by  Richard Yarrow (30 Jan 06)

It takes a special car to still be selling well ten years after it was launched, but the Jaguar XK8 is such a vehicle. More than 1300 found homes last year, even though the world and his wife knew a totally fresh version was on the way. It's hard to believe it was at the 1996 Geneva Show that Jag fans first clapped eyes on the XK8. Technically, it was the most advanced performance car the legendary marque had produced, and in sales terms it has become the most successful of all time.

But the game has moved on. Rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and BMW's 6-Series have taken luxury sports touring to a higher level, while Jaguar's much-publicised financial problems have been dragging it down. The X-Type and XJ aren't selling well, and the company desperately needs the all-new XK to be a hit. Will it be? It would be a shame if it wasn't; in both coupé and convertible guise, this car is simply fantastic.

Both are fitted with the same 4.2-litre V8 pumping out 300bhp. Each gets Jaguar's new six-speed sequential-shift transmission. It's the only gearbox available; there will be no manual option. Top speed is limited to 155mph, while the 0-60mph time is 5.9 seconds.

Let's start with the cabrio, mainly because Jaguar's engineers did. They were at pains to point out they had created the canvas-roofed 2+2 before the coupé because they knew if they could get the former's structural rigidity right, sticking a top on to create the latter would be a doddle. Push and hold the button above the rear-view mirror and watch the roof disappear in 18 seconds.

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