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 Jaguar 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 Jaguar 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.

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