Jaguar cuts $30K from XK with special edition

JAGUAR Australia has slashed more than $30,000 from the retail price of its regular XK Coupe with a new 75th Anniversary Edition version available from late June.

Coming hot on the heels of the announcement that it had also secured 10 examples of an exclusive XKR Special Edition, the special XK coupe – also limited to just 10 units – will be priced from $193,500, plus statutory and dealer delivery charges.

The regular XK Coupe is priced from $224,200, prompting Jaguar to proclaim the $30,700 price advantage with the better-equipped anniversary edition as “incredibly competitive”.

The pricing also signifies the year in which the first Jaguar was sold – 1935 – and comes as the famous British brand has experienced 20 per cent sales growth for the XK so far this year after the 10MY series was introduced in the first quarter.

The upgrade brought with it a $14,800 price increase for the entry-level XK Coupe, which was priced from $209,400 – almost $16,000 more than this new short-lived anniversary edition.

Unlike the XKR Special Edition, there are no mechanical changes brought with the celebratory XK, continuing with the normally aspirated 5.0-litre AJ-V8 Gen III engine that produces 283kW of power and 515Nm of torque – and which can send the coupe from 0-100km/h in 5.5 seconds.

The engine drives the rear wheels through a ZF 6HP28 six-speed automatic transmission and an electronically controlled ‘active differential’. Combined fuel consumption on the Australian standard is 11.2L/100km, while CO2 emissions are 264g/km.

Identifying features on the 75th Anniversary XK include 20-inch ‘Kalimnos’ alloy wheels previously reserved for the XKR, chrome tailpipe finishers, chrome side power vents and the choice of three exterior paint colours: Indigo Blue, Ultimate Black and Liquid Silver.

Inside, there are bright finish pedals and an exclusive ’75 Years’ badge.

Of course, this is in addition to the usual features on the XK, which was recently upgraded with improved interior quality and overall specification levels.

These included new interior trims and finishes, plus a seat heating and cooling function for new 16-way power-adjustable leather-trimmed front seats with memory and adjustable side bolsters.

“The new XK Coupe 75th Anniversary Edition is a superb grand touring coupe, which alongside the exciting XKR Special Edition celebrates 75 years of Jaguar, as well as the company's return to Le Mans,” said Jaguar Australia general manager Kevin Goult.