2006 Jaguar XK Series: First Look

By Feann Torr - 7/9/2005

Has Jaguar finally hit the nail on the head? It's brand-spanking new XK 2+2 coupe is very easy on the eyes and beyond the car's thoroughly updated chassis and tweaked powertrain, the new XK is equipped with a range of advanced systems that brings it in line with vehicles from Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and others prestige automakers.

Some of these now-essential luxury car features of the new 2006 XK include:

Run-flat tyres
Protec dynamic headrest system (protect against whiplash injuries),
Radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control
Forward Alert (forward-facing sensors to warn of a potential collision)
Dynamic Stability Control (w/TCS)
Bi-xenon active front lighting (to illuminate round corners)

The XK moniker was one of Jaguar's first sports cars, hitting the scene in 1946 in response to BMW's 328, and with the advent of the all-new Jaguar XK due to hit the market in 2006, the company hopes to return to its place as one of the world's most sought-after luxury car makers.

The new model has a sophistication about it that few recent Jaguar's have managed, it's eye-catching image bringing Jaguar firmly into the 21st century.

It capitalises on the superceded XK's smooth style - family resemblance is big at Jag - while at the same time shedding plenty of bulk, which will improve all areas of performance (acceleration, handling, etc.) significantly.

Throughout the 1950s and '60s too, the Jaguar name was one to be revered, but by the 1970s it was clear that the marque had too many models, moving away from its original practice of creating only luxury and sports cars.

In the years after its acquisition by Ford in late 1989, the British company hadn't reached its potential, despite retaining its own identity at all times.

There have been many exciting concept cars from Jaguar over the past 20 odd years, but putting these designs into manufacture has been difficult for Jaguar as parent company Ford has had to tighten its purse strings - the demise of the Jaguar F1 team indicative of the Blue Oval's cost cutting measures.

But the new XK looks good - very good in fact - and will generate plenty of much needed attention for the marque.

But will the new XK usher in a new era of prosperity for the Jaguar marque? It's arguably one of the company's most intriguing models yet, and if it's next generation range of cars can follow suit, the leaping cat could make a return to its golden days of yore.

Best described as sleek, the new XK's profile retains the long and low proportions that are a Jaguar trademark. Jaguar's design director Ian Callum said: "The fundamental values of Jaguar design do not change – not even since Sir William Lyons created the first Jaguar all those years ago. The entire design team worked with those values as we looked to create a car with clean lines, a purposeful stance and exquisite proportions.

"We took influences from our heritage and evolved them to produce a car that is beautiful, visually fast yet undeniably modern; just as Sir William's own designs were in their day," enthused Callum.

Jaguar aficionados will no doubt be quite pleased with the smooth new look (as will agent 007); its ground-hugging stance makes its predecessor look barge-like in comparison.

Steeply raked front and rear windscreens combine with short-ish overhangs to give the coupe a very aggressive posture on the road, while updated headlights and the tradition oval Jaguar grille give the front end a modern take on an old theme.

The rear is my personal favourite region of the new XK series however, it's pumped haunches, subtle deck lid spoiler, technical brake lights and conservative dual exhausts lend the car a conservative-but-sporty appearance, as the streamlined greenhouse tapers off gently toward the boot.

Jaguar reckons many of the car's design cues echo those of the 1960s E-Type, which is true in some respects, but the car's clean, progressive take on the 2+2 coupe theme is more apparent, injecting just the right amount of restrained aggression.

It also features a longer wheelbase (more interior room, more compliant ride), wider track and a taller roofline to accommodate the increasing girth of the average Homo Sapien, and in line with Jaguar's heritage the interior will be a place of opulence, making use of "traditional craftsmanship and contemporary luxury materials like finely stitched leather," to use Jaguar's words.

Forward-looking features such as the Jaguar Smart Key System (for keyless entry and ignition) also give the new XK series a more potent arsenal with which to fight its European rivals, and a rather special instrument cluster combines analogue speedo and tachometer dials with a high-resolution colour display to highlight info such as cruise control, gear selection, tyre pressures and so forth.

Ensuring the new generation of XK models have the grunt to match their sleek new exterior shell, Jaguar has tweaked its 4.2-litre 36-valve AJ-V8 powerplant, and together with a 6-speed automatic transmission the new XK takes 6.2 seconds to accelerate to 100km/h from rest.

Not the quickest cab off the rank by any means, we are talking about an automatic transmission here, and it's not one of these fancy twin-clutch jobbies either, but rather the old torque/stall converter type. That said, the new transmission does feature a rather cool sport mode that offers a "more responsive shift strategy" that, in tandem with the engine management system, will blip the throttle during downshifts to reduce wheel lockup. Quite nice, and very sporty that.

Though the advanced coupe from Jag will be electronically limited to 250km/h, it won't lack for urge - it's 4196cc V8 generating a respectable 224kW (300hp) @ 6000rpm. The XK series nat-atmo V8 churns out 411Nm of torque @ 4100rpm, which is enough to ensure it an impressive 14.4 second pass through the quarter mile traps.

Based on the previous model's 4.2-litre V8, the Jaguar spanner-men concentrated on fuel-injection mapping and technology, largely in order to meet stringent Euro IV emissions requirements and also US emissions regulations, where the new model is expected to be generate increased interest.

Jaguar also set about improving the car's power-to-weight ratio, and with a kerb weight of just 1595kg it has shaved some 90kg when compared to its predecessor. This drop in overall weight - not to mention an increase in torsional rigidity for more responsive steering input - is largely attributable to the adoption of an aluminium monocoque body structure, first seen with the latest XJ saloons.

"What the team has looked to engineer is a sports car with true all-around ability. That means it must be fast, outstandingly agile, and truly exciting to drive. It has to go quickly, stop quickly, and do everything in between in the way a Jaguar should. Yet it's also a rational choice – the all-new XK will deliver a balance of superb driving dynamics and comfort that is the epitome of sophisticated sporting luxury," says Jaguar's chief of engineering Mike Cross, who was also in charge of the 2006 XK's vehicle dynamics.

The 4791mm long Jaguar sports coupe's all-aluminium architecture is different from most aluminium 'spaceframe' structures that use separate aluminium exterior panels: the XK Jaguar uses pressed aluminium panels, plus aluminium castings and extrusions.

"Its remarkable strength and light weight come from both the way the bodyshell is constructed and the use of new jointing technologies," says Jaguar, adding that the structure is both riveted and epoxy-bonded, not unlike aerospace industry methods.

Jaguar's chief programme engineer for the sports range, Russ Varney, explained the company's 'no compromise' mindset that went into the vehicle's engineering: "As a team we worked from day one to ensure that the all-new XK delivered on every target set for the vehicle. In the case of the aluminium monocoque body structure, it delivers great advantages in terms of weight and strength and we were determined to utilise those benefits to produce a sports car with a blend of stunning vehicle dynamics and outstanding comfort."

In addition to the car's advanced aluminium structure, the chassis has been augmented in almost all areas, starting with a more powerful braking system, packing 'larger' ventilated discs with improved fade resistance. There's even a clever ABS system that can individually alter the brake pressure at each wheel. It does this by using analogue valves in the hydraulic control unit, a system which "allows the driver to benefit from increased steering input during heavy braking," in Jaguar speak. There's a button-operated electronic park brake function included as well, just for good measure.

Jaguar has been focussing on the new XK series for quite some time, and result of its handiwork is now clear for all to see, and quite impressive at that. The new design verges on avant garde, its sleek shape, clean lines and muscular proportions give the car a strong character, while it's still instantly recognisable as a Jaguar.

With it's super-stiff aluminium structure, increased track and reduced kerb weight, it should also be one very sweet drive, and will be launched in Europe in early 2006, as shipments reach Australia halfway through 2006. Jaguar has also mentioned that the XK Roadster model will be available in good time, and an even more powerful forced induction model, the XKR, will rear its flared and flanged head later in 2006.

Exciting times lay ahead for Jaguar if the new XK is anything to go by - and who knows? Maybe the XK is the start of a new era of prosperity for the Leaping Cat after all. Time will most certainly tell.