Cats can be the sleekest of creatures. Their balance is superb, and they cover the ground effortlessly to catch their prey. However, cats can be the laziest of creatures, lounging all over the furniture and seeking out the hot spots in the sun. The Jaguar is the third biggest cat in the world and is well known for its immense power and agility. In fact, the name Jaguar is said to come from the Native American word ‘yaguar’ which means “he who kills with one leap”. Now the Jaguar XK is so appropriately named, as this is a car that is lustrous, warm and welcoming, while being so lethal in one swift move of acceleration and agility.

All eyes are on you as you glide past in what is one of the sexiest cars around. This is a car built for speed and premium handling, while inside the cabin of the Jaguar XK is a serene, luxurious atmosphere fit for a king. Inside the beautifully crafted leather interior, you’ll be swept away with the breathtaking level of workmanship and quality, premium materials.

Power for the Jaguar XK comes from an engine that loves the fast lane, though it can be incredibly docile in traffic when it has to be. The reality is that this is a car that is immensely satisfying as an everyday driver. The naturally aspirated version of Jaguar’s 5.0 Litre AJ-V8 GEN III engine integrates advanced fuel injection technology, dual independent variable cam timing and lightweight components for a combination of muscle and notable efficiency. Because the continuously variable valve timing produces higher levels of torque over a wide range of engine speeds, it is understandable just how easy the car is to drive in slow city traffic. With such a wide torque band that includes the 515 Nm, the Jaguar XK has instant throttle response at crawling speeds. Maximum power of 283 kW is ready to attack suddenly. On the right road, the Jaguar XK exhilaration can hurtle you from a standstill to 100 km/h in a sparkling 5.5 seconds.

One of the thrilling characteristics of the new Jaguar XK is the ability of the big cat to control the road. The Jaguar XK utilizes an adaptive dynamics package that can analyse speed, steering and body movements 500 times per second and adjust the suspension with electronic dampers to achieve the ideal balance between comfort and precise handling. All Jaguar XK versions come with Dynamic Stability Control which detects the wheels slipping and corrects accordingly for untainted driving control. The Trac DSC setting does allow for some slipping and overspin before the system intervenes to allow for an even sportier drive. An option on the Jaguar XK is the Active Differential system (standard on the XKR and XKR-S). This provides superior asphalt and loose surface traction. It is designed to detect any slipping and vary the power supplied to each wheel to help keep the big cat as purely poised as possible.

Four-channel ABS and Emergency Brake Assist are at the ready to automatically activate the ABS if it senses a sharp application of the brakes. The Jaguar XK features the potent Jaguar Performance Braking System, refined on the Nurburgring in Germany. The ability of the brakes is astounding, both in the wet and in the dry. Cruise control and an Automatic Speed Limiter system are fitted as standard.

Seated and comfortable inside the XK cockpit, what I love about the Jaguar XK is that the inside is as alluring as the outside. Even the swooning dash exhibits stitched leather. Electronic wizardry is all about the XK interior, but it’s not shown in a plastic, cold way. Everything is exquisitely placed, clear and elegant. The instrument panel is highlighted with Phosphor blue illumination, a hallmark of contemporary Jaguar styling, and I’d have to place the Jaguar XK as a leader in sports car interior design. The seats are superb.

All the luxury you could wish for is present. This is a hard GT, come sports car, to better.

The current Jaguar XK models include the:

• Jaguar XK
• Jaguar XKR
• Jaguar XKR-S

For any more information on the Jaguar XK or, for that matter, any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Jaguar dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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