Roofless big cat

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Following on from the popular XJS Convertible, the last generation of Jaguar XK soft top failed to really set the world alight. Its looks were not to everyone's taste and the reliability was often questioned by customers not used to Jaguar's often quirky mechanicals. But things have changed at the pouncing cat.

The cars are pretty much as reliable as anything else on the market and with the launch of the new XK, the company now has a real rival to the automotive world's fleet of luxury convertibles. Following on from the coupe, which bears an uncanny resemblance to the new Aston Martin V8 Vantage, the convertible retains the hard tops sleek lines with the addition of a neat electrically folding soft top. But the big question is if Jaguar has kept the chassis of the coupe and has the transition to a convertible been a success?

On the outside the redesigned XK looks fantastic from any angle. The older model had too much air under the front and rear balance, making it look rather boat-like. The new model doesn't make the same mistake and hugs the ground both front and rear. The new nose is excellent and gives the whole car a purposeful look, especially when viewed from the car in front's rear view mirror.

The raised rear section rises up just behind the doors to give the car a nose forward stance that has really beefed up the cars looks and made it into the sports car the older model badly wanted to be.

One letdown that sounds like splitting hairs is the aerial. While almost every other car now has the aerial hidden in the screen pillar or a neat shark fin on the boot lid, the Jaguar has an ancient looking electric aerial. It looks like it should be on an old Ford Capri and is extremely out of place on the beautiful body of the XK. It is probably the only clue on the car of the company's Ford ownership and smacks of unnecessary penny pinching.

The roof mechanism folds away very neatly and quickly, with a hidden pop-up double roll over hoop system to protect the occupants in the event of the car turning over, which is a major consideration to most convertible buyers, especially on the treacherous roads of the GCC.

The inside of the XK is fairly standard Jaguar, which is no bad thing. The interior uses chrome, wood and leather to good effect, giving the whole inside a really luxurious feel. The only downside is the steering wheel, which has some cheap feeling plastic parts on the spokes, lowering the overall effect. All the dials are well laid out and the controls are easy to use. The stereo is also excellent, along with the on-board computer system, which allows you to alter almost every setting on the car using the central touch screen.

The seats are extremely comfortable and endlessly adjustable. However, the back seats are tiny and not a great deal of use for anyone with legs. They can best be described as ‘occasional'. Despite the folding roof, there is still a small boot, but it's not going to be much use for anything more than a short shopping trip. But then again, you've always got the back seats. One of the key little features in the car is the signature Jaguar gear shifter. The short chrome shaft with the leather and wood knob is pure classic Jag. Sitting in the XK you really can feel the quality of the interior apart from the steering wheel. The 4.2 V8 under the XK's bulging bonnet sounds great on start up, especially as you get to use the big red ‘start' button to wake it up.

Quite why a button has more drama than turning a key is a mystery, but it really makes it feel a bit more special. The engine gives you a throaty rumble from the twin exhaust pipes and matches the car's elegant but racy looks. However, it just isn't quite as quick as you would expect for such a big engine. That's not to say the car is slow, because it's certainly rapid enough. But the engine just doesn't do the muscular looks justice. The answer is, of course, to buy the XK Convertible, but at a major cost premium. Either way, the problem is more about expectation than a lack of engineering excellence.

Gearshifts are also smooth and quick from the excellent gearbox, which is exactly what you need from a luxury sports convertible. Gears can be selected from the classic Jag stick or from the paddles behind the steering wheel. Either is precise, but the wheel mounted shifters really give you the sports feeling once you get used to them.

On the move the big Jag is a pleasure to drive. Light steering and a responsive engine make city driving simple, even with the XK's length. On the highway it's great at normal highway speeds and stable beyond the legal limit. Mid-range acceleration is a little disappointing, as the Jag takes a while to pick up its heels and run. This makes overtaking harder than it should be. With the roof down the noise inside the cabin is acceptable and the engineers seem to have done their homework in keeping the wind out. The big brakes do a good job of bringing the car to a halt and provide about the right amount of feedback to the driver.

In the corners the Jag sticks to the road well. But at the end of the day, this is a big luxury convertible, so don't expect Honda S2000 or Porsche Boxster handling. That said it is very stable and doesn't frighten you until you really ask for too much.

So the XK really is a very nice car. It's sleek and sporty and yet elegant and stylish at the same time. You can drive it hard or cruise slowly along the strip, either way it rewards you with a great driving experience. The roof works well, up or down and the interior is fantastic. From the outside it really is beautiful, but the engine needs a little more power to match the looks. But that's more down to the great exterior than an actual lack of outright speed.

All this makes it a great package for anyone looking for an executive toy for the weekend or even a usable weekday car. It just comes down to if you're a Jaguar fan or not. Some people just cannot see what all the fuss is about, but for those that do, the XK will give you exactly what you've come to expect.

Verdict

The big Jag coupe looks great and is lovely to drive. It really needs the XKR engine to give it the power to match the looks, but as a beach road cruiser and highway poser it really hits the mark.

Engine

4.2 V8

0-100 kph

6.2 secs

Top speed

250 kmph (Limited)

HP

304@6000 rpm

ME price

US$89,900 (AED326, 630)

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