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XK hits the road at last

The wait is finally over! The modern-day E-Type has leapt on to the UK's roads for the first time, and Auto Express was there to hitch a ride - and bring you an exclusive glimpse of what it's like to travel in the hottest sports car of 2006.

By Chris Thorp

20th December 2005

Away from the glamour of a motor show stand, it's only in the harsh light of day on Britain's damp, gritty December roads that Jaguar's new XK can really prove what it's made of. Is it good enough to tempt buyers away from the likes of Porsche and Aston Martin?

With both the coup΃© and convertible now given the final stamp of approval by company bosses, the engineers and designers are justifiably proud of their work. There's more than a hint of Aston Martin to some of the XK's lines, though it still has a strong look of its own.

It's much more modern than its predecessor - and under the skin, it's light years ahead. As with the larger XJ, the XK is made from aluminium. This not only offers weight-saving advantages, but has also allowed engineers to create an incredibly strong shell. As a result, the new convertible is said to be just as stiff as the outgoing coup΃©.

Hit the road in the next-generation hard-top, and within 100 metres the car's advanced engineering is obvious. Where the old XK felt soft and woolly, the new version is taut and uncompromised. The suspension is also noticeably harder, detracting from the Jaguar's long-distance cruising comfort, but adding to its credibility as a genuine sports car. On a challenging B-road, the newcomer has a confident, surefooted feel backed up by two-stage stability control, which can be set up to allow some slip at the back before helping to bring the tail into line.

And when the throttle is floored for the first time, it's clear there's no shortage of pace. The standard XK features a 300bhp 4.2-litre V8, and blasts from 0-60mph in 5.9 seconds. A 400bhp-plus supercharged flagship XKR will arrive before the end of next year.

The Jaguar has a noise to match this performance, too. While little is heard from the engine bay, the exhaust system has been specially developed to sound more thrilling as the revs rise. So if the new XK is so sporty, why doesn't it have a manual gearbox? Jaguar experimented with everything from a normal three-pedal transmission to an Aston Vanquish-style clutchless manual - but achieved the best results with a re-engineered version of its own conventional auto.

In 'Drive', the changes are silky smooth, but slide the J-gate lever into Sport and the box takes on a new edge. The driver can use the steering wheel-mounted paddles, and shifts are lightning fast. In fact, engineers claim the time between the driver pulling on the lever and the gear actually being engaged is shorter than that taken by the VW Group's sensational DSG set-up.

There's no doubt this latest Jag has come on leaps and bounds. Is it better to drive than rivals? We can't wait to find out in a full test in the New Year.

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