First look: Heart transplant for Jaguar's XK

JAGUAR'S XK range has been given a heart transplant, but its beautiful looks remain virtually unchanged.

The revised XKs will reach Australia in October, with both the normally aspirated XK8 and supercharged XKR receiving new V8 engines first seen in the S-Type mid-size sedan range earlier this year.

Also trickling up from the S-Type is the sweet-shifting ZF six-speed automatic gearbox, mated to a revised version of the J-gate shifter.

But both the coupe and convertible's looks remain intact, with only Xenon headlights (on the XKR), new badging and alloy wheel choices todifferentiate them from the original design, penned by the late Geoff Lawson, which debuted in 1996.

Since then it has become the fastest selling Jaguar sports car ever, accounting for more than 70,000 sales worldwide.

Because of the limited change in looks, Jaguar Australia does not believe there will be a significant change in demand for the family of cars thataveraged six sales per month in the first six months of 2002, lineball with 2001.

New pricing, which currently stretches from $182,000 to $228,000, is yet to be finalised by Jaguar.

The top of the range XKR is boosted by the 298kW 4.2-litre supercharged V8 first seen here in the S-Type R. But despite the 22kW power rise compared to the old 4.0-litre V8, there is no increase in claimed performance, the coupe still taking 5.4 seconds to reach 100km/h and the convertible 5.6 seconds.

In fact it is the normally aspirated XK8 which has the performance improvements.

With the old 216kW 4.0-litre V8 traded in for the latest 4.2-litre 224kW engine, the coupe reaches 100km/h in 6.4 seconds and the convertible 6.6 seconds, 0.3 and 0.4 seconds quicker respectively.

Jaguar says there's no improvement in the XKR's 0-100km/h time because the emphasis has been placed on boosting mid-range performance.

Both engines are still electronically limited to a top-speed of 250km/h.

Other changes - Jaguar claims there are 900 new part numbers in total - include Brembo brakes, which are standard on the XKR and optional on the XK8, with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) both standard across the range. CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension) is standard on the XKR and optional on the XK8.

Joining the Mercedes-Benz S-class and BMW7 Series, the XK will also offer radar-controlled cruise control in Australia, in this case called Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), as an option.

But the XK will not have satellite navigation available because the DVD-based system fitted ex-factory is not suitable for Australia.

Inside there is a new electrically adjustable steering column, new interior trim colours and the option of a built-in compass display for the self-dimming electro-chromatic interior mirror.

R Performance options will continue to be offered as well, including an "Aluminium Pack" comprising instrument bezels, J-gate surround, door release levers, pedal pads and tread plates, all-leather steering wheel rims and gearshift knobs, and a choice of BBS wheels.

The R Performance Handling Pack (coupe only) has a revised, sportier set-up for CATS with uprated springs and anti-roll bars, a lower ride height and retuned steering assistance, plus 20-inch wheels with ultra-low profile tyres, backed by the Brembo brakes.