Due at all dealerships in April of 2006, the 2007 Jaguar XK will initially be available as a coupe or convertible, with the XKR performance variant probably available a year later. The coupe comes at a sticker price of $75,500, the convertible $81,500. That includes a destination charge of $665 and a long list of standard features, as one would expect from a luxury nameplate such as Jaguar. At launch, Jaguar’s 4.2-liter V8 engine, mated to a re-engineered six-speed automatic transmission, comes standard. The transmission now features paddle shifters, a welcome addition to the driving experience. Standard equipment includes 18-inch wheels and tires (P245/45ZR18 up front and P255/45ZR18 in back), keyless entry and ignition, DVD navigation, Bluetooth capability, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, and 8-way power driver’s seat adjustment. The passenger’s seat comes with 2-way power adjustment. Inside, genuine wood grain veneer and leather are standard, except when it comes to the shifter, which is wrapped in chrome and leather.

Indeed, one could drive off in a basic XK and be quite happy with the purchase. However, to make the most of the 2007 Jaguar XK, shoppers would be wise to consider optional features that enhance the motoring experience, such as larger tires, a stitched leather dash, and bolster supports for both front seats. Trust us, if you drive the XK like it should be driven, you’ll appreciate those added supports. You’ll also appreciate the optional tires – 19- or 20-inch performance tires of differing sizes front to back. Optional front tires are P245/40ZR19 or P255/35ZR20 performance tires, with P275/35ZR19 or P285/30ZR20 performance tires available in back. Nineteen-inch run flats are also on the options list.

Inside, you can enhance the Jaguar experience with a 12-way power driver’s seat and a 4-way power passenger’s seat, power thigh and side bolster supports for both, genuine wood trim on the shifter, and a stitched leather dashboard. Also available is satellite radio, and you can decorate the dash with aluminum trim inserts. Other options include a premium 520-watt sound system with eight speakers (six speakers are standard) and adaptive cruise control.

All 2007 Jaguar XKs get a full complement of safety features, including anti-whiplash head restraints, side-impact airbags and side head airbags, brake assist, directionally adaptive headlights, a Traction Control System (TCS), and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC).. The Jaguar’s TCS system applies pressure to the appropriate brake when wheel slip is detected; DSC uses torque management and braking pressure to prevent understeer or oversteer. A slick feature called TRAC DSC is a driver-selected stage of the DSC that increases the amount of allowable sideways slip, providing the XK with a wider performance envelope. Choose TRAC DSC by pushing and holding the traction control button for approximately three seconds.

Also available on the 2007 XK is adaptive cruise control with Forward Alert, a sensor system that will warn the driver of a potential collision via an audible warning. The convertible also has retractable rollbars, known as “hoops” in Jaguar-speak, which smash through the back window, should a rollover occur.