Jaguar XK (2005)

Jaguar is proud to announce a new era in its sports car lineage - the all-new XK. Like all great Jaguar sports cars, the focus of the all-new XK is firmly on the future, while acknowledging the marque’s rich history. It heralds a new era for Jaguar in terms of both design and engineering, and it is the most technically advanced Jaguar ever built.

The all-new XK continues the Jaguar tradition of beautiful, powerful, ground-breaking sports cars, but behind its stunning looks, it bristles with practical, intuitive, modern technology, clearly focussed on enhancing the driving experience. It delivers significant improvements in performance, dynamics, safety, exterior and interior design and equipment, and product quality. When it is launched in early 2006, this first of the next generation of Jaguars will become the sporting flagship of the Jaguar brand.

By starting with a blank canvas, Jaguar was able to make use of the latest aerospace technologies alongside more traditional Jaguar skills to create a luxurious, powerful, highly advanced sports car. A major key to the all-new XK’s character is Jaguar’s industry-leading aluminium monocoque body structure, introduced with the latest XJ saloons.

With this unique high-tech construction method, the all-new XK’s bodyshell is 31 per cent stiffer than the previous XK’s and significantly offers a 10 per cent improvement in power to weight ratio. The all-new XK is up to 90 per cent stiffer and 180kg lighter than key rivals, with a kerb weight of just 1595kg.

In the words of Jaguar's Chief Engineer Mike Cross, in charge of the all-new XK’s vehicle dynamics, "What the team has looked to engineer is a sports car with true all-round 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."

• Reaches 60mph from standstill in 5.9 seconds and completes quarter mile sprint in 14.4 seconds - less than half a second off the pace of the previous 400bhp supercharged model*
• Top speed of 155mph (electronically limited)
• On sale from early 2006, with prices announced at the beginning of the year.
• Convertible model will also be available - details will be announced later this year

*Manufacturer provisional test figures