Jaguar’s interiors are never particularly unattractive but the firm has really gone all-out with the XFR-S.

Press the engine start button and you’re met with real theatre as the car greets you by automatically opening its air vents, while the rotary gear selector rises out of the centre console.

Those sports seats really hug you, while their 18-way adjustment and the electrically adjustable steering wheel makes finding a comfortable driving position a simple task.

The dash is covered in leather and beautifully finished with contrasting blue stitching. When it gets dark you’ll also notice the blue ‘mood lighting’.

We found the trip computer very simple in operation too, while the multimedia system is intuitive if a fraction slower than we’d expect.

While it’s undeniably a sports-focused car, you might be surprised by the level of Jaguar XFR-S comfort.

Thanks to the adaptive suspension it’s possible to cover long distances easily, since the ride quality only firms up significantly when driving enthusiastically. It’s certainly choppier than a regular XF and even the XFR, but it won’t mean the permanent demise of your chiropractic health.

The seats are comfortable too, which again helps to make this a capable long-distance cruiser. They’re not quite on a par with those found in the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG – especially in terms of head rest comfort – but they’re good all the same.

You do notice a bit of road noise making its way into the cabin, but either turning up the stereo or burying your right foot is a sure-fire way to alleviate that particular complaint.