RE: Jaguar unveils new XK
Discussion
DannyT said:
As a silent visitor to this forum, this story has prompted me to join and speak up. I am staggered. Is it compulsory on this forum to be snide and cynical about any new launch??? The car is clearly superb, with a design that to my eyes balances muscle, Jaguar design clues without even a sniff of retro. The aluminium build will clearly result in superb ride and handling, even by Jaguar's legendarily high standards. Denouncing a car on the basis that you don't like the rear lights is as petty as denouncing a weeks holiday in the Maldives because they put the wrong flowers in your hotel room.
No but when a "new" car is launched and it is so clearly another clone of a Sister brand do you expect us to all fawn over it .
Its a good looking car but so close to the original its no wonder its getting flack
I don't see the similarity between the very taught, fitted tailoring of the DB9, to the muscular and curvy Jaguar, but then maybe thats just me. Regardless, the fact that it will be sold out well into 2007 by the time it launches, I suspect enough people think they are doing something right! However, the comparisons to Z4.... is there an Optician in the house???
DannyT, that's the whole point 
... to provide objective reviews of any new car 
. I think Jag have missed out on a good opportunity to create a sports coupe with luscious curves but not to position it in the market segment which is currently well populated. The price and specs will have to be v.good to tempt folks away from AM,BMW et.al. Personally, it won't tempt me away from my daily drive 
... to provide objective reviews of any new car . I think Jag have missed out on a good opportunity to create a sports coupe with luscious curves but not to position it in the market segment which is currently well populated. The price and specs will have to be v.good to tempt folks away from AM,BMW et.al. Personally, it won't tempt me away from my daily drive 
mmmm, I have to say I'm more than a little underwhelmed. I agree with the comments about the rear lights and the rear 'spoiler' does exactly that - spoil. I'm particularly disappointed by the interior. It lacks that certain 'Jaguarness' and is certainly a long way short of the potential demonstrated by the ALC concept.
However, its still a gorgeous British GT, I'd be proud to have one on my driveway, I can't wait until we see the XKR. Its natural competitors are, I suggest, the 6 Series and the SL. The Jaguar is streets ahead of the awkward looks of the BMW and the 'corporate family' image of the MB.
Best of luck Jaguar.
However, its still a gorgeous British GT, I'd be proud to have one on my driveway, I can't wait until we see the XKR. Its natural competitors are, I suggest, the 6 Series and the SL. The Jaguar is streets ahead of the awkward looks of the BMW and the 'corporate family' image of the MB.
Best of luck Jaguar.
800 said:
However, its still a gorgeous British GT, I'd be proud to have one on my driveway, I can't wait until we see the XKR. Its natural competitors are, I suggest, the 6 Series and the SL. The Jaguar is streets ahead of the awkward looks of the BMW and the 'corporate family' image of the MB.
Best of luck Jaguar.
Well each to their own , but i saw an M6 in the flesh this week and it is flippin great looking , much nicer than pics would lead you to belive .
OctaneBooster said:
Headlights and silly wing vent bring the Hyundai Coupe to mind.
Completely agree. Front end is a real mess - looks like McCallum was tracing a DB9 from back to front, lost interest, took the tracing paper home and the blueprint was finished off by the work-experience boy
The MAJOR disappointment of 2005
800 said:
It lacks that certain 'Jaguarness'.
Hit the nail on the head there 800. Although it looks great and will probably be a lovely thing to own it has lost it's 'Jaguarness'. It's lost the slightly over-long look the current XK has which harks back to the e-type and now looks more squat and muscular which is what makes it more Aston-like. If anything there's not quite enough 'retro' or sexy curves in the design to make it instantly recognisable as a Jaguar sports car. I hope it's a hit but next time round I think they need a new designer with a clean slate or remake the original e-type with current technology - what a car that would be....
Rob
It looks alright but maybe a bit too FORD'y
Without doubt Fords guidance has resulted in Jaguar, Aston Martin, Land/Range Rover etc releasing some competative and class leading cars. I am sure that letting these smaller manufactures raid the Ford parts bin has helps reduce development costs, but in my opinion it certainly degrades the feel of such premium brands. from the pictres provided it looks like the new XK has Focus door handles, the dash does'nt look particularly stylish (looks to me like somthing you'd find in a car from mid 90's made in Japan). Jaguar had a good opportunity to create something special, as they did with the old XK which proved a success, the new one looks Ok, i only hope it looks better in the flesh maybe in a darker colour.
My father took delivery of a new Range Rover Sport a few weeks ago - fantastic car in terms of ride, performance etc, let down by interior fixtures and fittings from a Ford Ka/Fiesta/Focus/Mondeo which work perfectly and well screwed together but feel a bit out of place in a £50K car.
At leaset TVR made some attempt at disguising bits it had borrowed!!
Without doubt Fords guidance has resulted in Jaguar, Aston Martin, Land/Range Rover etc releasing some competative and class leading cars. I am sure that letting these smaller manufactures raid the Ford parts bin has helps reduce development costs, but in my opinion it certainly degrades the feel of such premium brands. from the pictres provided it looks like the new XK has Focus door handles, the dash does'nt look particularly stylish (looks to me like somthing you'd find in a car from mid 90's made in Japan). Jaguar had a good opportunity to create something special, as they did with the old XK which proved a success, the new one looks Ok, i only hope it looks better in the flesh maybe in a darker colour.
My father took delivery of a new Range Rover Sport a few weeks ago - fantastic car in terms of ride, performance etc, let down by interior fixtures and fittings from a Ford Ka/Fiesta/Focus/Mondeo which work perfectly and well screwed together but feel a bit out of place in a £50K car.
At leaset TVR made some attempt at disguising bits it had borrowed!!
Marki said:
However, its still a gorgeous British GT, I'd be proud to have one on my driveway, I can't wait until we see the XKR. Its natural competitors are, I suggest, the 6 Series and the SL. The Jaguar is streets ahead of the awkward looks of the BMW and the 'corporate family' image of the MB.
Best of luck Jaguar.
Well each to their own , but i saw an M6 in the flesh this week and it is flippin great looking , much nicer than pics would lead you to belive .
OK, but we are comparing an XK8 to a 645 here. An M6 would have to be pitched against an XKR (yet to be released) and the M6 will be found lacking
.....well aesthetically at least.Somehow I just prefer the Concept to the final version. Not much in it really but the rear bumper treatment and the front foglight area seem more in keeping with the car.
I suspect the extra headroom is a byproduct of the raised bonnet line (for proportions) which in teurn is likely to be a result of this.
"Safety features include legislation-mandated pedestrian impact safety systems..."
Which is why so many cars seem to be appearing with bulbous bonnets, IMHO. The only recent exception seems to be the RX8 - but then the engine size and location and the special bonnet structure engieering that are to be found must allow greater flexibility of design within the legislation.
I suspect the extra headroom is a byproduct of the raised bonnet line (for proportions) which in teurn is likely to be a result of this.
"Safety features include legislation-mandated pedestrian impact safety systems..."
Which is why so many cars seem to be appearing with bulbous bonnets, IMHO. The only recent exception seems to be the RX8 - but then the engine size and location and the special bonnet structure engieering that are to be found must allow greater flexibility of design within the legislation.
Spot on with the Hyundai Coupe, thought exactly the same.
It is a cheaper DB9, this may not be a bad thing but it is an obvious point. If you can afford a DB9 then buy one instead of the new XK, if you want a DB9 but cannot afford one then buy the new XK.
New cars should take ideas and improve on them, push them on to be even better levels of design. The new XK looks like a kit car DB9, if you cannot attain the design level of a car which you copy (and it comes up short here) then do something completely different and amaze us. Don't just make a cheap copy of a stunning looking Aston and call it the new XK.
The existing XK looks great and stands out as unique, not just a cheaper option of something better.
rant complete
End of file...
It is a cheaper DB9, this may not be a bad thing but it is an obvious point. If you can afford a DB9 then buy one instead of the new XK, if you want a DB9 but cannot afford one then buy the new XK.
New cars should take ideas and improve on them, push them on to be even better levels of design. The new XK looks like a kit car DB9, if you cannot attain the design level of a car which you copy (and it comes up short here) then do something completely different and amaze us. Don't just make a cheap copy of a stunning looking Aston and call it the new XK.
The existing XK looks great and stands out as unique, not just a cheaper option of something better.
rant complete
End of file...
I do wonder if in the next series of Top Gear there will be a direct comparison on the track between the two cars (new XK vs AMV8). Same engine but de-tuned for the poor Jag...
so the XKR in 1-2 years time will be then like the baby Aston now
I believe Jaguar should have dared more in the design anyway and try to move AWAY from Aston Martin
A67
>> Edited by aston67 on Friday 26th August 15:28
so the XKR in 1-2 years time will be then like the baby Aston now
I believe Jaguar should have dared more in the design anyway and try to move AWAY from Aston Martin
A67
>> Edited by aston67 on Friday 26th August 15:28
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