Vehicle: 2007 Jaguar XK8 coupe
Price as tested: Est. CDN$120000

Performance: The new XK is currently powered by only 1 engine. Its the silky-smooth “AJ-V8″ 4.2 liter DOHC V8 with 300 hp and 300 lb/ft of torque. This engine is very capable as it provides exceptional refinement and flexability right from the bottom to top end. Since the 310 lb/ft of torque available at 4100 rpm, it feels somewhat sluggish in the low-end for V8 of this caliber. One really has to rev it pass 4300 rpm before reaching this engine’s climax. On the other hand, its more willing to rev at high rpm than the same V8 in previous XK8. Matched with this engine is the smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic transmission with manumatic function. This gearbox provides decent highway driving gear ratios. Jaguar finally abandoned its annoying J-Gate shifter in flavor of paddle shifters on the steering wheel, as well as a gate for manumatic mode. This system works trillion times better than the J-Gate design that Jaguar used in the last 2 decades.

Handling: The XK continues its tradition as a comfortable luxury grand touring coupe. Its suspension remains soft and supple, even though its handling has been tuned to be more forgiving and less floaty than its predecessor. Gone are all the floatiness and chassis flex during high-speed cruising. The steering has much better response and turn-in, however, its still not sharp enough when compare to its much more sporty competitors in its price range. In terms of steering feedback, it feels kind of vague off-center and numb on-center. When pushed into a corner enthuisastically, there are some body rolls. Its Computer Active Technology Suspension, or CATS, have given this cat finally a sense of stability thanks to its new caliberation of shock absorber setting. On a contrary, its Dymanic Stability Control kicks in frequently during enthuisastic driving. That’s disappointed consider Jag wants to place new XK among the sportiest of all the sports cars in this caliber.

Brakes: With 4-wheel discs, standard ABS and electronic braking force distribution. XK8′s braking performance is among some of the best consider its 1665 kg curb weight. The pedal feels firm and solid, while the braking distance is surprisingly short.

Interior: Slip inside the new XK8, you will be surprise by Jaguar designers have given aluminum trim in flavor of more traditional wood trim. The aluminum trim works pretty well with Jaguar’s Connolly leather and traditional interior configuration. Aluminum trim and Connolly leather aside, one still found plenty of Ford-influenced plastic trim pieces which are totally unacceptable for a car costing 100 grand. While these plastic trims already much higher tactical quality than those craps in X-Type, S-Type even underwhelming XJ interior, its still not on par with interiors from Porsche and Maserati. In terms of ergonomics, Jaguar designs have addressed outgoing car’s shortcomings. They finally placed navigational system and climate control on the right places. The instrumentation gauges are clear and analog.

With the advant of run-flat technology, XK finally got the cargo space it desperately needed. That’s despite of its high liftover and weird side cut-line.

Conclusion: There are lots to going for in the new XK8 despite of its controversial styling. After the 1st generation of porky XJS and 2nd generation of beauty-over-substance XK8, the new XK8 finally got all the ingredients for it to compete with other luxury GTs of its caliber. However, if you are looking for an XK that has plenty of low-end torque to run with 911 Carrera. You better wait for the XKR with Eaton blower. That’s because XK8 needs a firmer setting and more powerful engine to be a performance GT. Remember its a performance GT not a performance car!!

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2007 JAGUAR XK8 COUPE
=====================================
Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 3/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 3.5/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 3.5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 2/5

Overall rating: 3/5