These new sets of wheels allowed customers to see the larger, cross-drilled front and rear rotors. Previously, the XKR was fitted with vented discs up front and solid in the back. The long and low-slung greenhouse was still elegant. Jaguar's aerodynamics engineers decided that the car needed new side sills with a more vertical design to lower the ground effect. They also found out that the XKR needed a beefier spoiler on the trunk, so they added it. Finally, as a distinctive element exclusively offered on the supercharged version of the XK8, the taillights were surrounded by a slim chromed trim.

Inside, the automaker installed the same leather-wrapped interior and the wood grains on the dash with recessed dials fronting the driver. But the center stack was now available with a color display for the infotainment system. If the customers didn't choose that, they got a pair of gauges that flanked an analog clock. Between the front seats with integrated headrests, Jaguar installed a wide center console that housed the gear lever for the automatic transmission, a few buttons, and an armrest. In the back, there was still not enough room for adults.

Under its skin, the 2002 XKR could hardly hide that it relied on an almost three-decade-old platform carried over from the XJS. And yet, its improved springs and dampers made customers forget about that. But the most significant upgrade was under the hood. There, Jaguar installed a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 that produced 400 hp (405 PS) and paired it with a new six-speed automatic gearbox.