What's the news?
The X150 Jaguar XK model is eight years old in 2015, which means it's time for the company to give it a late-life refresh. To that end, a pair of special editions have been announced - the XK Signature and the XK Dynamic R.
Exterior
There's a choice of six colours for the two specials, which can both ordered in either coupé or convertible formats. Take your pick from Polaris White, Ultimate Black, Stratus Grey, Italian Racing Red, Dark Sapphire or British Racing Green. Each model has a choice of two 20-inch wheel designs too, the Signature running on 'Kalimnos' items as standard with the 'Takoba' design an option, while the Dynamic R comes with either diamond-turned 'Vortex' alloys or the alternative 'Vulcan Gloss Black' lightweight rims. You might spot that the Dynamic R has red brake callipers, too.
The Dynamic R also comes as standard with the Speed Pack, which increases the maximum velocity from 155mph to an electronically limited 174mph. This pack also features an aero kit comprising a front splitter and larger rear spoiler, plus a rear diffuser and side skirts.
Interior
The Signature can be specified with Luxury seats in either ivory or charcoal soft-grain leather, while customers also benefit from a number of other gewgaws within, such as Figured Ebony veneers, Bright Metal sport pedals and a canvas suedecloth headlining.
The Dynamic R gets a more focused interior, with the new Performance seats in the front of note. They feature 16-way adjustment of all the key elements of a good car seat, plus they're equipped with memory and heating functions, integrated head restraints, increased lateral and squab support and the new diamond-sewn leather finish with contrast stitching. The sport pedals from the Signature are included, but the veneers are now Piano Black while the suedecloth headliner is jet.
Both cars also feature a seven-inch central touchscreen interface with iPod and USB connectivity, satnav and a reverse parking camera.
Mechanicals
The Signature and Dynamic R XKs both come with 5.0-litre supercharged V8s mated to six-speed ZF autos, which is nice. The Signature's makes 385hp and 515Nm, equating to 0-62mph times of 5.5- and 5.6 seconds for the hard- and soft-top versions respectively. The Signature is limited to 155mph and produces a relatively clean 264g/km CO2, considering its power. That's thanks to spray-guided direct injection (SGDI) and dual-independent variable cam timing (DIVCT), with Jaguar quoting a combined economy figure of 25.2mpg for both variants.
The Dynamic R also has SGDI and DIVCT, but makes the same 510hp and 625Nm the XKR always has. Not that we're moaning, or anything; as it can blast to 62mph in 4.8 seconds and goes on to a restricted 174mph, it was never lacking grunt in the first place. It emits 292g/km CO2 and returns 23mpg.
Perhaps of more interest is Jag's attention to dynamic detail. The revised XKs use double wishbone front suspension with a fully-machined steering knuckle, said to increase camber and caster stiffness by 0.13 degrees per kilo Newton. If that sounds like gibberish to you, what it should equate to is better accuracy and weight in the steering, hopefully improving feedback. The suspension geometry at the back also features passive rear-wheel steer.
The XK Dynamic R adds further chassis-related goodies, such as Jaguar's Active Differential Control (a multi-plate clutch that handles torque vectoring in conjunction with electronic control - the Signature uses a mechanical diff) and a Black Dynamic Pack. This uses suspension tech from the wild but brilliant XKR-S, such as an even stiffer steering knuckle, uprated spring and damper settings with a 10mm lower ride height, and Adaptive Dynamics, which controls pitch, roll and vertical body movement. Finally, a Performance Active Exhaust is fitted.
Anything else?
UK customers shelling out the minimum of £54,950 for an XK Signature or £69,950 for the XK Dynamic R can expect to receive their cars in March.
Matt Robinson - 23 Jan 2014