So I'm visiting my buddy today at his MB/Porsche dealer talking cars. First time he sees my XKR and drives it. He's super impressed. Didn't expect it to have such pull at all rpm. Even when he short shifted to 2nd it was all over the place - but I digress.

Anyhow. He takes a long look at her and says "why don't you powder coat that chrome strip across the back. Will make it look wider". Now I had thought of this when I first bought it but when I saw a black pack I thought it was TOO black and no longer had any special bits like the Aluminum mesh grill etc. So he goes and gets some electrical tape to test it out. Wow, much better. Looks the business without going to black with every other part like the gill chrome Jag piece, window trim and grill. I will leave those but will definitely do the track piece next week.

Here are some before after the tape test.

Before




After





And this is a modded one I found on the Net

 

Hmmm... blacking out that chrome strip definitely helps to update the look a little bit.

 

Better

 

Agreed. Also more aggressive. On the way home I see a black LS460 and it had the same big chrome piece on the trunk!

Anyhow, he also mentioned I should powder coat the wheels but leave a little silver lip. All black gets lost and the wheels also tend to look smaller as there's no reference just a black hole. Who can photoshop the wheels flat black but leave a half inch or less in silver?

Colony-20121001-00326.jpg?t=1349227935

Colony-20121001-00327.jpg?t=1349227931

 

Look for a 2nd hand trim piece and pain that one black so you have both.

 

I did something similar wIth mine last year. I really like it that way. I had mine painted to match body color.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...inisher-62771/

 

Blacked out my entire car last spring also and I like the look. It really depends if you want more of a sporty or luxury look.

 

Looks great. Although I think I like the aluminum strip around the windows. They have such lines like a woman's eye. Also the steel mesh retains a bit of the panache of a high-end brand like Jag or Aston. Not so fitting on Lambo or Ferrari but these are GT's so a tiny bit of jewelry seems right to me.

 

I hear ya!

I was also debating whether to black out the window trim until I saw vids of the Black Pack Edition, Speed Pack Edition and XKR75 that changed my mine to do so.

1. Black Pack Edition: 2. Speed Pack Edition: 3. XKR75:
I still have a few chrome bits such as the chrome strip on the hood lovers and side louvers. Didn't want to entirely murder out the car. Funny thing is I prefer the brush aluminum trim on my Rover's windows instead of blacking them out.

 

I don't like the blacked out leaper. I think it would look better/cleaner if you just removed it! The way it is, it looks like you painted the back of the car and forgot to tape off the chrome strip and emblem.

 

I love the fabric in the XKR75 and have been thinking of doing the middle (main big piece) of the headliner with a similar fabric.

 

Your car manages to get away with it due to the silver spokes on the wheels.
A fine balance.

The others (in vids) are too black for my liking, kinda makes the car look plastic.
I think these cars need something to help show the lines.

 

I don't like the leaper at all. Round growler emblem if any would like way way better. When did Puma start making cars?

Funny, I saw a new XJL yesterday with a leaper on the hood, wow did that look foolish to me. XJ350 was the last model where a leaper on the hood looks good...

 

I actually like the blacked out leaper. Got alot of good comments. I was undecided at that time but after looking at some pics of a black prancing horse on a black 599 GTO, I decided to go with a black leaper:

Link: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...r-53724/page2/

When Jaguar put the Leapers on all their cars in 2012, I liked the look and decided to put the Leaper on. Definitely a personal choice.

 

Oops..posted wrong. Moderators can you please delete this post #15.

 

Blacking out that strip allows your vision to "see" more of the rear end side-to-side.

The chrome strip doe draw the eye in...I've never realized that as much until now.

 

I like it blacked out... you're right rscultho, it does change how your eyes focus on the car. I wonder how much one of those chrome strips costs... I'd rather not do something to the car that can't be easily undone. Think I might like to see what my car would look like with the strip blacked out and a chrome leaper above it.

 

I did the upper and lower front grills, fog light squares, front fender mini scoops, hood vents and trunk trim with black plasti dip. It really makes the car look more aggressive. My car is silver though...

 

Pics!!!

 

DJGold,

I am very intersted to see pictures as well. I have had much debate on what to paint and what not to. I have a white car and love the contrast. please post some pictures!