Jaguar Is About To Kill The XK And Here's Why We Give A Damn

The second-generation XK is being killed off, so we're looking back on why it's such an important car in Jag's history

18 May 2015

Jaguar XK 2

This week, we found out that the Jaguar XK is to be axed. And that doesn't really come as a surprise; the tauter F-Type has been pinching sales from the current XK, a car which has always been more of a fast grand tourer than an out-and-out sports car.

So why, you might ask, does this matter? Well, the second-generation XK is a hugely important car in Jaguar's history.

Jaguar XK

The Mk2 XK arrived in 2006, and until that point, all Jags were fustily-styled things. The X350 XJ had an industry-first aluminium monocoque chassis, but the body looked pretty much the same as XJs had done for decades. The S-Type, meanwhile, was given ill thought-out 60s throwback styling which looked plain awkward on a modern car. Something needed to be done to drag Jaguar into the 21st Century, and that something was the new XK.

Jaguar XK 3

Gone was the old-fashioned XK8, replaced with a car that brought the Jaguar brand bang up-to-date. The Ian Callum-penned exterior still had nods to Jags of old - like the E-Type style oval grille - but the whole package looked modern. Here was a car you could drive without people mistaking you for a wealthy pensioner.

Jaguar XK 6

That modern theme continued inside. Sure, you could still spec lashings of wood if you wanted, but the overall feel was so much more contemporary. The car established Jaguar as a more competent rival to the German giants of BMW, Audi and Merc, rather than just a quirky, leftfield alternative.

Jaguar XK 5

Over the years we've seen all sorts of brilliantly mad special editions, notably the Smurf blue XKR-S and unhinged XKR-S GT. It's also had its fair share of nips and tucks to keep it fresh, but there's no holding back the sands of time, so this summer, the XK will disappear from the range. The so far unconfirmed replacement is expected to be a more upmarket luxury GT car to compete with the likes of the Bentley Continental GT.

It's necessary, but also a little sad. This car paved the way for the crisp, contemporary Jags we know and love now, and for that, it needs to be remembered.