2008 Jaguar XK8

NEW FOR 2008:

- Limited-edition Portfolio XKR

- Polished stainless steel pedals standard on XKR

- Power-fold mirror feature added to Luxury Package

- New available convertible roof colours: grey, burgundy, green and brown

For 2008, the Jaguar XK receives minor additions to its standard and optional feature list. The big news is the limited-edition XKR Portfolio with high-performance braking system, Bowers & Wilkins stereo system and exclusive Celestial Black metallic paint. Only 25 Portfolios will be available in Canada.

The XK is available as the XK Coupe and XK Convertible, with 4.2-litre V8, and as the XKR Coupe and XKR Convertible, with supercharged 4.2-litre V8. All models use a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and wheel-mounted paddles.

Features on the XK Coupe and Convertible include 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power front seats with memory, Bluetooth hands-free telephone system, Computer Active Technology System (CATS) active damping, front-seat head and thorax side airbags, Jaguar Smart Key System, electronic parking brake, Poplar or Burl Walnut wood interior trim, driver information centre, DVD-based touch-screen satellite navigation system, reverse park control and self-levelling bi-Xenon headlamps with washers. The Convertible also includes a rollover protection device.

The XKR Coupe and Convertible add 19-inch alloy wheels, polished stainless steel pedals, performance brakes with black calipers, fully active exhaust, adaptive front lighting, R sport seats, R badging, aluminum technical-weave interior trim, and R exterior styling, including front bumper, aluminum-finish front mesh grille and power side vents, and colour-keyed hood louvres.

The limited-edition Portfolio adds 20-inch polished alloy wheels, polished aluminum side power vents, high-performance Alcon braking system, Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system, exclusive Celestial Black metallic paint and luxury package.

Featuring a lightweight aluminum monocoque body structure, the XK models are stiff and great fun to drive, especially with the XKR's supercharged engine. The convertible models are engineered as drop-tops, not as coupes missing their roofs, and they're as solid as a full metal roof, with tops that go down and self-stow in 18 seconds. The Portfolio ups the already pricy models, but with only 25 destined for Canada, you'll undoubtedly have the only one on the block.