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Claudia Hommel
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Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2007 Jaguar XK Convertible by Cordell Koland The new Jaguar XK series can take its place as a premier player on the high end of the auto spectrum. The new XK Convertible demonstrates two strong components for the Jaguar brand, breakthrough structural engineering and timeless, yet thoroughly design. With the huge amount of media attention confronting Ford's domestic operation, attention may have shifted a bit from its foreign, particularly British, woes. Ford's trio of luxury brands‹Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover‹has been dubbed the "English Patient" in BusinessWeek. Critics have widely speculated that Jaguar is on the block, although as late as mid-September, the company denied that the For Sale sign is up for its top cat. A road test of the recently launched Jaguar XK seems to say that at least some of its problems are being solved. And while the XK series is off to a flying start, it unfortunately represents a low-volume vehicle in the lineup, which has fallen by 31 percent so far this year. This transformation is based on a new all-aluminum body structure and the development of a construction technique based upon the use of self-piercing rivets and advanced epoxy adhesives. The result is a car that has torsional stiffness increased by 48 percent and weight decreased by 8 percent. The benefit to the driver is a quieter, smoother ride and one completely free of chassis shake or shudder, the bane of open cars. There was absolutely no chassis deformation, no matter how severe the road surface. Jaguar began to use its advanced construction techniques with the current SJ series. This type of body structure is a definite plus for the company. If it can apply this technology to its high-volume S-Type, which is due for a redesign, it could give the brand a significant boost. In the eyes of many beholders, Jaguar design has become overly conservative and constrained by its legendary past. The new XK series certainly is more than a nod to its heritage, but squarely fits a more modern design interpretation. The new design element that seems most relevant is a shift of the body mass rearward, while retaining the long elegant hood. There's a styling advantage to a long hood line and Jaguar has emphasized that motif since the 1950s. Since the 1920s, an extended hood has been a prerequisite for the design of an elegant coupe or convertible. The profile now suggests subtly sculpted and elevated rear fenders that are mounded over the rear wheels. This effect is hard to detect in photos, but in the flesh it suggests muscular power, such as a runner in the starting blocks. The Jaguar XK is blessedly free of extraneous detail, such as scoops, cutouts, etc. Well almost. There is a discrete scoop behind the front wheel opening. These embellishments may make a car look racy, but often mar noteworthy designs. The interior is also contemporary in design without falling into the trap of over-reliance on complicated electronic menu systems, such as BMW's iDrive. Here, the controls are pretty easy to find and use. My only complaint is that the navigation system is a generation or two behind more informative systems available in Japanese luxury cars, such as Lexus and Acura. Despite the changes, the car is still notable for the lavish use of rich wood veneers and leather appointments. Jaguar has also eliminated the rather strange J-shift pattern that has defined the manual use of its automatic transmission. Now you just move the lever back and forth. Yes, it's conventional, but this time convention is good. On the road the new XK is a solid touring car, both quiet and refined. The handling is good, but could benefit from more feedback and sharper reflexes, although there is no pretense that the XK is a sports car. The smooth 300-horsepower V-8 enables a romp form zero to 60 miles per hours in six seconds and a top speed 155 miles per hour. Vehicle:
Jaguar XK Convertible
Price as tested: $87,300 Engine: Type: 4.2-liter V-8 Horsepower: 300 @ 6,000 rpm Torque: 310 lbs.-ft. @ 4,100 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 18 mpg Highway 27 mpg Curb Weight: 3,759 lbs. Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
