What's New for 2007: Luxury and Performance Cars

At first glance, the 2007 Jaguar XK’s 4.2-liter V8 engine would seem to be slightly underpowered, making 300 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Torque ratings are competitive across the board, with the Jaguar XK rated at 310 lb.-ft. at 4,100 rpm. Just one transmission is offered in the new XK, but it’s a beauty. Jaguar’s six-speed sequential automatic, significantly revised with paddle shifters in lieu of the traditional “J” gate and offering both Drive and Drive Sport (DS) modes, features faster shift times thanks to dual clutches that control the amount of torque delivered during upshifts, according to Jaguar engineers. This means that there is no torque interrupt while shifting, making the total shift sequence take all of 600 milliseconds, according to Jaguar. What this means to drivers is that shifts are virtually instantaneous. Another feature of the transmission is its adaptive gearing, based on driver input and road conditions.