THE XKR is the bullying big brother of the XK8, a styling masterpiece penned by the late Geoff Lawson. The XK8's svelte lines made a huge impact when it first appeared in 1996, particularly as it was the first all-new car to appear bearing the "leaper" since the 1989 Ford takeover. The XKR embellishes those lines with more aggression, wholly understandable considering the staggering amount of performance it produces.