Jaguar XK

First XK is ready for action...

It may officially be the Year of the Dog in 2006, but for these Jaguar workers it feels like it could also be the year of the Cat.

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Jaguar manufacturing staff celebrate first new XK off the production line

03rd January 2006

Staff at the feline firm's factory in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, are seen here celebrating the arrival of the very first new XK off the production line. Workers watched as the silver XK Coupé was handed over to the Jaguar Heritage Trust, which will keep it in a collection that includes the first and last E-Types, too.

The XK Convertible is also being built at the state-of-the-art facility in readiness for customer deliveries later this year. With an all-aluminium body and chassis that's much stiffer than its predecessor, the 300bhp 4.2-litre V8 XK is the most technologically advanced model in Jaguar's history.

Prices are likely to start at around £53,000 for the Coupé model and £59,000 for the drop-top. Mean-while, with the arrival of the brand new XK, now is the time to buy an outgoing model, as some dealers are offering up to £10,000 off list price.

London-based HR Owen has been slashing the XK8 Convertible from around £60,000 to less than £50,000.