Jaguar seems to be gradually adapting to life in the 21st century and the new XK is the strongest evidence yet that it can make a modern car that drives as well as it looks. Like the XJ saloon in 2003, the new XK coupe benefits from lightweight aluminium construction making it feel more of a sportscar on the road rather than the heavy grand tourer the original XK8 was.

Class-leading safety, generous equipment levels and a thundering V8 engine all add up to making the XK an incredibly desirable and genuinely appealing sports coupe. In March 2009 the model was facelifted with new bumpers, LED rear lights and a new 5.0-litre V8 engine replacing the previous 4.2-litre.