2006 Jaguar XK8 Review

The 2006 Jaguar XK8 either as a coupe or convertible. The XK8 is a beautiful vehicle, it is known as sports car but it's really a luxury coupe or roadster. The XK8 is a powerful sports car with two-plus-two seating and accommodations that are more luxury than sporty. It looks and feels like a luxury car inside, handles like a tight luxury sports coupe or convertible. Standard equipment for all XK Jags includes Dynamic Stability Control, ABS with Electronic Brake Assist, front and side airbags, an anti-theft engine immobilizer, Alpine audio system with 6CD changer, rain-sensing wipers, leather seats, plus all the luxury equipment you would expect from a $70,000 car, including burl walnut galore. The 2006 XK8 has plenty of V8 power, a good six-speed automatic transmission, and a good ride. The interior is luxurious and the two-plus-two seating allows for things to be stowed behind the front seats, or for kids to ride back there, or for adult passengers in a short-term pinch. But mostly, the big Jaguar sports car is considered gorgeous and classy by all.

XK8 Power and Drive

All XK8 models come with a 4.2-liter, 32-valve, 90-degree V8 with aluminum block, heads and pistons, and a six-speed automatic transmission. The XK8's engine is rated at 294 horsepower and 303 pound-feet of torque. Jaguar's J-gate allows the transmission to be manually shifted (although ultimate control is up to the computer sensors); there are slots for gears 2, 3, 4 and 5, with 1st gear combined into 2nd and 6th combined in Adaptive cruise control, which maintains a programmable distance between your XK and the car in front, is available. The 4.2-liter V8 is remarkable in the way its changes; its silky silence around town turns into an animal growl when you hammer the throttle. The difference is really extreme in a nice way. The 4.2-liter engine and ZF six-speed automatic were introduced for the 2003 model year. The suspension is by no means soft during such spirited driving and cornering, as one might expect given the car's luxury slant. The engine produces a very healthy 303 pound-feet of torque, which peaks at a relatively high 4100 rpm, meaning it's not always there when you need it. Like any automatic transmission, it kicks down when you floor it, and this one kicks down from third gear a lot, partly to find more torque from higher rpm, and partly because the gap between second and third gears is wide; there may be six gears, but fifth is a solid overdrive and sixth is a super overdrive, so it's not really a close-ratio transmission.

Design of the Jaguar XK8

For 2006, the Jaguar XK8 comes in a limited edition XK Victory series. The shape of the XK8 hood can be traced without interruption back to the D-Type racing Jaguars of 1955. The lines are simply beautiful. Restyling for 2003 included fresh alloy wheels and new badging and headlights, but the XK8's dramatic, projectile-shaped appearance didn't change. Modifications for 2005 were modest and centered on the front end. A full-width grille splitter is evident. The side sills were revised, and the rear bumper grew deeper. Gloss black window finish surrounds are installed. Riding on standard 18-inch alloy wheels, the XK8 gets a new chrome mesh grille similar to other Jaguar models for 2006. Upgraded 19-inch Atlas chrome-plated wheels are mounted on the Victory editions, which include xenon headlights with dynamic leveling.  The nose, tail and side sills are all revised for 2005, but few will notice. The sills are deeper, so from the rear there's an evident V shape, with the sides tapering down from door-handle level. It all seems to flow back to the tail, fattening as it goes but not making the car look fat; in fact, the tail seems to sharpen again, a brilliant design effect.

Jaguar XK8 Cabin

Standard equipment for all XK Jags includes Dynamic Stability Control, ABS with Electronic Brake Assist, front and side airbags, an anti-theft engine immobilizer, Alpine audio system with 6CD changer, rain-sensing wipers, leather seats, plus all the luxury equipment you would expect from a $70,000 car, including burl walnut galore. For the XK8 only, there are 19-inch alloy wheels ($1200). XKR offers optional 20-inch BBS wheels, of which three sets are available, each for a stunning $6000.For the XKR you can also get a performance steering wheel with Momo shift knob ($300), cross-drilled rotors with red calipers ($500) and Recaro seats ($2000).If only you could get a six-speed gearbox, you'd be ready for the track, where a car like this belongs. There's tons of leg room in the XK8. The driver's left knee can't even touch the door, while his right knee comes in comfortable contact with the tunnel that's padded by the leather. There are soft spots under each elbow, too. The rear of the XK8 has space for child passengers, and the trunk has room for basic items. The big walnut-and-leather steering wheel has four thick spokes, and the cruise control and sound system buttons are half-tucked behind the hub. There are two pop-up cupholders in the center console, which isn't very deep; but the glovebox is good, and the owner's manual that may be stored in there isn't thick, unlike those for most German cars. Convertibles have a one-button, automatic-latching power soft-top with a glass rear window and defogger.

Conclusions

Jaguar's Adaptive Restraint Technology System includes side-impact airbags with head-protection extensions mounted in the front-seat backrest cushions. Traction control and all-disc antilock brakes are standard. All XK models have Dynamic Stability Control to prevent wheelspin and emergency brake assist to produce the shortest possible braking distance. Reverse Park Control warns of obstacles while backing up. Heritage counts, especially when it comes to British-built motorcars. Even if its performance lags behind that of some competitors, driving a Jaguar ranks as a memorable experience. Handling has always been a strong point for Jaguar, even if the XK8 is more of a boulevard cruiser than a racetrack-ready model. For more research, read a 2006 Jaguar XK8 First Look by Motor Trend.