There was a time when Jaguar lost its way. It seemed content to muddle through, producing uninspiring-yet-expensive dull-looking cars for boring people to take to the golf club.
In my mind, the great and historic marque hit the skids in the 1980s, being stigmatised as the car du jour of the dodgy British wheeler-dealer.
Thankfully, the grand predator is steadily salvaging its reputation, to build on the strength of a name that defined the best in British racing in the 1960s. It gave the world the E-Type, for goodness' sake, and we should all be for ever grateful for that.
Now, with a low-gear guttural roar and the kind of acceleration normally reserved for intergalactic travel, we can welcome to the Middle East the Jaguar XKR Limited Edition. And, goodness, it is glorious.
This is a malevolent beast, packing an impressive 4.2-litre V8 supercharged all-aluminium power-plant to propel you and your passenger screaming from standstill to 100kph in a thrillingly quick 5.2 seconds.
The XKR, in its basic incarnation, was always a beautiful car, and popular among the discerningly wealthy car-owners. But the LE takes refinement and the sheer joy of driving to another, altogether more exciting, level.
Created specifically for the Mena market, the LE – available only in porcelain white in a limited edition of 30 – combines unquestionable performance with dynamic stability, and all lovingly controlled from a cockpit of superior luxury.
The big cat's reshaped, angrier snout, side vents, revised rear spoiler and bumper add an element of the supercar to the XKR – this is now a car that truly turns heads.
Indeed, taking off from traffic lights and something called Active Exhaust System gives a purposeful and attention-grabbing V8 roar, but ensures refinement and a quiet ride at cruising speed.
Add Senta 20in, 10-spoke alloy wheels to the standard profile, and you're sat behind the wheel of a truly remarkable piece of engineering – and a car that corners at speed like it was born to do it.
Jaguar has – rather thoughtfully, I think – also retrofitted the XKR for this edition with its most powerful stoppers yet, a set of Alcon R Performance brakes (with bright red callipers!) complete with 400mm brake disks at the front and 350mm disks at the rear. And, boy, you'll be pleased they work.
Also, the big brains at Jaguar have tinkered with the LE's springs and dampers – all now bespoke – fitted an anti-roll bar and a recalibrated Computer Active Technology Suspension (Cats) to further improve the LE's ride and handling.
The engine, offering 420bhp at 6,250rpm, has a smooth-as-silk six-speed automatic transmission with a system called Jaguar Sequential Shift and steering-mounted paddle shifters for the sporty, plus stability control, ABS, emergency brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution for maximum safety.
All these tweaks, which look impressive on the crib sheet, come into their own when the alloy throttle is pushed to the floor – creating maximum thrust, with minimum effort, for a ride that never feels like the car is going out of control.
In the bends, the XKR holds the corner line with little roll, and should the back-end threaten to slip away, the technology quickly cuts in to help the driver maintain control.
The beauty on the outside of the XKR is mirrored in its sports interior of full soft-grain black leather and twin-needle white stitching, complemented by a dash and trim of aluminium veneer.
The front seats are adjustable in 16 ways – even allowing the driver to bolster the side to hold you in place on the corners. The back seats are not really worth mentioning, offering just enough space for one very small child or an adult with no legs. There is a 300-litre boot, but don't try to get a French stick in there without folding it in the middle.
The dashboard technology includes a seven-inch touchscreen iPod-ready infotainment centre, including sat-nav and Bluetooth phone connections and full climate control.
From the padded three-spoke leather steering wheel, there is cruise control with an active speed limiter, and access to the infotainment centre. The car also has keyless entry and keyless start wizardry.
As far as music goes, the LE has a Bowers and Wilkins Premium Sound system, pumping out 525W of crystal-clear surround sound, and a six-CD inboot changer.
Ultimately, with all the technological and engineering advances, the LE is a more agile creature than the XKR, taking the driving experience to the next level without ever compromising the qualities we all expect in, and from, a Jaguar.
The marque's sale to Tata from Ford, where it was terminally underfunded, in this instance seems like a good move – should the Indian major continue to fund the creation of such delights as the XKR LE.
Jaguar is back on the prowl. At last.
The rivals
MERCEDES SL500
A beautiful and powerful car from the German car-maker, but relatively common in the UAE. A desirable auto from a premium company
ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE
The British brand is synonymous with hand-built quality. The Vantage is intended to be a more accessible model for buyers of cars such as the Porsche 911
AUDI R8
The first car for the 21st Century? Audi's premier sports coupé is rare and desirable – and will make even the most ardent petrolhead drool in envy
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