More Like an E-Type--At Last

Ford Motor Company scrubbed the Boxster-size Jaguar F-Type concept years back, but look for some of its flavor to seep into the all-new 2007 XK, the first Jaguar completely designed under the direction of Ian Callum, the man responsible for the gorgeous Aston Martin DB7 and Vanquish.

Jaguar expects the supercharged XKR will be quicker than the mighty Mercedes SL55 AMG, which means a sub-five-second 0-60-mph time. It won't be achieved with power as much as low weight--the base V-8 XK8 comes close to 3500 pounds, usefully less than a Euro-market BMW 630i with its magnesium 3.0-liter six, and it's 500 pounds less than a Merc SL500.

The platform is derived from the XJ's aluminum monocoque and uses a similar wishbone suspension. But the springs are steel coils, not the XJ's self-leveling air springs, although the CATS adaptive damping system is retained.

Powertrains are like the XJ's, but with modest, 10- to 20-horsepower increases for the 4.2-liter naturally aspirated and supercharged V-8s. Jaguar has done a lot of work on exhaust sound, with an active system that gives throaty open-pipe burble at low revs, then increases the silencing for drive-by requirements and opens it again at full load. Transmission will be a six-speed automatic.

Wheelbase is significantly longer than the old car's. The design pushes the wheels to the corners for less overhang, giving it more aggressive proportions and a lower, wider look.

Surfacing is sheer and taut, and the mid-section rises to rear fenders that have a significant horizontal plane above the rear wheels. The old side-window shape remains, along with the oval front-air intake with no chrome grille, bookended by single headlamps. The nose meets new European pedestrian protection regs, but sources swear you can't tell by looking.

Here's where things get positively E-Type-like: The coupe will be a hatchback, with the fastback profile stretching to the tail. The convertible will have a much different profile, with a flatter trunklid. While the ragtop will be the big seller in the U.S., Jaguar insiders describe the coupe as the signature car.