Jaguar XK V8 Coupe Spl

Jaguar XK V8 Coupe Spl

The previous Jaguar XK V8 Coupe, powered by the outgoing 4.2-litre V8, was always more pussy cat than Jaguar. With a 0-100km/h time of 6.2-seconds and barely more power than a modern Commodore, it was nothing to write home about. Comparing the brand new 5.0-litre V8 Jaguar XK V8 Coupe to the outgoing model would be like comparing gold to wood. Power has been increased by 26% to 283kW and torque has risen by a staggering 100Nm. In addition to the added power and torque, the new XK V8 Coupe has slashed its 0-100km/h time by almost an entire second, now completing the dash in 5.5-seconds. To the untrained eye, the exterior of Jaguar’s latest update looks much the same. Upon closer inspection of the front end, avid fans will find new gills, more chrome and restyled headlights. At the rear the taillights have been rejuvenated by virtue of LED lights styled to give the XK an aggressive new look. The side panel gets a vertical breather slat that integrates the Jaguar nameplate. Inside the cabin, a restyled interior mimics the flowing lines and gadgetry of the XK’s more sedate XF sibling. The rising gear lever and updated control system now also grace the XK. Our test vehicle was fitted with opulent and richly varnished wood grain that suited the interior down to a tee. The climate controls have now also been simplified to make climate changes a breeze – pardon the pun. The seats feel sportier than the outgoing XK and come with an adjustable side bolster to hold the driver in tight. In addition to being heated, the seats are now cooled via ducts in the base and back of the seat. Our test vehicle also had a heated steering wheel – the perfect companion for a chilly Melbourne winter morning. 525W of Bowers and Wilkins audio brings music to the ears. High output Kevlar mid-range speakers and specially designed aluminium dome tweeters work in unison with a sub-woofer to emit a sound to match the car’s stellar exhaust note. Jaguar’s new 5.0-litre V8 features 32-valves and is mated to a ZF Sachs 6HP28 six-speed automatic gearbox. The gearbox can be controlled by paddle shifters on the steering wheel, or by simply selecting the ‘D’ or ‘S’ mode (Sport) modes on the gear selector. You will be guaranteed to have tingles running down your spine the first time you hear the new XK V8 Coupe turn over. A slightly hesitant starter motor fires all eight cylinders to life, offering a bevy of exhaust rumble from the rear. Stationary exhaust note is equally as impressive inside the cabin. Tap the throttle at idle and the V8 makes its presence known by barking back at you. The exhaust note only gets better as the revs rise. The active exhaust system continuously adjusts butterfly valves at the rear, increasing the veracity of the note based upon speed and throttle input. At full throttle the exhaust emits its peak bellow onwards of 3800rpm. The car can literally be heard kilometres away. The sound is barely lost inside the cabin too, giving passengers the pleasure of taking in all the V8 has to offer. In traffic, the Jaguar XK V8 Coupe is fairly easy to place. The long nose is visible and the blind spot behind the drivers head is nowhere near as bad as some of its competitors. Large wing mirrors with excellent coverage help survey spots in traffic missed by head checks. Parking is easy courtesy of front and rear parking sensors. The front parking sensors are especially useful as the front end of the XK sits quite low. Ripping the front end off on a gutter would be far from pleasing.