Jaguars are not for beating the best lap time, they are built to put one massive smile on your face. Jaguars are made to entertain and clearly, by looking at your face, you bloody well enjoyed it.

XKR-S for me, easily. It may be a worse car but just look at it. That's enough for me.

Gotta know how to handle that Jag.It's giving you the power to win if you really know how to use it

That looked like the most fun he has ever had in a car, in the jag

I suspect the traction control (TC) was turned off on the XKRS (probably on both cars) - and you need exceptional skill to pilot the Jaguar around a circuit without this control. I had some race tuition with Palmer Racing who used the less powerful XKR. With the TC engaged, it was impossible to spin the car (or hang out the tail) - no matter how much power you put down and where you were pointing the wheel. The TC on the XKR(S) inter-acts with the steering, the suspension, the throttle and (I think) the differential - at lightning speed, correcting things to give maximum performance. My (and my instructor's) lap times were a lot faster with the TC engaged. BTW - it's the Jag for me - has more soul...

Put better tires on that xkrs and it will destroy the merc

I'm a Merc CL 500 owner and even I can admit that Jaguar XK is much better looking than the current SL. Ian Callum is easily the best designer in the car world right now. F-Type Coupe looks SPECTACULAR.

2022 and this vid is still shot like artwork 8 years already

Would be interested to see lap times with traction control on..

Great review as always Jethro !!! Can't wait for some track beasts next episode : D

Jag!! No question!! Nothing looks better than going round a corner in ur own tire smoke!!

These videos are much more the sort of thing the Evo demographic is looking for guys! Much better than the NFS stuff previously. Well done!!

Every one will look at the XKR-S there's a Mercedes every corner..

Should have tried the Jag with traction control for the fast lap.

that jag is catchy by all means . i would go for that XKR-S all day

Awesome! I can't wait McLaren P1！

EVO Team, first of all thanks for these amazing videos. Second: can you put it i to context with the other cars you test and rank them all together in some kind of short overview? Even supershort, but at least like this we would know.. Thx. O

Best car journalist along with Chris Harris

Man that French Racing Blue is so mint!

Whenever I see this Jag I can't help but think how much better it would look in British Racing Green

If you will do drift laps prior to a fast lap, it's not surprising you got so much oversteer!

Jethro, you're my favorite EVO presenter! And you have a badass name.

Please do a New updated 2013 evora S manual vs Exige S. Could be very fun to watch:)!

I'd take the Jag! That paint and hell cat looks... Beautiful!

Which gets us to a conclusion that modern car companies don't bother tuning the chassis to make car stable and balanced, but simply put a clever stability control to do all the stuff for you.

Beautiful driving John, as I saw a dragrace that car spin at the finish at ~180 and the comentator exclamed that, anyway Nice drifting Jethro

Which is better for long-term reliability? I have heard horror stories of the merc's suspension needing $6000+ repairs after 60,000 miles

heart says jaguar xkr-s, brain says sl63 amg. brain also says both of these cars are top notch and that if any of the people on here bashing either one got the keys to the car the next day, they'd be pretty chaffed. i know i would, so lets just appreciate these fine pieces of engineering hey

Old school evo videos are the best

I wonder whats the name of that music clip at the end of the video

///AMG

They should have put the Mercedes against the Jag F-type

Would the result have been the same if the XKR-S coupe had been driven? Surely having the additional flexibility of the convertible shell wouldn't help the situation... Also, I've read in other threads that the TC on the Jag is very good, and makes it considerably easier to handle, without stifling the performance. Would like to see the coupe tested and with and without the TC engaged. Regardless, very entertaining video, and great driving. There's no doubt that the "Drop Dead Gorgeous" Jag is a beautiful design. And given that I don't drive on a race track every day, I think I know which I'd choose if I was in the enviable position to have to make such a choice for a daily driver :-) Especially for the price.

at 7:35 which video of the sls black series is that?

Where those flames coming out of the SL's exhaust? at 3:19

would have rather had the camera on the outside watching the slides

Things that go vroom...

Does the XKR-S have some kind of an electric locking diff (if yes, doesn't seem to lock up/work that well) or a limited slip diff (needs more of it)? Those one wheel wonder out of the corner -slides look and must feel terrible. Looks like a pain in the ass to drive quickly. In my opinion a RWD car is much more fun to drive when you have to work a bit to get it sideways.

California T all day every day. Great video, Jethro!

Drifting around on the in-lap surely doesn't help traction on the "fast" lap.

Power cars , but i prefer Jaguar , that sound

XK...the original 4.2 is better in itself as a GT long distance cruiser.....and that is that...in my view

How can you see the track with the sun in your eyes? I become totally blind when it happens xD

One each please...😎

both nice cars, but the one that made this guy smile the most was the jaguar. i think it would be better in every day use.

Since this vid is about lapping, why don't you leave the drifting until AFTER so you have decent tyres for the lap ?!

You know what would make evo really good? If they fired every presenter and just kept Jethro. Easily the best reporter behind Chris Harris in my opinion.

Yes, the XKRS is pretty bad on the track. I've driven it on both track and road. On the road, it still likes to go side ways if you are not careful with trottle

I don't care about lap times. the jag looks so fun to drive

Why didn't you take SL65?

.......doesnt the XK have more seats and the structure is heavier? F-type will be a better comparison because they r both 2 seater convertible. Maybe wait until they have a R for convertible. right now V8S is only against the SL550. R is the Couper version which looks fantastic..but not fair if comparing to SL because F-type Coupe doesnt have that extra weight carrying the engine.

Not to mention the SL63 is more refined, stiffer body structure and looks better. I drove the SL550 and that car in itself is a beast!

Wow, this is the only person who doesn't like the jag. Everyone else gave it top reviews.

Turn off the ABC system in the SL, the under steer will reduce, widening the sweet spot of balance, although it will increase body roll

i remember a time when an SL was a beautiful, light and elegant machine. now it's just a tasteless lump. same goes for jaguar, but to a lesser extent

Xkr-s for the win!

Jaguar looks better. Sounds better. More unique. More fun. Less up tight. Less stuck up. Less serious. I'd take the Jaguar. In fact. I'd take any Jaguar over any of their German rivals. Have at me German car Nazis!

I own the Merc. It's okay but doesn't turn enough heads. I may have to upgrade to something more exotic / sexy.

Realize, as these cars come off lease and value comes down to where middle class can afford it we visit these videos for the first time. Also the demographic who watch these videos have always been us. So here I am, buying a used XKR.....

Jag is mental!😀

BMW M6 Convertible was watching..........

I like the Merc AMG, but that Jag's Supercharged V8 sounds great!!!

Well not a Mercedes Fan and this jag is dated, though both cars are really nice. Think I would opt for something else - F-type perhaps, much better looking than both of those. And this SL63 AMG in this battle should be better than the XKR-S, it´s a nearly brand new car. Btw Is the XKR not coming to end production cycle?.

Hey guys! That's not even the Performance package SL63! It goes to 564 HP and 660+ Torque! And you get better suspension and brakes! And what a car it is this!

I would still buy the Jag.

I love SL.

Eh, he hit the nail on the head when he asked "What is this car all about?" - if you want to go sideways all the time you can much more cheaply than the XKR-S. Buy a Holden or something

I've driven an XK-RS in damp conditions, full throttle and the back doesn't fly off the track like this. Don't turn all the traction control off and it flys around with just a little kick at the back. There's no way I'd pay for that Merc over the Jag, it's just not interesting at all.

Add Toyo r888r s, drop in tune and pulley, transforms the car. 12.4 1/4 mile stock (my time slip), 11.9 after aforementioned bolt ons (my time slip) God, I love grip and boost. lol

Kind of funny that german cars seem to always win against non-german cars. Just shows how much attention they pay to detailed engineering.

I couldn't care less about track times as I'd likely never drive on one. Between the two, for sheer looks, the Jag wins. Toss the Merc in the trash.

Both cars need wider and lower profile tires. To much power for tires.

Jag please

all though ill never drive the SL63 pushing the paddle a moment before I want to change gear would be so anoying

This guy is back here? After he hit a curb with that ferrari?

So if neither car is made for the track or at home on one, why are we watching them being compared there?

Jaguar made some nice cars that where almost up with the german competition a few years ago, but know they show their age. They still looks quite good, but the engines are not the best, the navigation units are really bad in jags etc...

Why not the coupe, as that has much less roll? Why not the XKR-SGT, which has even less roll? Why does this driver claim to be able to demonstrate "as good as it gets" driving - does anyone know who he is?

Gotta b the Jaaaaag

jag for me.

Well that was quite disappointing. I was hoping for some decent cars lurking under the hooligan image but they really are one trick ponies. The Merc looks very contrived on that suspension and looks like a pain to drive. The Jag is just silly. All that power and a chassis that could probably cope with half of it.

Jaguar best!!!

Jaguar only make eye candy , Mercedes make vans , trucks and taxi cabs ! But some good sports cars

The question is how many people goes on a track with a car like this ?

I dunno, Mercedes these days are are where BMW was 5-8 years ago in terms of chassis and suspension development, well and Jaguar was where Mercedes was about 10 years ago in terms of car 'concept' per se, with its big Supercharged V8 and lack of chassis finesse, where big power and torque is more important than all out handling (BMW). Sometimes the 'lairy-er' car is more fun tho.

I personally love the AMG that's my choice out of the two

4 years too late, but correct me if I'm wrong, I think the coupe version of the Jag would set a better time....

boring image with the cam at the front of the cars ...

I'd have the jaaaaaaaaag.

Jethro best driver on EVO ?

i think its his driving

the SL63 is so god damn ugly. That XKR-S, now that's something

Pound foot of torque. Did you mean feet? Common British error.

Ferrari California T anyone?

SL 63 AMG

What's the point of driving a non track specific car on a track just to say it sucks?

eee wtf ... buy them both

😊 Mercedes for me ofcourse Fantastic car and quality❤❤❤❤🇳🇴

XKR-S, easily. I've always looked at the SL's to be devoid of any distinguishing traits. It's one of those cars that will be forgotten and outdated in a matter of years. Assuming these cars are in the $100-150,000 range, I'd buy a used Ferrari California or a save up a bit for a '14 Porsche 911 Turbo instead.

Hmmm......maybe the driver is part of the handling issue. Not all to be put on the cars!! Just sayin!