THE most technologically advanced Jaguar ever designed and produced will make its Southern Hemisphere debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in October.
The new Jaguar XK sports features the latest aerospace construction technologies, creating a car that is lighter, stronger, quicker and betterhandling than its longrunning predecessor.
The body shell is comprised of lightweight aluminium panels, castings and extrusions riveted and epoxybonded together to create a structure 31 per cent stiffer than the superseded XK.
Aluminium construction pays further dividends. At 1595kg the new XK is about 90kg lighter than its predecessor, reversing an industry trend for newer cars to be heavier.
The Jaguar’s latestgeneration 4.2litre V8 engine uses new fuelinjection technology to develop 224kW and 411Nm of torque, pushing the XK from rest to 100km/h in just 6.2 seconds.
Jaguar’s traditional Jgate automatic transmission has been replaced with a new sixspeed automatic incorporating wheelmounted paddles for sequential manual changes.
For all its technology, motor show goers are likely to focus on the new XK’s styling – the first production model shaped entirely under the direction of current Jaguar design director Ian Callum.
Big and roomy, the interior combines traditional luxury materials such as real handfettled wood with modern trim surfaces.
The Australian International Motor Show opens to the public at the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre on 14 October and continues until the 23. Details of dates, times and ticket prices are available at www .australianmotorshow.com.