Winding country lanes are in short supply, so a 5km stretch of road with intermittent roundabouts is our venue for some hooning. But first, I fire the Big Cat into life: a roar on start-up goes nicely with the prominent ‘growl’ on the overrun.
Locked in Sport mode, the XK launches into roundabouts with vim and enthusiasm. Sometimes too much: the front can wash wide if pushed too far, and on dusty roads the Jaguar becomes a bit tail happy. Let’s not forget the XK weighs close to two tonnes.
By and large though, ample weight to the steering means the XK is surprisingly nimble and quick-fire gear changes produce linear rather than violent acceleration. Lower your eyes to the speedometer and your eyebrows may go the other way. Bizarrely the only violence comes when the anchor is thrown: the brakes are very good. I lose two hours effortlessly.
And that’s just the point. This afternoon isn’t about performance (and the XK is hardly lacking), but taking a drive simply for the sake of it. And the Jaguar has helped my nostalgia no end. All that remains is a traditional Sunday picnic: red and white checked tablecloth, cucumber sandwiches and ginger ale. My gas station samosa and can of Red Bull may not quite complete the picture.
| Jaguar XK Coupe | |
|---|---|
| Engine: | V8 / 5000cc |
| Power: | 380bhp @ 6500rpm |
| Torque: | 380lb ft @ 3500rpm |
| Transmission: | Six-speed automatic |
| Front suspension: | Double wishbone / Active Differential |
| Rear suspension: | Double wishbone / Active Differential |
| Wheels: | 20in front and rear |
| Weight (kerb) | 1660kg |
| 0-100kph: | 5.5sec |
| Top speed: | 250kph |
