- Doors and Seats
2 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
5.0i, 8 cyl.
- Engine Power
283kW, 515Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 11.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
RWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Jaguar XK V8 Coupe Review
The 2010 Jaguar XK has gone from pussy car to Jaguar courtesy of a new 5.0L V8.
- Exhaust note to die for, revised styling and design, new V8 engine.
- XK-R is only $25,000 more.
The 2010 Jaguar XK V8 Coupe has gone from being a pussy cat to a real Jaguar.
Model Tested:
- 2010 Jaguar XK V8 Coupe; 5.0-litre V8; six-speed automatic coupe: $224,200
Options:
- None fitted;
CarAdvice Rating:
The previous Jaguar XK V8 Coupe, powered by the outgoing 4.2-litre V8, was always more pussy cat than Jaguar. With a 0-100km/h time of 6.2-seconds and barely more power than a modern Commodore, it was nothing to write home about.
Comparing the brand new 5.0-litre V8 Jaguar XK V8 Coupe to the outgoing model would be like comparing gold to wood. Power has been increased by 26% to 283kW and torque has risen by a staggering 100Nm.
In addition to the added power and torque, the new XK V8 Coupe has slashed its 0-100km/h time by almost an entire second, now completing the dash in 5.5-seconds.
To the untrained eye, the exterior of Jaguar’s latest update looks much the same. Upon closer inspection of the front end, avid fans will find new gills, more chrome and restyled headlights.
At the rear the taillights have been rejuvenated by virtue of LED lights styled to give the XK an aggressive new look. The side panel gets a vertical breather slat that integrates the Jaguar nameplate.
Inside the cabin, a restyled interior mimics the flowing lines and gadgetry of the XK’s more sedate XF sibling. The rising gear lever and updated control system now also grace the XK.
Our test vehicle was fitted with opulent and richly varnished wood grain that suited the interior down to a tee. The climate controls have now also been simplified to make climate changes a breeze – pardon the pun.
The seats feel sportier than the outgoing XK and come with an adjustable side bolster to hold the driver in tight. In addition to being heated, the seats are now cooled via ducts in the base and back of the seat. Our test vehicle also had a heated steering wheel – the perfect companion for a chilly Melbourne winter morning.
525W of Bowers and Wilkins audio brings music to the ears. High output Kevlar mid-range speakers and specially designed aluminium dome tweeters work in unison with a sub-woofer to emit a sound to match the car’s stellar exhaust note.
Jaguar’s new 5.0-litre V8 features 32-valves and is mated to a ZF Sachs 6HP28 six-speed automatic gearbox. The gearbox can be controlled by paddle shifters on the steering wheel, or by simply selecting the ‘D’ or ‘S’ mode (Sport) modes on the gear selector.
You will be guaranteed to have tingles running down your spine the first time you hear the new XK V8 Coupe turn over. A slightly hesitant starter motor fires all eight cylinders to life, offering a bevy of exhaust rumble from the rear.
Stationary exhaust note is equally as impressive inside the cabin. Tap the throttle at idle and the V8 makes its presence known by barking back at you.
The exhaust note only gets better as the revs rise. The active exhaust system continuously adjusts butterfly valves at the rear, increasing the veracity of the note based upon speed and throttle input.
At full throttle the exhaust emits its peak bellow onwards of 3800rpm. The car can literally be heard kilometres away. The sound is barely lost inside the cabin too, giving passengers the pleasure of taking in all the V8 has to offer.
In traffic, the Jaguar XK V8 Coupe is fairly easy to place. The long nose is visible and the blind spot behind the drivers head is nowhere near as bad as some of its competitors. Large wing mirrors with excellent coverage help survey spots in traffic missed by head checks.
Parking is easy courtesy of front and rear parking sensors. The front parking sensors are especially useful as the front end of the XK sits quite low. Ripping the front end off on a gutter would be far from pleasing.
If you were to drive the old XK back to back with the new XK, you would be staggered at the massive difference. The new Jaguar XK V8 Coupe feels alive and ready to take on anything thrown at it.
Steering response is far sharper with weight now increased, on top of accuracy. The sports steering wheel sits nicely in the hand and is easy to manoeuvre while driving tight and twisty sections of road.
The front end of the car sits extremely flat on turn-in to a corner. If you bury the throttle on the way out, the sizeable 285mm rear tyres offer no remorse and not even a hint of letting go. The composure and positive attitude of the drivetrain is to be commended.
The brakes are relentless and do an excellent job of bringing the 1660kg Jaguar XK V8 Coupe to an abrupt halt. Brake pedal feel is perfectly linear with a slightly firm brake pedal.
ZF Sachs is known for its excellent gearboxes. The 6HP28 six-speed automatic gearbox fitted to the Jaguar XK V8 Coupe is no exception. If you feel adventurous enough to swap cogs on your own via the paddle shifters on the steering wheel, you do so at your own peril, as the ‘S’ (Sport) mode takes care of everything in tremendous fashion.
The Sport mode will hold gears and blip on downshifts to offer the most from the driving experience.
Acceleration isn’t so much fast as it is exciting. While the naturally aspirated XK V8 Coupe doesn’t have the firepower of its supercharged XK-R sibling, the experience associated with nailing the throttle is one that easily surpasses the need for staggering acceleration.
Jaguar’s official fuel consumption figure of 11.2L/100km was seemingly out of reach when I started the road test. I didn’t believe the car could get anywhere near that figure.
Much to my surprise it managed to come in at 12.1L/100km with a mix of highway and city driving.
Starting at $224,200, the Jaguar XK V8 Coupe is an excellent proposition for the buyer after a car with style, elegance and a bark to match its bite.
While it won’t set the world on fire in terms of straight line acceleration, it will most certainly impress every step along the way.
The only downside is that the supercharged XK-R that produces almost 100kW more at 375kW is just $25,000 more.
It’s hard to imagine why you wouldn’t go the whole hog and couple hair raising performance with mind blowing style and an exhaust note to match.
Ratings:
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*Pricing is a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer and does not include dealer delivery, on-road or statutory charges.