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Jaguar's next generation takes a bold step forward in Frankfurt

Jaguar has made bold claims for its new sports car, the XK, which was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We were given an encouraging indicator at the Detroit Show earlier this year when Jaguar stole the show with the Advanced Lightweight Coupe (ALC) show car. As expected, the production version of the XK is little changed.

It's always dangerous to preview a new car with a closely related show concept, as the latter is usually closer to how the designers drew the car. In the case of the XK, the production car is more elegant than the ALC, though not quite as sporty, due mainly to the fitment of more modest alloys, though in the same style as the show car. Thankfully the extravagant alloy air intakes didn't make their way into production, and the vents in the front wings have been tastefully toned down. The best view is still the rear three-quarters, with the sharp lights bridged with a classy strip of aluminium embossed with the word 'Jaguar'. The rear haunches echo lightweight E-type coupes, and the oval grille is a modern interpretation of that car's too.

At launch, only the naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine is available, though it is expected that an XKR supercharged derivative will be shown soon, and there is the possibility of a high-performance diesel option in the future too. The 4.2-litre V8 is a development of the outgoing car's engine, with 300bhp and more than 300lb.ft of torque, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox. The big news lies within the car's body itself, as it features Jaguar's 'Lightweight Vehicle Technology', which means an all-aluminium construction and lower weight than the old XK. Despite increased dimensions, the new XK weighs in at only 1,595kg, allowing even the naturally aspirated car to hit 60mph in 5.9 seconds.

The new XK goes on sale early in 2006, with prices likely to be announced following the Detroit Show in January. The Convertible version is due to be revealed before the end of October.

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