Introduction

When Ford acquired Jaguar Cars, Ltd., in 1989, a veritable Greek chorus of doomsayers lined up to forecast the demise of legendary make, which would surely follow its amalgamation into a great gray corporate monolith. Events have obviously proved otherwise, and with the arrival of the stunning new Jaguar XK8, we think it's time for those gloomy prophets to turn in their robes. Not only is Jaguar back on track in terms of quality and reliability--a turnaround directly attributable to Ford's stewardship--it's also back in the sports car business, the wellspring of Jaguar legend.

Walkaround

Considered from the heroic perspective, the XK8 arrives none too soon, because the legend was becoming somewhat brittle. Not counting the ill-starred XJ220 supercar, Jaguar's last real sports car--the sublime XK-E roadster--went out of production in 1974. The subsequent XJ-S packed the prestige of a V12 engine, but it left a lot to be desired in terms of agility and balance, as well comfort and convenience. The XK8 isn't an XK-E. It lacks a manual transmission, for one thing. No matter how efficient automatic transmissions become--and the XK8's five-speed automatic is one of the best--shifting for yourself is a key element in the sports car experience. For another, the XK8 is thoroughly civilized and elegant, inside and out. No one has ever called the XK-E anything less than beautiful, but it was downright primitive compared to its sumptuous descendant. This is not a bad thing at all. Where in the gospel of sports cars is it written that you're supposed to suffer? That notion went away with the last Triumph TR-3. Let's talk specifics. The foundation of the XK8 was the XJ-S, but the rear-drive chassis has been stiffened and tweaked almost beyond recognition. Two models are offered, a coupe and convertible, with an all-new V8 engine--more on this gem later--and, as noted, a five-speed automatic transmission. Both versions are drop-dead gorgeous, but we were pleased to have the open air option for some top-down touring in and around Santa Barbara, California.

Interior Features

Coupe or convertible, the interior of the new XK8 is just this side of opulent with its walnut instrument panel, leather-trimmed woodrim steering wheel and aromatic leather upholstery. It's also generally roomy up front--there's a little less headroom in the convertible than the coupe--with seats that combine all-around comfort and lateral support as well as any in the sport-luxury realm. The rear seats, though fabricated from the same excellent materials, are another story. Like most cars that characterize themselves as two-plus-two, the XK8's rear seat area is essentially a nicely upholstered parcel shelf. The XK8 has rear seating because Jaguar product planners believe the demand for two-seaters is exactly equal to the market for eight-track cassettes. But whenever we hear that plus-two designation, it invariably makes us wonder: plus-two what? Jack Russell terriers? Ducks? Never mind. The XK8 isn't about passenger capacity. It's about fast, elegant motoring, something it delivers with exceptional competence and zeal.