Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Design
Page 3: Technology
Page 4: Powertrain
Page 5: Chassis/Dynamics
Page 6: Interior
Page 7: Safety
Page 8: Heritage/Specifications
INTERIOR
• Driver-focussed interior design produces sporty and functional atmosphere
• Increase in leg, head and shoulder room over previous XK
• Touch-screen information centre controls all major functions
The interior of the new XK is as modern and forward-looking as the exterior, and designed specifically with the sporty, enthusiastic driver in mind. It is roomy and comfortable, and in its choice of materials and equipment, it is genuinely a premium, luxury car. It was important that it displayed the understated craftsmanship and restrained contemporary luxury associated with Jaguar. But being a sports car there was no place for overly ornate or fussy design – ergonomics were more important. So the seats hold the driver and passengers firmly but comfortably, the interior has a light and airy ‘cockpit’ feel, and the lowered position of the instrument panel also gives a feeling of greater cabin space.
“Jaguar interior design has always scored highly with our customers,â€Â' explains Giles Taylor, Senior Design Manager, Jaguar Cars. “In terms of comfort, ergonomics and general environment, our cars are ahead of the opposition. With the all-new XK we naturally looked to enhance that strength. The new interior is somewhere the driver and passengers will feel at ease; it produces a sense of well-being and harmony.â€Â'
That sense of well-being comes in part from the fact that the car is roomier than the previous XK, and has the classic 2+2 sports car layout with individual sculpted seats in the rear. There is 59mm more seat-track travel, 54mm more front leg room, up to 31mm more front head room and 32mm more shoulder room. There is better foot space all round, and Jaguar’s electronic parking brake liberates the space that was previously needed for the outboard handbrake lever. There are more interior stowage spaces, and the combination of more interior space plus longer seat travel effectively increases rear seat space and makes rear seat access through the long doors easier.
The interior is very clean and driver-focussed, with simple architectural forms and minimalist detailing. What’s in front of the driver essentially defines the feel of the car, which is sporty and functional. The dashboard lines flow from the A pillars to the centre console, whose advanced touch-screen carries the controls for many of the car’s features – allowing the number of switches on the instrument panel to be kept to a minimum. At the same time, the basic controls are carefully laid out for quick and easy access.
The main instrument binnacle in front of the driver is designed to relate to the shape of the three-spoke steering wheel and it houses two classic round dials flanking a multi-function Driver Information Centre based on Thin Film Transistor technology. The speedometer and tachometer dials are backlit with green backgrounds and their pointers are illuminated with white light. The central Driver Information Centre display is split horizontally into zones, each showing specific information. The top zone shows the selected gear, the next shows cruise control information, the central ‘message centre’ zone normally shows a clock but can also relay information from low fuel level to low tyre pressures, with a graphic to show which wheel is affected. The Driver Information Centre border changes colour through white to yellow to red to indicate the urgency of the problem, and even if the driver clears the display warning a yellow warning triangle stays lit to remind the driver that remedial action is necessary. Below that there is a small back-up display for the navigation system turn directions.
The large, seven-inch centre console touch-screen is a menu-driven information and control system. It is designed to offer the required number of functions, but with minimum distraction and complexity to the driver – so in each menu level a maximum of only five items is available for selection. For example, the first menu level allows the driver to select between climate, audio, navigation, telephone and vehicle settings. To make selection easier for some modes and further to avoid distraction from the road, when the driver’s finger is close to but not touching one of the screen icons, that particular icon ‘grows’ and an audible indication of the selection is given, so the driver can touch the correct icon without even having to see it.
Where available, the centre screen also incorporates the display for the standard DVD-based satellite navigation system, which is also controlled via the touch-screen. A significant advance over previous systems is that as well as giving turn direction instructions, the new XK’s system also gives audible ‘towards’ information at junctions – to the main town or city indicated by the local signpost, or (on a local level) to the next street name. Full postcode-based information is a further enhancement from previous systems. In Europe, the system is supplemented by Traffic Messaging Channel information, received from local radio stations via the radio antenna.
As well as being a sports car, the new XK is a premium luxury car, and is equipped as such. Its sophisticated dual-zone climate control system (which can be regulated via the touch-screen as well as by its conventional controls) has a comprehensive list of features including heating and cooling, humidity control which senses the risk of misting and switches to a dehumidified airflow to the windscreen area, and automatic demisting after cold starts. The defrost function includes heated front and rear screens and heated mirrors. Heated seats (even an optional heated steering wheel rim) are controlled by the climate control system, and selectable from the central touch-screen.
In the Convertible, a dedicated strategy operates when the car is being driven with the roof down, automatically changing the distribution of the airflow (warm or cool) to give more flow to the face vents.
The new XK offers a choice between high and optional premium-quality audio systems. The standard six-speaker high-spec system supports conventional audio CDs as well as discs containing WMA and MP3 digital files, and the single dash-mounted CD slot is actually a six-disc changer. The premium system, by Alpine, has eight speakers, a remote six-channel amplifier, 520 watts output and Dolby® Pro Logic® II Surround Sound.
The built-in communication interface is BluetoothTM based, and can communicate wirelessly with compatible BluetoothTM mobile phones – which only have to be in the passenger compartment, for instance in a brief case or jacket pocket. The completely hands-free system has volume and answer controls on the steering wheel, and a ‘do not disturb’ mode to inhibit incoming calls when selected. The dialling keypad is contained in the touch-screen and can be selected from the telephone menu; and the touch-screen can also display phone book and incoming call information.
The interior combines traditional luxury and high technology. The choice of materials was as important as the shapes, so it is important that they are seen – and details like the traditional stitching are an integral element of the design. There is a choice of two leather trims including Soft Grain, which can be extended as an option to cover the instrument panel top, door cappings and seats. In each type there are four interior colour schemes, two of them two-tone, with contrasting and complementing colours. Ivory and Charcoal is clean and light; Ivory and Slate Blue is contemporary; Charcoal is sporty; and Caramel is warm and gently inviting.
There are three veneer options – Aluminium, Burr Walnut, and the much lighter, more modern Poplar wood. The aluminium option is a very contemporary choice, giving a real high-tech appearance. Where traditional wood veneers are specified they are produced by Jaguar’s own highly specialised, in-house wood veneer department.
Related entries:
2007 Jaguar XK
