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Unlike previous Jaguar sport cars the 2009 Jaguar XKs are excellent performers with phenomenal acceleration and braking. The combination of outstanding performance and sex appeal makes either XK coupe or convertible a car to own.

A 300-horsepower, 4.2-liter V-8 engine powers the standard XK models. Acceleration is brisk, throttle response is prompt, and the Jaguar has a lovely sound at speed—part growl and part mechanical roar. The V-8 engine is mated with a six-speed ZF automatic transmission with sequential shift manual control and F1-style paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The handling and road manners of the 2009 Jaguar XK are superb. And this is one of the few cars in which TheCarConnection.com isn’t up in arms over the lack of a manual gearbox; the paddle shifters with the automatic transmission provide reasonably quick shift control and engine braking, and the setup even rev-matches for downshifts. Steering through sharp corners is a joy and in the XK; Jaguar’s tuned the highway ride for good tracking and comfort. Cornering is flat, though the ride is supple, and braking, even on the base cars, is instant and full of feel. The XK’s body is made of aluminum and its top is fabric, so it weighs significantly less than some sportscars.

Although some wish the headlamps and front end to look a little more traditional, the 2009 Jaguar XK’s body is stunning—particularly from the rear. The interior is beautifully laid out and trimmed with wood or satin metal. Front and center is a touch screen that controls climate, navigation, and audio systems, and it’s a simple touch or two away from most functions, unlike the maddening rotating knobs in Audi and BMW sportscars. The front seats are very comfortable, but the rears are nothing more than upholstered package shelves.

The 2009 Jaguar XJ Series lineup gains a new model. This is Jaguar’s flagship car, and it comes in six models: XJ8, XJ8 L, Vanden Plas, Super V8, new-for-2009 Super V8 Portfolio, and the high-performance XJR. XJ8 and XJR have a 119-inch wheelbase. The others have a 124-inch wheelbase. All have a 4.2-liter V8 engine.

The XJ8, XJ8 L, and Vanden Plas have 300 hp. The supercharged XJR, Super V8, and Super V8 Portfolio have 400. A 6-speed automatic is the only transmission. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. All have a load-leveling suspension.

The XJR has a firmer suspension than other models and unique styling cues. Vanden Plas and Super V8 versions have more luxurious interior treatment. Options include four-zone automatic climate control and a navigation system. The Super V8 Portfolio adds DVD entertainment, satellite radio, and unique exterior and interior trim.

2010 Jaguar XJ will instead debut as a 2011 model during the first half of calendar 2010. Jaguar’s flagship sedan will come in standard and extended-wheelbase “L” versions. The latter’s wheelbase is about 5 inches longer than standard versions. Trim levels will include base XJ, mid-level Supercharged, and top-line Supersport.

All will be available in standard and extended body styles, and they will use 5.0-liter V8 engines that team with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The base XJ and XJL will have 385 horsepower. The XJ Supercharged and XJL Supercharged will have 470 horsepower. The XJ Supersport and XJL Supersport will have 510 horsepower. Note that Supersport models will be offered only through special order; they will not be stocked as part of normal dealer inventory.

Available safety features will include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. All XJs will have Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics adjustable air suspension, a voice-activated navigation system, and a hard drive for storing digital music files. A dual-screen DVD entertainment system will be available. See the 2011 Jaguar XJ report for more information and Consumer Guide’s full review.

The 2011 Jaguar XJ is redesigned, with freshened styling, more power, and new features. Jaguar’s flagship sedan comes in standard and extended-wheelbase “L” versions. The latter’s wheelbase is about 5 inches longer than standard versions. Trim levels include base XJ, mid-level Supercharged, and top-line Supersport. All are available in standard and extended body styles.

They use 5.0-liter V8 engines that team with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The base XJ and XJL have 385 horsepower. The XJ Supercharged and XJL Supercharged have 470 horsepower. The XJ Supersport and XJL Supersport have 510 horsepower. Note that Supersport models are offered only through special order; they are not stocked as part of normal dealer inventory.

Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. All XJs have Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics adjustable air suspension, a voice-activated navigation system, and a hard drive for storing digital music files. A dual-screen DVD entertainment system is available. We have not yet tested the 2011 Jaguar XJ.

The 2010 Jaguar XF is available with new, more powerful engines. The lineup also gains a high-performance model, the XFR. In addition to the XFR, the 2010 XF comes in Base, Premium, and Supercharged trim levels. Base versions reprise the 300-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 engine of the 2009 XF. All other 2010 XF models have a 5.0-liter V8. Premiums have 385 horsepower; Supercharged versions have 470 horsepower; the XFR has 510 horsepower.

All use a 6-speed automatic transmission with “JaguarDrive Selector,” which uses a rotary knob for gear selection. The transmission also includes steering-wheel paddles for manual gear changes. The Supercharged and XFR have specific tires, brakes, and trim. They also have Jaguar’s new Adaptive Dynamics suspension, which automatically adjusts firmness based on road conditions to balance ride and handling.

Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. A navigation system, rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring system, and adaptive cruise control are available. JaguarSense–a system that uses touch/proximity sensors to detect when an occupant wants to open the glovebox or activate the overhead interior lights–is standard.

The 2011 Jaguar XF lineup sees a few changes. Jaguar’s premium-midsize sedan comes in Base, Premium, Supercharged, and high-performance XFR trim levels. Base versions now come equipped with a 385-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine, which replaces a 300-horsepower 4.2-liter V8. This engine was previously standard only on the Premium. The Supercharged and XFR have a supercharged version of the 5.0-liter engine; the former has 470 horsepower, the latter 510.

All XF models use a 6-speed automatic transmission with “JaguarDrive Selector,” which uses a rotary knob for gear selection. The transmission also includes steering-wheel paddles for manual gear changes. The Supercharged and XFR have specific tires, brakes, and trim. They also have Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics suspension, which automatically adjusts firmness based on road conditions to balance ride and handling. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags.

Blind-spot alert is optional on the Base, standard otherwise. A navigation system is newly standard on all models. Adaptive cruise control and a heated windshield are optional on all but the Base. Available on the Premium is a Portfolio Package, which includes upgraded leather upholstery, 16-way power driver seat, 12-way power passenger seat, heated steering wheel, rear sunshade, specific interior trim, and 20-inch wheels. JaguarSense–a system that uses touch/proximity sensors to detect when an occupant wants to open the glovebox or activate the overhead interior lights–is standard.

The XF looks a lot like a Lexus GS in profile. That’s no bad thing, but the XF hardly provides the drama that you’d expect from the brand that created the original XJ in the 1960s. The overall visual impression you get from the XF is that it’s nice but not stunning. It has some really good detailing, such as the chrome strip at the back that sweeps under the taillight cluster and its complex headlamps. But Jaguar has attached a large chrome “leaper” on the trunk lid because, as insiders admit, most onlookers won’t know that it’s a Jag otherwise.

On a more positive note, the XF’s interior really scores – there’s plenty of room to seat four large adults in comfort. The cabin overflows with neat details, such as the gear shifter, covered HVAC vents that rotate to open, a start button that pulses red when you enter the car, and blue lighting around the instruments and dials. And the quality of materials and assembly on the XF we recently saw at Jaguar’s design studio was as good as anything in the class. The XF’s long list of electronic driver aids also is competitive and includes voice control for audio and telephone, a blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, a tire-pressure monitor, and an electronic parking brake.

Jaguar fans have always been vocal and opinionated about what sort of cars Coventry should be building. Their opinions usually boil down to “make it breathtakingly beautiful, with loads of performance.”In the meantime, we’d really like to see Jaguar succeed with this new sedan. And while it’s good that the brand is abandoning retro pastiche design, we wonder whether the XF has pushed Jaguar’s new look far enough.