2003 Jaguar XK-Series Review

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--Jaguar sports cars still turn heads here as they did in the early 1950s, when many movie stars bought the lithe new Jaguar XK-120 sports car because it was the sexiest thing on wheels. Clark Gable got the first one in the Los Angeles area.

Jaguars still are popular with celebrities here, so it was a logical place for the revered British automaker to hold a media preview of its revamped 2003 XK sports car models. The XK is the fastest-selling sports car in Jaguar history with more than 70,000 global sales and over 33,000 sales in America since the car's introduction in 1996.

A 240-mile test drive of the new XK, often on twisting mountain roads and deserted high-speed straightaways, showed the XK to still be more of a high-speed luxury cruiser than an all-out sports car--like all Jaguar sports cars have been.

However, some of the XK media test cars here had had "R'' performance options such as the R Performance Handling Pack that turns the XK into a Ferrari or Porsche fighter--if you want to pay pretty stiff prices for such options.

That package provides a revised, sportier setup for the computer controlled suspension, with uprated springs and anti-roll bars, lower ride height and retuned steering--along with huge 20-inch wheels with ultra-low profile tires and cross-drilled Brembo race-style brakes.

Despite major improvements, prices for the 2003 XK models are unchanged from 2002. Base prices range from $69,330 to $86,330, although special items such as the more comfortable $2,000 Recaro seats and custom $6,000 wheels can cause the price to rapidly escalate.

Are such items necessary? Not really, but they allow XK buyers to customize their cars for more comfort and/or performance and safety.

The new third-generation XK coupe and convertible look virtually the same as the 2002 models because the styling was nearly perfect to begin with when the car was introduced. The same thing was true for the classic 1960s E-Type ("XK-E'') Jaguar sports car coupe and convertible, which set the styling pattern for the XK. Later versions of the classic E-Type had modified styling that made the car lose much of its original styling magic.

Ford-owned Jaguar has given the heavy, equipment-loaded 2003 XK more power and torque with a larger 4.2-liter V-8. It generates 294 horsepower in normal form in the XK8 and 390 horsepower in supercharged XKR models. Also, there is a responsive new six-speed automatic transmission that helps allow more punch at mid-range speeds often used in this country.

Jaguar retains its traditional J-gate shifter, with automatic and manual modes. This shifter still feels rather awkward, but has improved detents for each gear position. Still, the transmission is best left in the "drive'' position most of the time.

Race-bred Brembo brakes now are standard on the faster, more potent XKR, which can whisk you to 100 mph when lesser cars are still struggling to reach 60 mph. The XK8 is no slouch, either.

Now standard across the board are Dynamic Stability control and Emergency Brake Assist systems for better stability and more effective braking.

A clever Adaptive Cruise Control option on the XKR features Forward Alert, an audible driver warning system that senses and responds to traffic ahead to prevent collisions. Using microwave technology, it senses another vehicle crossing into your lane and adjusts speed to suit, overriding the set cruise speed to maintain a gap between the XKR and removing the need for its driver to adjust or cancel the set speed.

This writer found that feature is for roadways such as L.A. freeways, not for screaming through mountain curves or topping 100 on deserted two-lane straightaways in the supercharged XKR, which is firmer than the XK8 but still comfortable during city driving.

The XK has quick, rather light steering, a smooth ride, fairly agile handling and a brake pedal that's rather soft but easy to modulate.

The low car has wide doorsills, so it's a little hard to get in and out. The quiet, posh wood-and-leather cockpit's deeply recessed gauges can be rather hard to read quickly in bright sunlight and the two-seater's console eats up a good amount of space. However, there's decent room for two tall adults.

The control layout is generally good, although sound system controls are rather small and should be put above the climate system controls.

The coupe has a rather large, nicely shaped trunk and even the convertible's smaller trunk has fairly decent room, considering it must accommodate the lowered top.

The XK has been made more alluring than ever. It has greater sophistication and is even more fun to drive. You can bet that Clark Gable would buy one if he were still with us.


2003 JAGUAR XK

Prices:

$69,330-$86,330

Likes:

Major changes. Style. Performance. Comfort. No price increases.

Dislikes:

Difficult entry and exit. Large console eats into cockpit room. Deeply recessed gauges sometimes hard to read.