2012 Jaguar XK debuts at New York +video

The gently tweaked 2012 Jaguar XK

It’s not as big an overhaul as the 2012 Jaguar XF, but Jaguar has sensibly had a play to freshen up the XK and keep it looking crisp for a while longer, rolling out the 2012 Jaguar XK at the New York Motor Show.

Changes to the XK for 2012 are pretty much as we predicted, although not quite as close to the Jaguar XKR-S as we’d thought likely.

The main change on the nose is the arrival of the new headlights we saw on the XKR-S with integrated LED running lights. The oval grill gets larger – although still stays as a separate E-Type-like oval, rather than the one-piece-looking grill on the XKR-S – and the mesh is chrome on the regular XK and black on the XKR.

The lower grill beneath the main oval is flanked by a pair of small air scoops that feed air in to the brakes, and on the flanks, at the back edge of the front wing, you get a horizontal vent with a chrome blade, echoing the same style seen in the XJ and in the 2012 XF.

Round the back the expected LED tail lights materialise and – just as with the XF – the ‘Jaguar’ name disappears from the car to be replaced by the Jaguar Leaper.

Jaguar has also had a play with the inside with sculpted leather sports seats available for the first time, and some new trim finishes. Jaguar make no mention, but the centre console also seems to have new trim delineating the HVAC and CD/DVD controls, which looks good.

It would have been nice to see a bit more, but there’s a limit to where Jaguar can go with the XK. It’s starting to feel its age, but it’s still a hugely desirable Grand Tourer, and in XKR-S guise a proper, grown-up supercar.

We wouldn’t kick it out of the garage.

Coupe

Convertible

By Cars UK