New Car Review of the 2004 Jaguar XK Sports Car.

Description: Sports Car
Base MSRP Range: $69,330 - $86,330
Invoice Price Range: $63,091 - $78,561

The sensuous two-door personal luxury cars of Jaguar resurrect styling cues from the fabled 1960s two-seat icon -- XK-E -- thanks to that extended hoodline and aerodynamic prow. Only change between coupe and convertible occurs with the latter's retractable lid, fully lined and with a glass rear window.

The cockpit for all XK models has seats for four. Legroom is sparse in the rear but up front the buckets are clad in rich Connolly leather and adjust with power controls featuring memory settings. Slabs of hand-finished hardwood veneers -- either walnut or bird's-eye maple -- trim dash and console, while classic analog gauges mark the instrument panel. XK cars gained new powertrains last year and return for 2004 adding an elite XKR Portfolio model with production strictly limited in numbers.

Jaguar's 4.2-liter V8 and the ZF six-speed automatic work in all versions. The naturally-aspirated plant slips into XK8 coupe and convertible, worth 294 hp. The supercharged version goes to racy XKR, making 390 hp.

External visual clues distinguish XKR -- a wire-mesh grille, functional hood louvers and a spoiler on the rear deck. Equipment exclusive to XKR includes xenon HID headlamps, a DVD-based navigation system and seats in perforated leather, along with Brembo brakes and aluminum four-piston calipers tinted to silver and revealing the R Performance marque. DSC stability equipment also works on all versions, as does emergency brake assist (EBA).