Jaguar Phils. launches stunning, new XK

Everyone knows that Jaguars are special cars. But as special cars go, few can match the sheer jaw-dropping presence and head-turning styling of the legendary XK.

The new XK, launched last week at the Jaguar showroom in ENZO Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati City, continues the Jaguar tradition of beautiful, powerful, ground-breaking sports cars. Simply put, it’s the most technologically-advanced Jaguar ever. But behind its spectacularly sensuous lines lie practical yet cutting-edge technology that’s clearly focused on enhancing the driving experience. It’s a sports car, touring car and luxury car in one.

The new XK is built at Jaguar’s state-of-the-art Castle Bromwich plant in the UK, which is now responsible for the manufacture and assembly of the S-Type mid-range sedan, the all-aluminum XJ flagship sedan, and this new XK. The plant employs aerospace technology in its rivet-and-bond aluminum manufacturing process.

The new XK is the first of a new generation of beautiful, fast Jaguars and succeeds the still beautiful XK range first introduced in 1996 — and from which it inherits much of its looks, though dramatically updated for the 21st century. Like its predecessors going back to the illustrious E-Type, the new XK comes in two body styles — Coupe and Convertible.

Under the XK’s long, sculpted aluminum hood is the latest-generation, naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter, quad-cam, 32-valve, semi-active exhaust system-equipped Jaguar AJ-V8 engine that develops 300 bhp at 6000 rpm and 420 Nm of torque at 4100 rpm. It also meets the ultra-stringent Euro 4 emissions standards.

The new Jaguar Sequential-Shift 6-speed automatic transmission incorporates steering wheel-mounted paddles for manual gear changes. Ford-owned Jaguar claims that the XK can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in a mere 5.9 seconds and complete a quarter-mile sprint in 14.4 seconds. It has an electronically limited top speed of a scintillating 250 kph.

The XK’s all-aluminum construction delivers best-in-class torsional rigidity and enables a ten-percent improvement in the car’s power-to-weight ratio. As such, the XK is lighter than its predecessors and key rivals. The weight-saving aluminum monocoque structure also assures improves fuel economy, lowers emission levels, and creates advantages in overall agility, handling, braking, and outright performance — even as it offers excellent corrosion resistance and recyclability.

It rides on standard 18-inch alloy wheels although 17-inch run-flat tires as well as 19- and 20-inch alloy wheels are optional. Electronic chassis aids include Dynamic Stability Control, Emergency Brake Assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribition and ABS. The new XK also offers Jaguar’s Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS) as an option.

In keeping with a car that wears a sticker price of P8,500,000, Jaguar has provided the new XK, which has a 2+2 seating layout, with intuitive controls and driver-focused technologies such as key-in-your-pocket entry and engine start (via Start/Stop button), Active Front Lighting (which swivels the bi-xenon headlamps in tandem with the front wheels when cornering), Front Parking Assist with touch-screen visual aid, rain-sensing wipers, a sumptuous polished wood-and-soft leather interior, among many, many other high-tech, luxury-oriented features.

In the event of a pedestrian impact, the XK’s Pyrotechnic Deployable Bonnet, which works in conjunction with Jaguar’s Pedestrian Contact-Sensing system, automatically deploys in the blink of an eye to create a cushioning effect between the hood and the engine to give additional protection to the pedestrian.

The new Jaguar XK comes with a 3-year/100,000-km warranty. Jaguar Cars, Inc. operates a factory-certified service center that’s fully equipped with the most up-to-date diagnostic and repair technology, complemented by Jaguar-trained service personnel. The Jaguar Service Center is located at 3904 Quingua St., (after the EDSA/Buendia Forbes Park gate), Makati.