It was bound to happen.

The Top Gear gang has put BMW’s M5, perhaps the class-leader, up against the UK’s newcomer, the Jaguar XFR.  Both are medium-sized luxury-sport saloons vying for the same upscale audience.

Before checking out the clip, let’s look over the specs of the two contenders.

The rear-drive 4,010 lb. M5 is equipped with a 5.0 L V-10 engine, which puts out 383 ft.-lbs. of torque at 6,100 rpm–and 500 hp at 7,800.  The engine is attached to an automated-manual gearbox, helping to reach sixty in 4.8 sec.  The M5 is priced at a steep $86,000; with that, you get a finely built and surprisingly agile sedan matched only by a few.

The XFR is more conventional in its armament.  The Jag has a supercharged 4.2 L V-8 and a 6-spd. automatic transmission.  Not only is the 4.2 more powerful than the M5′s V-10, generating 510 hp, but it reaches its peak at just 6,100 rpm.  The torque figure is more dramatic: 461 ft.-lbs. at 5,500 rpm.  The Jag does have its drawbacks: yes, it is more powerful (and cheaper at $79,000), but it’s also larger (4 in. longer) and heavier by 300 lbs.  You do have the extra plus that it delivers a combined rating of 17 mpg over the M5′s 13.

So how did this comparo turn out?  See for yourself.

Jaguar is putting out an intermediate model of its XF saloon, slotted between the base model and the “R.”  Under the hood is a supercharged AJ18, Mk. III, 5.0 L V-8 engine, making up to 470 hp.  Electronic handling assistance and rear-differential control are standard, brakes have been upgraded, oak accents have been added to the interior, and a 440 wt. Bowers stereo rounds off the package.  Pricing comes in at $68,000.