The new XK's hard-edged muscular shape retains Jaguar's traditional cat-like sleekness, but it loses the rounded softness of the previous version.

In many ways, the XK can be seen as a less expensive Aston-Martin. For the time being, at least, the two are corporate siblings. (Ford Motor Co. has said it plans to sell Aston-Martin.) There's clearly a resemblance to the eye, but the XK also offers similarly laid-back, unruffled British-style performance.