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I love the XKR so much in all it's beauty, sound and performance. But I have to say, I've never been fully convinced by the headlights. I know they look slightly nicer on the newer models and RS after 2010 but I'm always looking at the headlights on my 07 XKR and just wishing they were a bit more slender, less bulky. I really like what Audi usually do with their headlights, e.g. the RS5 headlights look beautiful.
Is it just me that thinks this? I feel like I'm about to get roasted on the beauty of the XKR headlights.
I think they are proportional to the body and flow with the other lines. I think the washer nozzle shouldn't be chromed as nothing else is on the XKR except the exhaust tips. Looks better on mine with a black carbon fiber wrap. Also, you need to compare them to other cars from '05-'10, not today's standard cars which look too boxy and angular to me.
Ian Callum designed the X150 as a modern update of the classic 1962 E-Type, and the shape of the X150 's covered headlights is just one of many touches that are reminiscent of and update that original E-Type design. Other design cues include proportion, stance, oval grille with center bar, and horizontail taillights with inboard circles.
When the X150 came out in 2007 there were two things about the headlights I did not like, the rearward sharp point and the amount of chrome/light gray and lack of contrast. Apparently I was not alone as there were several attempts by owners to mask the corner or darken the interior of the assembly. Jaguar listened apparently as they did precisely that with the face lifted versions and in my opinion more befitting of the over all modern lines of the X150.
When the X150 came out in 2007 there were two things about the headlights I did not like, the rearward sharp point and the amount of chrome/light gray and lack of contrast. Apparently I was not alone as there were several attempts by owners to mask the corner or darken the interior of the assembly. Jaguar listened apparently as they did precisely that with the face lifted versions and in my opinion more befitting of the over all modern lines of the X150.
This, plus the reflector doesn't line up with the curves around it.
A big improvement given how some of these cars have aged, is just to bring the life back to the lens.
Look at Ranchero's before and after in his thread.
For my car in with a black paint job, if I had the reflectors in the housing in white or yellow instead of orange it would probably be an improvement.
Here is my car with the sides of the headlight housing in shadow, this would be somewhat they would look like if I took things apart and changed it to black under there.
Ian Callum designed the X150 as a modern update of the classic 1962 E-Type, and the shape of the X150 's covered headlights is just one of many touches that are reminiscent of and update that original E-Type design. Other design cues include proportion, stance, oval grille with center bar, and horizontail taillights with inboard circles.
By ending the front fender abrubtly into a molded plastic housing the 3d signature of the front fender is drastically reduced.
The same is done for the hood design as well; the termination and profile of the hood is dictated by reducing the 3d signature.
Keeping the 3d signature low drastically reduces the amount of work to produce stamped sheet metal. This results in significant cost savings over the prettier fender/headlight design of an Aston Martin.
Gone are the smooth flowing fender and hood lines of the out going X100.
The compromise is an aluminum luxury sports coupe at a fraction of what it otherwise would have cost had they not done so.
The primary driver for the fender/hood/headlight/bumper design was an attempt to still get a decent looking car, while drastically lowering production cost compared to an Aston Martin.
Over time I've gotten used to it, it doesn't bother me like it used to when I first got the car. I do need to tidy up my lenses.
I get the front lights issue, that and the "straight" line where the hood meets the bumper cover..
I hate to say it, but this is what I see and I now cringe every time I see one of these on the road ....google 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse and look at the side view then look at the headlights.
My buddy says it reminds him of another big cat, the 2000 mercury cougar. It is sad that these designs came before the x150. I dont care though, the Jag is not any of those crappy front wheel drive cars
The sharp corner admittedly bothers me a bit in photos, but barely (if at all) in real life. Admittedly, part of the reason I wanted a silver car rather than a dark colour was so the headlight shape would stand out less.
Both the teardrop headlights and the rear lights do seem to weirdly align with Ford's New Edge theme, though. Just look at the lights on the Ford Cougar.
Then again: According to Callum, ‘Jaguars should be perceived as cool cars and cool cars attract interesting, edgy people.’
Funny, it was the 'Mitsubishi' headlights that kept me away from the XKR originally. When they revised them for 2012, that's when the only barrier was removed and I was all-in.
Yeah, I STILL say that it's easy to hide the glaring headlight problem;
Yeah, I know, I still haven't replaced the yellow lamps with white yet...
After a lot of experimenting with different brands I finally settled on the Sylvania Brand Bulbs. Makes the Turn Signals look like "jewels" when off (pics don't do it justice)and are brighter than stock. Other "Chrome" bulbs I have seen recommended (and tried) were much dimmer than stock.
Front Turn Signal Lamps - Chrome plated Amber (non-LED)
Sylvania 3357A/3457A ST SilverStar 29-Watt High Performance Signal Light
IF you really want to keep the wife busy I have a complete "Laundry List" of all the Amazon sourced LEDs that I spent months of trying and returning inferior LED products until I got that perfect balance (IMHO) of brightness, color temp, and more importantly with LEDS, Beam Pattern. There are locations that need a smoother light pattern vs the harsher/speckled beam pattern a lot of LEDs exhibit due to the effect of the LED array causing hotspots with in the beam pattern.
Not only did I get better brighter and whiter illumination but I kept the factory look and beam patterns. I found some LEDs might look great on the headlights, but, for example on the puddle lamps, they showed hot spots and strange beam patterns on the doors and ground area. Another example is the foot well lights and glove box lights.
OH, back on subject, the effect of the LEDs I chose not only look great when on, but also looked great off, as my wife says "like little jewels glistening in the sun". In a weird sort of way they helped with the looks of the headlights overall. At least I am telling my brain that. :-)
04-14-2018, 05:58 AM
My ONLY problem with the XKR
