Everything discussed above won't stop a car thief determined to steal your XKR-S.

Carjacking. Just make sure to get the Smartkey, too.

 

The above bold highlighting is mine. As explained below, you are mistaken. The X150 Smartkey cannot be quickly and easily cloned.

The Jaguar X150 Smartkey is not "just another key." It is a highly sophisticated digital vault.

Years ago, Jaguar had problems with the X100 and other models being stolen because the keyfobs were so quickly and easily cloned by using readily available "code grabber" black boxes. To prevent this, Jaguar created a diabolical new design - the X150 Smartkey - that made it impossible for thieves to quickly and easily clone the key and steal the car. Unfortunately, that also made it expensive for owners to replace a key. No problem, just more profits for your dealer.

From the factory each X150 Smartkey is electronically paired with modules in the car. If that Smartkey is separated from the car with which it was born, it becomes an orphan. That orphaned Smartkey must first be electronically divorced from its parent module in the Instrument Cluster before it can be reprogrammed and paired with another X150 for it to be fully functional. Both Smartkeys and car must be present to simultaneously program and pair with their modules by using the proprietary Jaguar SDD tool and proprietary software.

Programming isn't easy, which is why Jaguar issued a 30 plus page guide with flow charts on how to program Smartkey fobs.

From the programming guide:

Smart Key function & programming strategies:

The “passive” key data shared between the Smart Key and the Keyless Vehicle Module (KVM) can be updated and relearned over and over again. If something goes wrong, it is possible to start over again with no harm done. However, the “active” key data which is shared between the Smart Key and the Instrument Cluster (IC) Module is NOT as easily managed or relearned. This is due to the fact that when the “active” key code is programmed within the Smart Key, and the IC, a “default code” in the key is replaced with a “secret code” randomly generated by the IC during the procedure. This process can be described as “pairing” a specific Smart Key with a specific IC. The IC keeps a list of Smart Keys that it has been “paired” with. This would be described as the IC’s “key-ring”.

There are many rules that control how the “active” key functions and how Smart Keys and ICs are programmed.

1. When Smart Keys are brand new, they are delivered to the dealer with a “default code”, and are considered to be in “default” status.

2. During Key Programming, as a Smart Key is “paired” with an IC, the “default code” is replaced with that IC's CURRENT “secret code”. Smart Keys that have been successfully programmed to a vehicle are considered as “paired”.

3. Only Smart Keys in “default” status can be “paired” with an IC.

4. When a vehicle is first delivered to the dealership from Jaguar Cars, there are 2 original keys “paired” to the original IC, and provided with the vehicle.

5. Any time the vehicle needs to have keys programmed, the process is designed to do the following. (Not in this exact order, but all steps are included.)
a. Perform the “passive” Smart Key programming steps; if this is successful the application will continue to perform the remaining “active” key programming steps.
b. Reset all currently “paired” Smart Keys present during this procedure back to a “default” status by replacing the CURRENT “secret code” with the “default code”. (NOTE: Only the keys currently on this ICs’ “key-ring” that share the CURRENT “secret code” can be reset back to a “default code”)
c. Remove all currently “paired” keys from IC’s “key-ring”.
d. Generate a new “secret code” within the IC.
e. Program all keys currently present by replacing the “default code” with the NEW “secret code” from the IC, “pairing” each of these keys.
f. Add each of these newly “paired” keys to the ICs “key-ring”.

6. After any key programming procedure is completed, any keys for this vehicle that still have the PREVIOUS “secret code” have been removed from the IC's CURRENT “key-ring”, and because the IC is now using a NEW “secret code” this key has been “orphaned”.

7. Keys that have been “orphaned” are considered scrap due to the following:
a. “Orphaned” keys will not function on the original vehicle for “active starting” due to the mismatched “secret codes”.
b. “Orphaned” keys cannot be reset back to the “default” status because its “secret code” is no longer shared with any IC to enable this process.
c. A Smart Keys cannot be “paired” with any IC unless they are in the “default” status.

8. In the event that an owner misplaces a Smart Key, this key should be “deactivated” for security reasons. When a replacement is obtained, and successfully programmed to the vehicle along with all other available keys, the one “misplaced” key will become “orphaned”. This is how a lost Smart Key can be deliberately “deactivated”

Additional considerations related to "Active" key functionality:

The IC replacement process has special requirements due to this complex “key-ring” and “secret code” strategy previously described.

1. Before the old IC is removed from the vehicle, the technician must first use the special “Erase All Current Keys” function on IDS. This will manage the following steps.
a. Reset all currently “paired” Smart Keys present during this procedure back to a “default” status by replacing the CURRENT “secret code” with the “default code”. (NOTE: Only the keys currently on this IC's “key-ring” that share the CURRENT “secret code” can be reset back to a “default code”)
b. Remove all currently “paired” keys from IC’s “key-ring”.

2. At this point, all existing keys have been reset back to “default” status and are ready to be “paired” with the replacement IC.

3. The original IC can now be replaced with the new one.

4. When a new IC is being installed in the vehicle, the technician is required to use the “Configure New Modules” option on IDS to complete the task.

5. During this procedure, among the other programming and set-up steps, IDS will perform a typical “Key Programming” procedure as described above, but without the “passive” key programming steps. (The KVM retains the “passive” key codes and functions, so “passive” programming is not required when replacing an IC.)

Source: See Post #6 (by @u102768 ) and Post # 31 (me) in this 2016 thread: X150 Key Fob Questions

 

Marcel lives in an area where the thieves prefer Toyotas and Hondas. From the port they are shipped to west Africa, where in, they show up on used car lots, still wearing the Quebec license plate.

 

I suspect many in here can't figure out why someone would keep an expensive exotic anywhere near a high crime area. Especially a 'vert.

 

Marcel wasn't totally correct. He lives in country with a high rate of auto theft. His city has a very low crime rate. Its a city where there are residents downtown, and not all in the burbs. This week there is a national meeting in the capital to stop the terribly high rate of auto theft. I am leery of their success, because all the talk is about the theft and not about the ease of exporting of cars. The Montreal port has been strongly controlled by the Hells Angels and Seafarer union for decades. Just shut down the export of all cars beyond North America until they get a handle on it.