Test drive Jaguar XK8 2002 - 2006 compartment

Classics of the future

The new Jaguar XK is an example of how conflicting qualities can easily get along with each other. In technological terms, it is higher than the predecessor on the head, but looks like a natural classic.

 
Many cannot take the appearance of this coupe as a whole. For them, he breaks up into details. One likes more, the other is less. And the most ambiguous reaction causes the front. Different people agree that this is not the face of the leader of the Jaguar clan. I do not think so. Look longer in the eyes of HC, tune in to the perception of their expression, follow the forms and lines that are gracefully developing from the front to the stern. Then the crumbling beautiful details will gather together, and it will become clear why this particular option was approved and accepted in Jaguar long before ordinary mortals saw it. And what are his hips of the rear wings embodied in winged metal poetry of automobile design! You can confidently state that the XK flesh from the flesh of Jaguar. And part-time is a very beautiful car, made according to the classic canons of sports and tourist coupes.

 
By the way, ordinary mortals could get an idea of \u200b\u200bthe new model of the company, when in 2005 a spectacular conceptual Jaguar Advanced Lightweight Coupe was shown at the Detroit car dealership. In fact, this was the new XK, who tried it on specifically for the exhibition a number of external solutions, which became a little easier in the serial version.

 
The advanced lightweight compartment was interesting not only in terms of design. A fully aluminum body of the concept car indicated that a new technological era began in the history of the company. And so it turned out XK became the crown of Jaguar's technical thought.

Acquaintance with the car begins with the ignition key. Good key, beautiful, but not ignition. He only sends signals to the car sensors. And then the door locks are unlocked themselves, and to start the motor it will only be necessary to put the leg on the brake pedal and press the red button in the chrome rim, which is located on a high central tunnel.

 
The interior, like appearance, is made according to classic canons. Poking the front panel, covered with skin, is divided in half with a powerful central console. The skin here is everywhere on the doors, the automatic transmission, steering wheel, armrest, armchairs. Against this background, aluminum inserts look very appropriate. Plastic, as a rule, is very good and externally, and to the touch, and on the door panels, it completely successfully imitates the skin. But there are exceptions. For example, a block of salon lighting on the ceiling sample of unification; Hard plastic and inexpressive buttons do not correspond to the status of the car. However, this is a pickup. The general quality is much more important. And it is on top. In XK, everything meets the restrained English style. By some details, for example, a firing intensity, a cigarette lighter or steel chrome keys in the ends of the steering wheel switches, you can simply admire. The designer team, led by Yan Kallum, worked for glory.

 
I liked the steering wheel and the automatic transmission lever that runs along the L-shaped slice. The steering wheel is multifunctional, and rotating wheels are very convenient.

 
Highly anticipated front and rear windows, low roof satellites of the classic silhouette. Despite the fact that the roof, compared with the previous XK, is 20 mm higher, for some time does not leave that it is slightly pressing. However, in any case, no inconvenience is connected with this, and in the end, such a landing begins to be perceived as the only true one. By the way, very running ahead, I will inform you that in the version of Convertible (you will find an article about it in the next issue of the magazine), the space above your head is significantly larger.

 
However, back to ergonomics. The laconic style of designing the central console has a substantiation of a practical sense. In the center is a 7-inch color display with the Touch-Screen function is the main mediator in contacts with the auxiliary systems of the car. It is clear that some basic functions are duplicated by the keys on the console, but there are few of them. The menu of the program is intuitively understandable, everyone who understands English vocabulary will immediately figure it out (it would be translated into Russian, there would be no price to the system). In any subsection, you can get in two or three touching the screen and immediately make the necessary settings. While competitors are fighting rotating washers and interface control keys for their multimedia shells, Jaguar has used an elegant solution, which, by the way, has long been a revelation for anyone.

 
XK chairs are simple only in appearance. They fix the body perfectly, the range of electrical adjustments is wide. You can change the degree of lateral support, which is pumped up with special pumps (when you weaken the grip, the chair, as living, exhales barely audible).

 
The gentlemen who launched the engines of their racing Jaguar would probably be pleased with the sound with which a 4.2-liter eight XK starts. The sound of the exhaust system is more than seriously tuned! At idle speeds, the motor bassuis, but it is worth giving gas, and it will publish a uterine evil roar, and everyone around involuntarily turns around, startled. A serious sound is a sign of outstanding running qualities. Well, we need to check what HC is capable of on the go.

 
The coupe is based on an integral bearing aluminum. The technology of its manufacture is called Jaguars Lightweight Vehicle Technology. On the same principle, the XJ sedan was made, but for the XK technology improved. It turned out extremely light and hard to twist the structure. The XK body, according to its creators, is 31% tougher than that of the predecessor, and 90% than modern competitors, in addition, the car is easier than rivals by an average of 180 kg.

 
The suspension is independent, each wheel on double transverse levers. The operation of active shock absorbers is controlled by electronics is the Cats (Computer Active Technology Suspension) system. The racks are equipped with valves, through which stiffness changes. Unlike the previous XK, where the characteristics of shock absorbers could only change in pairs on one axis, in the new version, separate control of each shock absorber is provided.

 
The automatic gearbox, in theory, should not attract attention, but how her work is organized, makes the hat take off. Switching occur very quickly. This is especially noticeable when the accelerator pedal is drowned in the floor. The arrow of the tachometer soaks to the red zone, falls and immediately quickly repeats the route. But most of all the automatic transmission was amazed by the work, when the driver squeezes the maximum out of the car. With an intensive slowdown, the machine gun using an electronically controlled throttle shuts down the reduced transmissions, which is accompanied by short verified nudges! Undoubtedly, this is the most racing machine of all with which I dealt. Under the wheel, convenient switches for manual control of the work of the box are located.

 
In the Jaguar XK motion, many -sided car. He understands the driver's mood and successfully adapts to him. So, HC can be extremely imposing. The engine will rustle under the bass exhaust at low speeds, the machine will pretend to be a variator, shock absorbers will inaudibly and gently begin to work out irregularities, and the sounds of the surrounding world will extinguish effective sound insulation. The picture of relaxation and comfort will complete the slightly downshled reactions of the accelerator drive.

 
But it is worth moving the machine gun selector to the left, turn off the stabilization system (for starters you can half remove the antipropatting TRAC DSC) and sharply drown the gas pedal, as the beast will be started, tenses the muscles and violently rush forward. The reactions to the fuel supply will become lightning fast, the transmission selected by the automatic will always provide maximum torque. The stiffness of shock absorbers will increase, car reactions will be clearer and more acute.

 
Having twisted around the city, I realized that I had studied the car far from fully in the city in the city is simply impossible. Such a compartment needs air, spaciousness, you need a high -speed suburban highway. That same night I made a sortie into the region, overcoming a total of about 200 km. First, he rushed along a flat multi -bearing Kyiv highway. At high speed, the compartment showed excellent stability, as well as a tendency to distort reality, it seems that the speed is about 140 km/h, and on the speedometer 190! Having swept to Vnukovo and vice versa, I went towards Dmitrov. The highway of the same name pleases with a good coating and high -speed turns. What a pleasure to fly in this super-jaguar! He gently and tenaciously holds on the road to cover the road, clearly prescribes arcs and correctly practices irregularities, remaining on the right trajectory.

 
The brake system was tested along with others on the legendary nürburgring, and there were no complaints about it during the test. This big cat is good in all its manifestations! Adaptive lighting turned out to be useful: headlight disperves turn to a certain angle, and if necessary, additional sections of the lateral lighting are turned on.

 
The new XK car created by perfectionists for those who appreciate the style, quality, tradition, but do not shy away the latest technologies. Standing into the future, XK did not forget about his roots!

 
Jaguar XK prices and equipment

 
The price of the coupe in the basic equipment with a 4.2 liter engine (300 hp) and a 6-speed automatic is $ 132,500. Equipment includes airbags and side curtains, ABS, EDB, Brake Assist, a power steering with a variable characteristic, electronic Parking brake, DSC and Trac DSC, separate climate control, audio system with steering wheel control, Bi-ksenon swivel headlights, headlight washers, light sensors, heating of seats, engine heating, anti-theft system with immobilizer, alloy wheels R18 (rubber 245 /40 in front and 275/40 behind), navigation system (Europe) with the Touch-Screen monitor, a 6-disks CD chamber, preparation for a phone installation, Bluetooth, decoration of a walnut tree, rear parking sensors.

 
By paying, you can get an advanced audio system, front parking sensors, access without a key, adaptive head lighting, R19 discs (as on a test copy), tire pressure control sensor, a steering wheel with combined finishes (leather/tree) and heating, a system for changing rigidity CATS shock absorbers, etc.

 
Text: Leonty Tyutelev

 
 
 

Source: Motor magazine [June 2006]