Jaguar makes bold claims for its new sports car, the XK, all set for launch at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. We were given a very strong, and encouraging indicator at the Detroit Show earlier this year when Jaguar stole the show with the Advanced Lightweight Coupe (ALC) show car. As expected, the production version of the XK is little changed.

It's always dangerous to preview a new car with a closely related show concept, as the latter is usually closer to how the designers drew the car. In the case of the XK, the production car is more elegant than the ALC, though not quite as sporty, due mainly to the fitment of more modestly proportioned alloys, though in the same style as the show car. Thankfully the extravagant alloy air intakes didn't make their way into production, and the vents in the front wings have been tastefully toned down. The best view is still the rear three-quarters, with the sharp lights bridged with a classy strip of metal embossed with the word 'Jaguar'. The rear haunches echo lightweight E-type coupes, and the oval grille is a modern interpretation of that car's too. To our eyes, the new XK is a little too American in appearance from some angles, but is a much sexier can than the outgoing XK.

At launch only the naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 petrol engine is available, though it is expected that an XKR supercharged derivative will be shown at next year's Detroit Show, and there is a possibility of a high-performance diesel option in the future too. The 4.2-litre V8 is a development of the outgoing car's engine, with 300bhp and more than 300lb.ft of torque, and it drives the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox (with shift paddles behind the steering wheel). The big news lies within the car's body itself, as it features Jaguar's 'Lightweight Vehicle Technology', which to you and I means an all-aluminium construction and lower weight than the old XK and rivals alike. Despite increased dimensions, the new XK weighs in at only 1595kg, allowing even the naturally aspirated car to hit 60mph in 5.9 seconds.

More traditional buyers can still specify a 'cow and tree' lined interior, but we like the look of the black cockpit, which better suits the new metallic trim used and the funky three-spoke steering wheel. It appears that all cars come with a 7-inch screen in the centre console, which controls a wide variety of tasks including climate control, satnav and infotainment. As on previous Jaguars, this is a touch screen system, and is instantly more intuitive to use than the likes of BMW's I-drive and the new Mercedes-Benz 'Command Centre'. There is a host of other new technology available on the new Jaguar XK, though from what we can gather, a lot of it will be on the options list, including Active Lighting, Adaptive Cruise Control, Keyless Entry and a pedestrian deployable bonnet.

The new XK goes on sale early in 2006, with prices likely to be announced following the Detroit Show in January.

Shane O' Donoghue - 26 Aug 2005