Frankfurt Motor Show 2005 - Jaguar

What's the star of the stand?
The new XK coupe sits centre stage at Jaguar but we were hoping the new convertible would receive a sneak preview here as well. Instead, we had to make do with some pictures of the drop-top, and drool over those.

Like the coupe, power is provided by a 300bhp 4.2-litre V8, which propels the car from rest to 60mph in six seconds. A six-speed sequential gearbox with a fully automatic mode comes as standard. Expect both versions of the car to receive the supercharged V8, producing 400bhp, as used in the current XK, in due course.

The new soft-top will go on sale early next year, a few months after the coupe in March. Prices are yet to be announced, but expect the convertible to start north of £60,000.

They say
'The first of a new generation of beautiful, fast Jaguars, we were able to make use of the latest aerospace technologies alongside more traditional Jaguar skills to create a luxurious, powerful, highly advanced sports car.'

We say
The old car was a big seller, so the new car has got some big shoes to fill. Although we haven’t driven it yet, first impressions are good.

Anything else?
Jaguar is showing off its new Pyrotechnic Pedestrian Deployable Bonnet System, designed to help save a pedestrian in an accident. Explosive charges raise the bonnet in 30 milliseconds to cushion the impact on a person if hit by the car. All XK models will be fitted with the system, and Jaguar has stolen a march on Honda, whose plans to bring a similar technology to the market have been delayed.

The only other car out on the stand is the Jaguar XJ TDVi. However, if you ask nicely you might be shown into the Daimler room where you can sup vintage champagne whilst enjoying the opulence of the new Daimler.

Any gossip?
The car that Jaguar said they would never build, the off-road cross-over vehicle, is not at the show, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a work in progress. Ever since an insider from Jaguar’s sister company, Land Rover, let the cat out of the bag, details have been scarce, but rumours are that it could be on sale by the end of next year. Think more road-going family vehicle with MPV space, than mud-plugging all-terrain vehicle.