Jaguar XJR vs Maserati Quattroporte V8 vs Audi S8
Jaguar XJR : "The XJR is seriously quick, with none of the rumble and strain that the old one imparted."
Maserati Quattroporte V8 : "The ride is appaling. there are five damper settings, from firm and fidgety to rock-solid, and all of them are wrong."
Audi S8 : "It's much the best motorway megacruiser when you enter the sinful zone beyond our snail-pace limit."
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| Powertrain | Audi | Jaguar | Maserati |
| Engine | 4172cc 32V; dohc V8 | 3996cc 32V; dohc supercharged V8 | 3217cc 32V; dohc twin-turbo V8 |
| Bore/stroke (mm) | 84.5/93.0 | 86.0/86.0 | 80.0/80.0 |
| Compression (to one) | 11.6 | 9.0 | 7.3 |
| Power (DIN/rpm) | 340PK/6600rpm | 375PK/6150rpm | 335PK/6400rpm |
| Torque (DIN/rpm) | 411Nm/3500rpm | 526Nm/3600rpm | 452Nm/4400rpm |
| Specific output | 81PK per litre | 94PK per litre | 104PK per litre |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 198PK per tonne | 211PK per tonne | 203PK per tonne |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual, four wheel drive | Five-speed auto, rear-wheel drive | Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive |
| Acceleration (sec) | Audi | Jaguar | Maserati |
| 0-49 km/u | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.7 |
| 0-98 km/u | 6.5 | 5.6 | 6.4 |
| 0-160 km/u | 15.6 | 13.7 | 14.5 |
| 50-112 km/u | 5.9 | 4.6 | 5.2 |
VERDICT :
1st : Jaguar XJR ("No excuses needed this time. New and fiercely fast XJR is all a hot Jag should be.").
2nd : Aud S8 ("Objectively, a finer car is hard to imagine. But it lacks the final frisson of fun, and costs too much.").
3rd : Maserati Quattroporte V8 ("In your dreams, temptation on wheels. In reality, daft design flaws break the spell.").