2012 Jaguar XK
When Jaguar releases a car, you can surely expect something interesting and powerful. With the 2012 Jaguar XK, patrons of Jaguars are not going to be disappointed. The powerful car has an overall ranking of 9.5 out of 10. In fact, it ranks 10 out of 10 in all major aspects except fuel economy, which is a bit low when compared to the current industry standards. Nevertheless, for people who thrive on power, comfort and style, the Jaguar beauty is a great choice. The car is available in both coupe and convertible models.
The Mechanics
Jaguar XK comes with a V8 5.0 liters engine which accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 5.2 seconds. With a capability of pumping out 385hp and a torque of 380 lb-ft, this car is one powerful beauty. Adding to the delight of driving this energetic machine is the six speed automatic transmission which transmits smoothly. Purists might be disappointed in this regard because the XK is not equipped with manual transmission. So, it is all automatic, whether you like it or not.
If you are looking for a combination of performance of this level and fuel efficiency, you will be disappointed, not just with Jaguar XK but with most of the cars in the current market. When the performance is so powerful, the car does consume more fuel. For the Jaguar XK, you have to be satisfied with 15mph in the city and 22mph on the highway.
Exteriors
Jaguar XK
The exteriors of Jaguar are a piece of artistic beauty. The sleek, smooth streamlined body will make you pant for it. The curves and lines blend into each other so smoothly that it is a feast for the eyes and a machine worthy enough to be placed among the Da Vinci works in Louvre. The LED headlights, trademark oval Jaguar grilles, the fluidly sloping hood and the large 20 inch wheels add a lot of value to the visual appeal of the car.
Interiors
After you manage to take in the exteriors and when you step into the car, your spirits won’t plummet. The car is as stunning from the inside as it is from the outside. Jaguar surely does not compromise on its luxury. The futuristic dashboard with stylish metallic trims brings a beautiful class to the interiors of the vehicle. Steering is equipped with audio controls. Power seats are operated with chrome switches which are fitted on the door panels. The highlight of the interiors is the huge LCD touchscreen which can be used to operate navigation controls, audio and climate controls. Although extremely functional, the touch screen is a slight disappointment with respect to touch responsiveness. In all, Jaguar has put a lot of thought into designing the cabin and it has come out to be very well organized and functional.
Other features in the car include leather seating, power windows, keyless entry, telescopic multifunctional heated steering, bluetooth equipped with audio streaming, USB port, six CD music system and Sirius satellite radio. The cherry on the cake is the Bowers and Wilkins 525 watt surround sound music system.
Safety Features
Jaguar XK Convertible
Nothing much has been added in terms of safety features in the 2012 version. However, the little enhancement which has been done is significant and improves safety by several notches. The usual safety features such as dual airbags at the front and rear are present. Adaptive headlights and active cruise control are present as well. Anti-lock brakes are present and so are stability and traction control. These two features can be customized if you plan to use the car in the sports more often.
Parking sensors are provided both at the front and rear. In the 2012 model, a rearview camera has also been included, which beefs up safety of the car. A very significant addition in the convertible model is roll bars which pop up when the car senses an impending overturn. Enhancing the overall strength of the exteriors and improving safety measures is the aerospace grade aluminum body.
Driving Experience
The driving experience is awesome. The car performs well in normal and snowy terrains. However, in the sports mode, the throttle is a bit rough. Also equipped are advanced features such as Adaptive Dynamics package which has been built for extreme shock absorption, which makes the car very smooth even on bumpy roads. Brakes are easy to operate and powerful.
When this beauty bellows, people stop to take notice.
All these wonderful features are available at $85,500.