2007 Jaguar XK Road Test

Jaguar’s newest cat is one sleek coupe

The luxury sports coupe segment may be small, but it is populated by some of the sleekest cars around. Jaguars redesigned XK has always been among the sleekest and most elegant sports cars on the market. The all-new 2007 has an arresting shape, but the look is more modern and less emotional

It’s hard to mention any Jaguar without dwelling on its looks. The new XK is sleek and lithe, but the aerodynamically efficient nose is considerably less pleasing aesthetically. The oval air intake looks a bit pedestrian for a car whose bloodline is defined by elegance.

Styling is extremely subjective, and I may warm up to the new car’s nose in a few months.

The rest of the body is quite stunning. Front and rear glass is steeply raked and large wheels fill the tire openings. Sheet metal swoops and curves give the body its sensuality. Handsome detail work is evident in the taillights and front fender vents. The design is the work of Jaguar design director Ian Callum, who also worked on the Aston Martin DB9. Ford Motor Co. owns both Jaguar and Aston Martin.

The XK is available as a 2+2 coupe and a convertible. A 300-horsepower, 4.2-liter V-8 and six-speed automatic transmission power the car to 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds. Drivers can change gears manually with paddles on the steering wheel or by nudging the gear lever.

This next-generation XK has an all-aluminum monocoque body structure like that used for the XJ sedan. The body shell is 31 percent lighter and 90 percent stiffer than the previous XK and its steel chassis.

The body and chassis are constructed with aerospace technology. Aluminum panels, castings, and extrusions are joined with rivets or bonded with epoxy. The resulting chassis has high strength and low weight.

The interior combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary luxury materials. Finely stitched leather is accented by high-tech trim surfaces including metallic finishes. The test cars woodgrain trim was just this side of gaudy. Good ergonomics, contoured seats, and a low waistline make the XK easy to drive. 

The instrument clusters round dials flank a high-resolution color display that is split into several zones showing vital information such as gear selection, cruise control information, low-tire-pressure warnings, and satellite navigation instructions.  You can also display a round-faced clock dial.

The center stack houses a 7-inch touch screen to control climate, audio, navigation, telephone and vehicle personalization settings. I found this system to be much less intuitive and convenient than conventional knobs and buttons, especially for the audio functions.

Bluetooth wireless technology will be offered, as will an Alpine 525-watt surround sound system and Sirius satellite radio.

The all-new anti-lock brake system governs the brake pressure of each wheel individually, allowing for more precise control. The ventilated discs are larger than those on the current model.

Other safety aids include bi-xenon headlights that turn slightly as the car is steered, a tire pressure monitoring system, run-flat tires, headrests that protect against whiplash, adaptive cruise control, traction control, and vehicle stability control.

Price: The test car base price was $74,835. Options included the luxury package with 19-inch wheels; heated wood and leather steering wheel; leather door trim and wood gearshift knob; and the advanced technology package, which includes adaptive cruise control and headlights that move with the steering wheel. The sticker price of our tester was $81,300.

Specifications 

2007 Jaguar XK Rear Drive Sports Car

Standard Equipment (Partial list)

• 300 horsepower V8 Engine
• 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission
• Active suspension
• Alloy wheels
• Rain sensing wipers
• Rear spoiler
• Traction control
• Stability control
• Dual front side-mounted airbags with head protection chambers
• Automatic xenon high-intensity discharge headlamps
• Headlamp high-pressure washers
• Cornering lights
• Rear parking sensors
• 4 person total seating capacity
• Leather upholstery
• 10-way power front seats with memory
• Heated front seats
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• Dual-zone climate controls – driver and front passenger
• DVD navigation system
• Alpine premium AM/FM in-dash 6 CD player with CD MP3 Playback stereo with 6 speakers
• Bluetooth wireless data link for hands-free phone

Major Available Options (Partial list)

• Aluminum Luxury Package (Limited Availability)  Includes aluminum in lieu of wood veneer trim, 20″  wheels with Dunlop Sportmaxx tires, soft-grain leather interior, leather instrument panel and 16-way power seats with adjustable bolsters.
• Luxury Package Includes: 19″ alloy wheels with Dunlop tires, soft-grain leather interior, leather instrument panel, 16-way power seats with adjustable side bolsters, heated leather and wood steering wheel and a leather and wood gearshift knob.
• 20-inch wheels
• 19-inch wheels
• Adaptive cruise control
• Active front lighting
• Non-standard paint color