| This
classiest of cars was born as the brainchild of Ford and it's new investment
Jaguar. When Ford arrived they found factories that had looked like
they had not have changed since the reign of Victoria. Ford immediately
decided to revamp the entire process and prepare the company for the next
millennium. |
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The XK8
idea was for a car that evoked memories of the sixties with all of the
conveniences of the nineties. They new design team, headed by Jaguar's
well known Design head Geoff Lawson, began the process with a blank sheet
of paper and the blueprints from the legendary E-type (XKE) of the sixties
and seventies. |
| They
new car emerged from the Coventry factory in 1996 and launched Jaguar back
into the mainstream luxury car market as well as the market for elite sports
cars. The new XK8 also brought the Jaguar name back into popularity
on the other side of the Atlantic and introduced a younger audience to
Jaguar. |
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The new car was and amazing
new piece of machinery. Under the hood was a 4.0 liter V-8
that produced 290 horsepower @ 6100 rpm and 284 lbs-ft of torque at 4200
rpm. The car also had the best power density (engine weight vs. power),
powertrain and lowest friction levels in the engine. |
| Standard features include a
five speed automatic transmission (with Jaguar's J-gate technology), automatic
stability control, 4 wheel disc brakes with and anti-lock system, power
assisted steering, speed sensitive steering, variable ration steering,
and an electronic tilt and telescoping steering wheel. |
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Seventeen inch, 5 spoke alloy
(sport) wheels, with chrome as an option, come as standard equipment on
the XK8. Pirelli P zero 245/50 ZR 17 tires surround all of that chrome.
The can also comes standard with a sport tuned, fully independent, twin
wishbone suspension that gives incredible road handling. |
| Of course the new XK8 would
not be a true Jaguar without the standard interior with the Connolly leather
and burled walnut, or cherry, wood dash. While you are enjoying the
rich Connolly leather you can also enjoy the standard Harman Kardon sound
system with a six-CD changer |
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The XK8 is set to remain similar
to what it is now until at least 2004. A new addition came in 1998
with supercharged XKR added to the XK8 lineup. Along with the new
XKR, the XK8 coupe and convertible will surely continue to thrive through
coming years and will continue to do so as long as they are with us. |
