Inside the new Jaguar XK, traditional craftsmanship and contemporary luxury materials, like finely stitched leather, contrast with a choice of more high-tech trim surfaces including metallic finishes. The layout is driver-focussed and sporty, with excellent ergonomics and body-hugging seats, set low against the high waistline to give a strong 'cockpit' feel. With the new Jaguar XK's longer wheelbase, wider track and taller roofline, the 2+2 layout has significantly more interior space for front seat occupants than Jaguar XK that it replaces.

Also like the XK it replaces, the all-new Jaguar XK will be available in both two-door Coupe and Convertible forms, each model developed in parallel under one umbrella programme. The decision to give the Convertible version a classic soft-top rather than a folding hard-top means the open option offers exactly the same 2+2 seating layout, without compromising the elegant lines of the rear body, the strong, rising waistline or the light weight of the car.

The fully-lined triple-layer roof has exceptional wind and road noise isolation. It opens at the touch of a button in less than 18 seconds, and when dropped it stows below an aluminium tonneau cover without unacceptable intrusion into the large luggage space. Furthermore, the loadspace can be increased by 83 litres by stowing the retractable loadspace separator when the Convertible roof is up. The use of a soft-top has also allowed the exterior body to be designed with much cleaner lines and a relatively low deck, meaning the door waistline can be carried right through the vehicle from the front of the car to the tail.

The roof is constructed from three layers. The outer layer is a completely waterproof cloth/rubber/cloth laminate, and the inner layer is a luxurious cloth lining which is taut and smooth when the roof is closed. The 'sandwich filling' is an insulation layer, using 3M Thinsulate material. This gives significantly better insulation for less than half the thickness of the previous Jaguar XK soft-top construction. It is not only lighter, it takes up significantly less volume when the roof is stowed, allowing more space for passengers and luggage. The rear window is toughened glass, with a heating element, and is bonded into the roof. The door glass automatically drops slightly as the doors are closed, and rises again to seal inside the roof water channels. Additionally, the Convertible's rear windows can be lowered even when the roof is up.

The soft-top is raised and lowered by a single press of a button, using hydraulic actuators and electronic controls. It can even be operated on the move, at speeds up to 10mph. It will go from fully open to fully closed in under 18 seconds, which includes automatically raising the side windows and rear quarter glasses at the end of the cycle.

When the soft-top is up, the profile has sleek, elegant lines and the 'C' pillar area visually fits comfortably over the rear wheels. Attention to detail is continued with a chrome finishing strip fitted to the door capping and continuing around the soft-top base.

The all-new Jaguar XK was created by Jaguar's design team under the leadership of Design Director Ian Callum, to push Jaguar deeper into the 21st century. The new Jaguar XK's lines are bold and beautiful, powerful but elegant. In Ian Callum's words, it looks "just like a Jaguar should - powerful and exciting. That power comes from a sense of tension, muscle and form and is very much part of the new design language we are creating."

That new language begins with the proportions and stance, which are dramatically different from those of the previous XK. The new car sits on a longer wheelbase but it has markedly shorter overhangs, so it is very little longer overall. Its width, strong, high waistline and short, powerful haunches give an impression of a car crouched ready for action. With its dynamic bonnet and roof lines it looks much more compact, more contemporary, and extremely muscular and athletic - suggesting movement, power and agility even when it is stationary.

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