Macrae & Dick Jaguar's Alastair MacKenzie at Oulton Park

Macrae & Dick Jaguar's Alastair MacKenzie in the driving seat of the new Jaguar XKR-S Coupe around the Oulton Park.

The XKR-S is billed as the fastest, most driver-focused Jaguar ever made (excluding the XJ220) and at £100,000 less than a Ferrari 599 GTB, it offers an attractive alternative.

With a mighty 5.0-litre supercharged V8 under the bonnet, it delivers 542bhp thanks to improved fuelling, a revised ECU and a new exhaust system. On paper that means 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, 0-100mph in 8.7 seconds and if it wasn't electronically limited to a top speed of 186mph, there is talk of it breaking the 200mph barrier.

Externally, it has benefited from a host of performance-based aesthetic modifications: twin air scoops on the grill, a deeper spoiler, extended sills and a carbon fibre rear wing all contribute to giving the XKR-S an aggresive look. But these modifications aren't simple vanity as the spoilers and skirts help reduce lift by 26 per cent.

Jaguar's touring heritage hasn't suffered as a resulty though, and with a comfortable interior and barely harder suspension, it's as enjoyable to drive on the road as it is on the track.