Everything a Jaguar Should Be and More: The 2014 XK Series

The name alone brings a reputation of luxury, power, speed and elegance that is unmatched but the 2014 Jaguar XK Series is even more than all this adding awesome technological advances, a near flawless suspension and a variety of trim levels to allow some luxury shoppers to own one without breaking the bank while other trims are severely limited in quantity.

Offering a much smoother, quieter, and more pleasurable ride than many of the sports cars on the market, the 2014 Jaguar XK Series is a sports car that is also a touring vehicle. Huge power under the hood coupled with a great suspension and steering system allow the Jaguar XK to be more of a cross between a Cadillac CTS and a Porsche 911 rather than fit into either category specifically. Offering the power to rocket the best sports car down the pavement and the handling and smooth ride expected of a luxury sedan the 2014 Jaguar XK offers the best of both worlds to those who can afford it.

The 2014 Jaguar XK series only offers one engine, but a few different set ups. This may be the biggest and best kept secret to designing a great car, offer a single engine and work around it. The XK engine is a 5.0-liter all-aluminum V8 engine. One the base model, if it can be called a base model, the engine when coupled with the direct injection system and variable camshaft timing offers 385 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque, massive power from an expertly designed power plant. This model offers a very nice fuel mileage coming in at 16 city/24 hwy mpg for the coupe and 16 city/22 hwy mpg on the convertible.

Moving up to the 2014 Jaguar XKR model the engine becomes a supercharged V8 and brings power with 510 horsepower and 461 lb.-ft. of torque. Even with the supercharger included the fuel mileage is still respectable coming in at 15 city/22 hwy mpg.

At the top of the engine line for the Jaguar XK Series is the 2014 Jaguar XKR-S and XKR-S GT showing off with a supercharged V8 that shows off with a hefty 550 horsepower and 502 lb.-ft. of torque, amazing power under the hood of this awesome car. The fuel mileage for this engine still stays reasonable with the same 15 city/22 hwy mpg.

All three engine set ups are coupled with the six-speed ZF automatic transmission providing a quickness of up and down shifting as well as the option to be manually shifted using steering-wheel-mounted paddles. To keep with the luxury feel of this sports car the transmission is also equipped with a throttle-blipping feature for smoother downshifting keeping the ride smooth and stable throughout.

Unlike many sports cars the 2014 Jaguar XK has a luxury feel to its interior. Many of the small sports cars forget about comfort and cabin feel having only lowering the overall car weight on their mind, but Jaguar continues to offer brand name interior comfort to the driver and any passengers who want to ride along on the pleasure cruise. With a ton of color and combination options for the XK anyone who owns a 2014 Jaguar XK can feel their car is uniquely built for them. Between high quality leather and contrast stitching along with polished hardwood accents, the interior offers comfort and elegance at every vantage point. Built for speed and designed for style the 2014 Jaguar XK Series offers both to any driver and passenger bold enough to take a drive.

On the outside the 2014 Jaguar XK Series is designed with a long hood and sleek sloping lines offering the feel of speed, power and grace all in one awesome vehicle. Offered in both a coupe and a convertible, the XK can offer a driver the feel of the wind in the hair of the owner and passengers. Some of the exterior features offered allow each of the 2014 Jaguar XK models to distinguish themselves. The 2014 Jaguar XKR offers exclusive wheels and a quad exhaust while the 2014 Jaguar XKR-S features gunmetal-painted wheels, a ventilated hood, unique bodywork and a carbon-fiber rear spoiler. When the convertible option is chosen, the top raises and lowers in just 18 seconds at up to 15 mph allowing the driver to show off as they pull up to an event or away from a party.

The standard equipment offered for the 2014 Jaguar XK Series includes a choice of aluminum or wood trims to accent the leather upholstery, dual-zone climate-controls with a humidity control, 16-way power front seats which are both heated and cooled, bi-xenon headlights, a navigation system with a seven-inch touch screen control, and a 525-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio system.

As far as optional features for the 2014 Jaguar XK Series, there are only a few including an Advanced Technology Package offering Active Front Lighting to point into turns and Adaptive Cruise Control offering the control of a set following distance with the car ahead. Other optional features include HD radio, a heated windshield, aluminum interior trim, and a Portfolio Package that adds up to five color options for the coupe and seven for the convertible to make the 2014 Jaguar XK unique. All of the XK models ride on 20-inch wheels except the Touring model which cruises on 19-inch wheels.

Pricing for the 2014 Jaguar XK Series is right where it should be, between a top luxury car and a sports car. The XK coupe starts out around $80,000 for the Touring trim, with a convertible coming in closer to $86,000. Due to limited production and special order needs, the 2014 Jaguar XKR-S shows up with a $133,000 price tag and with only 25 being made for the US market and five for Canada, the ultra-rare 2014 Jaguar XKR-S GT is set at $175,000.

Offering luxury, power, speed, elegance, and grace all in one package is often the biggest challenge for many auto makers, but Jaguar met the challenge and exceeded it greatly with the 2014 Jaguar XK Series of luxury sports cars. Offered in a wide price range, there is an XK model to please either the high end luxury shopper looking for more power or the sports car enthusiast and collector who wants to own something rare and unique.