A new breed of cat leaps to the top of the class

From whiskers to tail, Jaguar’s next generation XK is arguably the best looking and best built Jaguar ever. Its styling is absolutely stunning thanks to designer Ian Callum who also designed the Aston Martin DB9.

Having never found a Jaguar that could comfortably accommodate my too-tall frame, I was pleased to hear that Callum’s first priority was to increase cabin space. The XK’s overall length increased just a half-inch while the wheelbase grew by almost six and a half inches. It shows up big time with ample head, shoulder and much needed legroom.

The front bucket seats are covered in perforated leather that heat but don’t cool. Door-mounted power adjustments include those for side bolsters to help keep you in place when cornering. Jaguar kept the two-position rear seat incapable of accommodating anything larger than a briefcase or Kleenex box, maintaining a two-plus-two sports car model.

Entry to the five-star cabin is keyless, ditto to fire up the 300-horsepower 4.2-liter V-8. Just push the little red button on the center console. I like the instrument cluster that features round dials for the speedometer and tachometer, with an electronic display area for the clock and other operating information in between.

The dash in my tester was finished in a high-gloss dark burl walnut veneer, with brushed alloy or poplar veneer available at no additional cost. Wood overlays continue on the steering wheel and console.

Most creature comfort controls (i.e. audio system, climate control and standard navigation system) are operated by way of a seven-inch LCD touch-screen that doesn’t require a trip to the owner’s manual. It’s far superior to BMW’s ever-maddening iDrive system.

Completely new from the ground up, the 2007 XK has an all-aluminum monocoque-structured chassis resulting in stiffer, stronger, better performing suspension dynamics. While the XK is Jaguar’s first all-aluminum sports car, the all-aluminum XJ sedan was introduced a few years ago.

The exterior lines are clean, smooth and graceful with just enough DNA from the DB9 to rule out a coincidence. I especially liked the rear-end treatment that accents the muscular look.

But not everyone is enamored with the looks up front. More than a few auto writers have suggested that Jaguar’s parent company, Ford, pulled a Taurus grille from the parts bin and slapped it on the new XK.

I recently spent a week in a “liquid silver” XK coupe that included the $2,500 optional advanced technology package and a $3,300 luxury options package with a heated steering wheel and upgraded aluminum alloy wheels. The bottom line was $81,300, including a $665 shipping and handling charge.

The 2007 Jaguar XK comes in either a coupe or convertible, both rear-wheel-drive and powered by the same silky-smooth naturally aspirated 4.2-liter, 300-horsepower V-8 with 310 pound-feet of torque. It’s linked to a superb six-speed ZF automatic transmission with sequential paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. Shifts are lightening quick, far surpassing the experience in either the Mercedes Benz or BMW. Jaguar finally did away with its much-maligned J-gate shifter. The new set-up resembles a reverse L. A manual shift option is not available.

While 300 horsepower is at or near the bottom of its class, from a standstill, the XK reaches 60 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds, the quarter mile in 14.4 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.

That isn’t pin-you-to-the-seat acceleration, but I was surprised how often I saw the speedometer reach 80 mph when I thought I was going only 60. Another surprise was the federal fuel economy estimate — 18 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway. Not bad.

Thanks to a semi-active exhaust system, the XK sounds especially mean and powerful with an authoritative rumble intentionally pumped back into the cabin.

There’s nothing to complain about in the XK’s ride and handling, thanks to the advantages of its aluminum construction. It’s nimble and precise with cat-like agility and sure footedness.

Safety gear includes front-seat-mounted side airbags, whiplash reducing front seats, traction control, antilock brakes and stability control. The convertible has two aluminum hoops that auto-deploy in a rollover accident to better protect occupants.

I never tired driving the XK during my weeklong test. Sure, I’ve tested more powerful flat-out performance cars like the new Corvette and AMG Mercedes, but the XK represents an almost perfect blend of performance and luxury driving. I expect Jaguar to introduce a supercharged XKR version before the end of the year.