In the mid '90s Jaguar was ticking over, producing capable and yet underwhelming cars and beginning to lack in the wow factor that had been associated with the marque. Desirability was beginning to wane and the marque needed something dramatic to restore past glories. Enter the XK8, a front engined rear-wheel drive luxury GT with a naturally aspirated, powerful, large capacity V8, sports biased handling and continent crushing cruising ability; all wrapped up in a voluptuous and sexy body. A decade on and the XK8 and reached the end of its journey, so we decided to take it for one more.

The Jaguar XK has evolved and, where possible, incorporated modernisation and improvements with items such as satnav and radar controlled adaptive cruise control now appearing on the options list. A new model waits in the wings so we grabbed the opportunity to sample one of the last XKRs built and remind ourselves what made this car so good, and so successful, before we sample the new XK.

Externally the looks are as alluring as ever; the XK still turns heads like few others. The looks have aged well and the flowing lines that pay homage to the Jaguar E-type remain pleasing on the eye. The rear haunches still look heavy, courtesy of the need to get that extra golf bag in, but now a decade on with the addition of the mesh vents and huge 20-inch rims, the car is a cracker, still worthy of cameos in music videos and still beautiful in my eyes.

From the inside the picture is just as dramatic. Looking down the long sculpted bonnet is a glorious view, the bulging wings and vented bonnet reaching out for the horizon in front of you and the curvaceous hips equally agreeable in the wing mirrors. What is hard to convey in photographs is the sense of occasion that surrounds this big Jag. The class and restrained affluence that some people find so much more enticing than the crass German rivals will always ensure Jaguar has a large fan base.

Under that expanse of crafted sheet metal nestles a burbling V8 engine. Now expanded to 4.2 litres and sporting a supercharger to boost outputs to 400bhp and 408lb.ft of torque, it's sufficient to propel the big cat with serious intent. Despite the nigh on 1,800kg bulk 0-60mph is dispatched in a little over five seconds and the limited 155mph maximum is reached with contempt. Fuel consumption and emissions are obviously not virtues and will no doubt be knocked into shape in the new car.

What remains a strong point in the outgoing car is the effortless ease with which the XK munches the miles. A smooth automatic 'box ensures the wave of torque is well deployed and the ride quality remains up to the class standard. One sits in luxurious leather seats, personage comforted by the climate control and ears soothed by the quality stereo; engage the adaptive cruise control and watch the world go by. A big fuel tank ensures a big cruising range (despite the V8's thirst) ensuring the XK is an excellent GT. Refinement in terms of wind noise and the intrusive whine of the supercharger under load are weaknesses indicative of the core design, but neither are terrible and both are drowned out by an extra notch on the stereo.

The overwhelming impression is of civility, something reinforced if you try to hustle the XK down a twisty back road. It deems it to be something of a crude activity. There is plenty of grip available but the chassis is a little soft and lacks intimacy and fun. Younger rivals are much more adept in this area but are something akin to upstarts compared to the cultured and aging veteran. After all, you wouldn't challenge your granny to a game of Twister would you?

The interior is somewhat cramped given the exterior dimensions of the car and is an area that must be earmarked for improvement in the replacement. It's safe to assume that the clunky and somewhat archaic switchgear is receiving an overhaul as well. The snug, high quality leather is still great though and everyone who sat in the Jag cooed about the car. It still has the 'X factor' and it remains one of those cars that people always promise themselves should they ever come into money or retire.

It would be easy to pick holes in the XKR, something reflected in the ratings below, but to do so would be worthless at this juncture; we already know the car is being replaced. Time is better spent reflecting in the successes of the outgoing model and looking forward to how Jaguar can build on these in the imminent new XK.

Let's hope Jaguar can blend the aspirational status of the Jaguar XK with some more dynamic excellence in the new car. The initial information about the car has Jaguar putting emphasis on weight saving and efforts concentrated on performance, handling, comfort and refinement with a sports car persona. If they can deliver the sum of the ingredients the new XK could be a true return to form. We'll see whether the promise is fulfilled.