KansasCity.com's view

The luxury sports coupe segment may be small, but it is populated by some of the sleekest cars on the market. Jaguar’s redesigned XK has always been among the sleekest and most elegant sports cars on the market. The all-new 2007 has an arresting shape, but the look is more modern and less emotional.

It’s hard to mention any Jaguar without dwelling on its looks. The new XK is sleek and lithe, but the aerodynamically efficient nose is considerably less pleasing aesthetically. The oval air intake looks a bit pedestrian for a car whose bloodline is defined by elegance.

Styling is extremely subjective, and I may warm up to the new car’s nose in a few months.

The rest of the body is quite stunning. Front and rear glass is steeply raked and large wheels fill the tire openings. Sheet metal swoops and curves give the body its sensuality. Handsome detail work is evident in the taillights and front fender vents. The design is the work of Jaguar design director Ian Callum, who also worked on the Aston Martin DB9. Ford Motor Co. owns both Jaguar and Aston Martin.

The XK is available as a 2+2 coupe and a convertible. A 300-horsepower, 4.2-liter V-8 and six-speed automatic transmission power the car to 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds. Drivers can change gears manually with paddles on the steering wheel or by nudging the gear lever.

This next-generation XK has an all-aluminum monocoque body structure like that used for the XJ sedan. The body shell is 31 percent lighter and 90 percent stiffer than the previous XK and its steel chassis.

The body and chassis are constructed with aerospace technology. Aluminum panels, castings and extrusions are joined with rivets or bonded with epoxy. The resulting chassis has high strength and low weight.

The interior combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary luxury materials. Finely stitched leather is accented by high-tech trim surfaces including metallic finishes. The test car’s blond woodgrain trim was just this side of gaudy. Good ergonomics, contoured seats and a low waistline make the XK easy to drive.

The instrument cluster’s round dials flank a high-resolution color display that is split into several zones showing vital information such as gear selection, cruise control information, low-tire-pressure warnings and satellite navigation instructions.

The center stack houses a 7-inch touch screen to control climate, audio, navigation, telephone and vehicle personalization settings. I found this system to be much less intuitive and convenient than conventional knobs and buttons, especially for the audio functions.

Bluetooth wireless technology will be offered, as will an Alpine 525-watt surround-sound system and Sirius satellite radio.

The all-new anti-lock brake system governs brake pressure of each wheel individually, allowing for more precise control. The ventilated discs are larger than those on the current model.

Other safety aids include bi-xenon headlights that turn slightly as the car is steered, a tire pressure monitoring system, run-flat tires, headrests that protect against whiplash, adaptive cruise control, traction control and vehicle stability control.

Price

The test car’s base price was $74,835. Options included the luxury package with 19-inch wheels, heated wood and leather steering wheel, leather door trim and wood gearshift knob, and the advanced technology package, which includes adaptive cruise control and headlights that move with the steering wheel. The sticker price was $81,300.

Warranty

Four years or 50,000 miles.

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Jaguar XK

Engine: 4.2-liter, 300-hp V-8

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Rear-wheel drive

Wheelbase: 108.4 inches

Curb weight: 3,671 lbs.

Base price: $74,835

As driven: $81,300

MPG rating: 18 city, 27 hwy.