Service Cars

Preview 2007 Jaguar XK8

At last, Jaguar gives us a glimpse of its future. The derivatively styled XJ8 led us to wonder if Jag would remain forever mired in the past, but the Advanced Lightweight Coupe shows that design director Ian Callum has a clear vision of where he wants to take Jaguar.

Yes, its officially a concept, but this car will hit the road as the next-generation XK8 and XKR coupe and convertible.

As its name implies, the concept, like the XJ8 sedan, has a bonded and riveted aluminum skeleton supporting aluminum body panels, which should drop curb weight by several hundred pounds compared with the current car.




This plus higher-horsepower versions of the current cars normally aspirated and supercharged V-8s should put performance in Porsche 911 territory. The 2+2 cabin beautifully balances modernity and sumptuousness, with nary a trace of show-car frippery.



The design team wanted the tautly drawn, muscular exterior to send as strong a message about Jaguars intentions as the XK120 and the E-type did in their own time. Thats heady company, but we think the new XK will be a stunning representation of the Jaguar brand. Its unlikely that the hatch, a nod to the fixed-head E-types left-hinged cargo lid, will carry over, however.

Drivetrain engineering

Powering this exceptional chassis is Jags AJ-V8 4.2-liter. Unlike the chassis, the 4.2 is essentially a carryover with a little electronic fuel injection fiddling to raise peak power to 300 hp. Thats 60 less than the latest version of BMWs 6 Series. Despite that deficit, the lightweight XK coupe is just 0.6 second slower to 100 kilometers an hour (62 mph).

Even Matkin admits it could use a few more ponies, noting that "with such a great chassis, even the base XK could easily handle substantially more power." Expect that to come in short order with an XKR version, and dont be surprised if it boasts more than the current models 390 hp.As for the transmission, its the same six-speed automatic that Jaguars been using for some time now, but Matkin says its been calibrated for quicker and more positive gear changes. More noticeable is the absence of Jaguars trademark J-gate, replaced with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Chassis engineering

As satisfying as righting soniferous wrongs is, Matkin takes the most satisfaction from the engineering that went into the XKs third-generation aluminum frame. "It was, by far, the most difficult but most rewarding part of the project," he says, pointing out that the XKs all-aluminum chassis needed new bonding techniques and features with more extrusions and castings than the XJ, which is predominantly formed from sheet stampings.This might sound like a lot of techno-garble that you dont really need to know about. But the switch to aluminum is one of the essential reasons that the new XK appears poised for success.And yet it will be, by all estimations, affordable.

You see, not only do those extrusions make the XK coupes frame the stiffest in its segment (ahead of the BMW 645 and Mercedes-Benz SL — both granitelike examples of chassis engineering) but extrusions require very little investment in tooling, saving Jaguar big bucks in the research and development phase. The pieces may be costlier to produce, but since the XK will be a relatively low production run, it still saves Jaguar precious development resources, something in short supply back in Coventry these days.

Safety engineering

Though the new XK gets all the de rigueur safety aids like multiple airbags (including side curtain airbags) and traction and stability control, the truly nifty safety innovation is something were not likely to get, at least right away, in North America.

Europe is implementing new standards for pedestrian impacts, and the most difficult of these to meet is the frontal collision. The problem is the damage caused when a humans head hits the hood. The bonnet itself doesnt do the damage. But when a heavy skull deforms the relatively flimsy hood a few inches, it abruptly comes in contact with the engine (usually the intake manifold) which does serious damage.Jaguars solution is to have sensors in the front bumper that determine if a pedestrian has indeed been struck and then triggers two pyrotechnical charges that instantaneously lift the front hood, providing extra distance between engine and head. In effect, the hood becomes the exterior equivalent of an airbag: The hoods sheet metal may not be as soft, but its a damn sight more accommodating than a solid 400-pound piece of metal and plastic.

Comfort, convenience and cockpit engineering

Owners of the current XK who are less than enamored of its rather cramped quarters are going to love the new cars cabin. Though it is but barely half an inch longer overall — and still retains its 2+2 seating format — the new XK claims 2.13 inches more front legroom, 0.8 inch more headroom and a whopping 1.4 inch more shoulder room.

The extra width is particularly noticeable as your legs are no longer butting up against the transmission tunnel or being skewered by a parking brake lever.Unlike the exterior, which possesses Jaguars trademark organic, feline appeal, the XKs interior is pure techno. And the British — yes, the British — have delivered a centralized computer that isnt an infernal pain in the you-know-what to operate. Unlike the complicated systems in German luxury automobiles (BMWs iDrive, Mercedes COMAND and Audis MMA), Jaguars Driver Information Center system works through a touchscreen and is extremely easy to decipher and use. Audio, climate control and even seat heater controls are easy to find and free of needless over complication and diabolically difficult menus.



Our only complaint is that the radios manual station-changing function automatically returns to "seek-scan" every time you use it, and you cant set manual operation as the default command. There is, of course, a navigation system as well.Those electronically minded will also appreciate the optional Alpine audio system that features Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound, eight speakers and 520 watts of power. When thats off, you can chat via a built-in communication system that works wirelessly with Bluetooth mobile phones. Personally, I like the "do not disturb" mode that inhibits incoming calls, especially while tossing the XK into corners like the very devil is chasing me.


From computer screen to showroom

And while on the subject of costs, Matkin claims that the entire XK design was performed on a computer, with only the cloth roof of the convertible, prototyped during the initial design phase, falling outside this system.

"Everything came out pretty much exactly as the computer predicted," explains Matkin, "and we saved lots of money not having to build so many test vehicles."Is all this technological innovation worth the trouble? Well, lets see: An XK coupe weighs in at 3,671 pounds (the convertible is 3,759 pounds). By comparison, a BMW 650i coupe tips the scales 143 pounds heavier (the convertible XK weighs a whopping 518 pounds less than the 650 ragtop). And an SL500 is a hefty 306 pounds heavier than the XK ragtop.

Take my word for it — that lighter weight makes a huge difference.Or listen to Matkins more adroit explanation. "Get the basics right," says the chief engineer, "and the rest is relatively easy. And a light weight, extremely stiff chassis is exactly where you want to start."Matkin explains that a stiffer chassis allows firmer suspension settings, which creates superior road-holding without sacrificing any refinement or ride quality.

"The base XKs all-wheel independent Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS) is actually almost as stiff as the last-generation XKRs, yet ride is not at all compromised."It also helps Jaguar tune the steering to levels of precision and feedback that Matkin hopes will surpass even perennial segment leader, BMW.Drivetrain engineering Powering this exceptional chassis is Jags AJ-V8 4.2-liter.

Unlike the chassis, the 4.2 is essentially a carryover with a little electronic fuel injection fiddling to raise peak power to 300 hp. Thats 60 less than the latest version of BMWs 6 Series. Despite that deficit, the lightweight XK coupe is just 0.6 second slower to 100 kilometers an hour (62 mph).Even Matkin admits it could use a few more ponies, noting that "with such a great chassis, even the base XK could easily handle substantially more power.



" Expect that to come in short order with an XKR version, and dont be surprised if it boasts more than the current models 390 hp.As for the transmission, its the same six-speed automatic that Jaguars been using for some time now, but Matkin says its been calibrated for quicker and more positive gear changes. More noticeable is the absence of Jaguars trademark J-gate, replaced with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.