To help driving matters, Jaguar has replaced their old J-Gate shifter console with a more conventional setup with a Sport mode accessed by

(Photo: John LeBlanc)

sliding the shifter to the left from the D position. And, as it should be in any kind of manumatic, there are steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters as well. Use either the Sport gate or the paddles and the tranny hangs on to gears longer and downshifts more aggressively when slowing for corners. According to Jaguar, upshifts using the paddles happen in 600 milliseconds (i.e. that's really effing quick) and downshifts are met with a nice throttle blip. Unfortunately (and this is why a good ol' manual still works for car zealots), the tranny will upshift automatically when you run the engine to redline.

When you are in the mood to whip the drop top XK along a twisty backroad, one surprise is the excellent steering feedback. Yes, this is a big car--a grand touring machine, no less--but up to 8/10 driving it behaves

(Photo: John LeBlanc)

surprisingly composed and confident. The stiff chassis helps the suspension do its thang quite well. Yet there's still a smooth ride available, as expected of any Jaguar. Even in the open-top version, there is little chassis flex over our pockmarked roads.

Despite the ability to drive smaller than its numbers may suggest, you'll need to keep saying to yourself, "The new XK Convertible is not a sports car." Porsche's 911 Carrera has that portfolio wrapped up, thank you very much. But if you like to drive, you can relish in the Jaguar's precise steering, generous grip and the unexpected agility of this big cat. The other traditional Jaguar grand touring attributes--the styling, the luxury, the image--are also along for the ride for less spirited driving.

(Photo: John LeBlanc)

It took a decade, and a little help from parent Ford, but Jaguar has finally created an aluminum l'objet d'art that should finally smash any misunderstanding of Jags being the exclusive domain of cash-rich seniors.

The 2007 Jaguar XK Convertible is a car that Jag owners who like to drive don't have to make excuses for. A modern, competent machine that illustrates the most quintessential of Jaguar slogans: "Grace, Space and Pace."


Build quality 5/6
Features 5/6
Performance 4/6
Fun-to-drive 4/6
Overall value 4/6