While we still has a brief wait remaining before the arrival of the face-lifted XKR (see left),  Jaguar has given the excellent Mk1 a final hurrah in the shape of this XKR Limited Edition.

Produced exclusively for the Middle East region, and confined to a stingy production run of just 30 cars, the XKR LE has all the bells and whistles included, ticking pretty much every option on the list. Meant to be the ultimate sporting XKR (until the new one comes along) the upgrades include a ride height reduction of 10mm, revised suspension with bespoke springs, dampers, anti-roll bar and recalibrated Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS), to go along with the most powerful brakes of any production Jaguar.

Power remains a healthy 416bhp, produced by the long-serving 4.2-litre supercharged V8, mated to what remains one of the best auto transmissions on any car (except for the annoying habit it has of shifting up mid-power slide).

Aesthetically, the LE features a macho new body kit that borders on the tasteless, and you can have the car painted any colour you like as long as it is white. The net effect of all this extra kit is not revolutionary,  it takes all the XKR’s substantial attributes and adds a slightly harder edge to them, which means you still have one of the prettiest, best handling GTs in the business, except it stops and turns a bit better.