Background
Initially breaking cover in 2005 as Jaguar’s ALC (Advanced Lightweight Coupé) concept car, the Ian Callum-styled Jaguar XK was launched to the public in 2006, as a replacement for the ageing XK8 which could trace its model lineage as far back as the XJ-S – talk about Jaguar getting their money’s worth!
Featuring an entirely new structural design, aluminium construction and only two welds on the entire car – either side of the roof – the X150-era XK was certainly a new car.
What wasn’t new, however, was the engine, with the venerable 4.2-litre DOHC V8 engine having been refined and fettled to eliminate any known issues before being utilised in the all-new XK.
As before, there were the standard, naturally aspirated cars, and then there was the XKR, which – through the wonder that is forced induction – could crack the 0–60 sprint in less than five seconds, and go on to a limited 174mph. Strong stuff indeed.
In 2009, the XK received a mid-life facelift, losing numerous attractive design elements such as the J-gate automatic transmission, though it did gain 0.8 litres of additional displacement and a hefty bump in power and performance, lasting until 2015 when the XK was ousted by the F-Type.








