Jaguars are the supermodels of the luxury-car world. Their primary mission, whatever else they can do, is to look beautiful. That has worked to varying degrees of success with the company’s sedans. The cars bow heavily to tradition, and the designs badly need updating to the twenty-first century.
Thank goodness the XK has come along. The new coupe is the first salvo in Jaguar’s new design ethic. This being Jaguar, the look is still evocative of the past: the long hood and liftback profile is meant to recall the classic E-Type. Designer Ian Callum reportedly based the svelte shape on Kate Winslet, an excellent starting point.
The coupe is substantial, more than two meters in width and nearly 4.8 meters in length. Despite the large dimensions, the coupe manages to tip the scales at a relatively svelte 1595 kg, courtesy of all-aluminum construction. Rather than the usual aluminum approach—using a spaceframe on which body panels are hung—the Jaguar uses a full aluminum monocoque, an approach pioneered by the Honda NSX. Aluminum castings, extrusions and pressed body panels are unitized using epoxy bonding and riveting.
The XK is also thoroughly modern in its electronic features and interior. Though leather is still the main cabin trim material, wood has been replaced with aluminum trim. It’s a welcome change, although Burl Walnut or Poplar trim is available as an option. The touch-screen monitor on the dashboard allows easy control of the aircon, stereo, and car settings. The monitor doubles as a parking aid, displaying distances to surrounding obstacles. Seats are wide and comfortable, and the large door openings make ingress and egress relatively easy for a low-slung car. The rear seats are best suited for additional luggage. The trunk itself is large enough for two golf bags.
The car uses a transponder key system, allowing us to enter and start the car without taking out the key. A red starter button fires up a mellifluous eight-cylinder engine. The V8 displaces 4.2 liters, again a nod to its famous ancestor, the E-Type. This delivers 300 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. Because of the lighter body shell, the standard XK is only half a second slower to the quarter-mile than the previous supercharged XKR. A six-speed automatic with paddle shifters makes quick work of going through the gears.
The power output climbs to 420 bhp in the supercharged XKR; torque is a massive 560 Nm. 0-100 km/h time drops to 4.9 seconds, with an electronically-limited 248 km/h top speed.
New for this year is the special-edition Portfolio model. Revised styling cues include deep “Celestial Black” exterior paint, and 20-inch polished Cremona five-spoke alloy wheels. Interior trim features aluminum veneer, alloy gearshift selector, and doorsill trim. The audio system is by Bowers & Wilkins, complete with the trademark yellow speaker cones made from Kevlar. Performance enhancements include more powerful brakes,
The XK (and similarly-constructed XJ sedan) have a unique, lightweight feel. The chassis feels alive and responsive. The car changes direction quickly and willingly, in defiance of its large exterior dimensions. The exterior view is good all around, making maneuvering and driving easy on tight streets.
Another Jaguar hallmark is a pillow-soft ride. The suspension is tuned for long-distance driving comfort. Computer-controlled dampers vary the stiffness at each individual corner to provide a supple ride while reducing roll and pitch.
Jaguar’s focus now is on getting its limited lineup right, with cars that are reliable, well-engineered, and downright desirable. The all-new XK embodies all of those qualities, and is a major step in the right direction.
By Jason K. Ang | Photos by Jason K. Ang
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