Editor Christian Wardlaw spent the remainder of the drive with an intent ear on the hum of the motor, or at least that's what I concluded from his tightly sealed eyelids. Acceleration is excellent, with 0-60 achieved in approximately six and a half seconds. Well, Sir Isaac never drove the XK8, or he might not have been so quick to jump to conclusions. Braking in this car keeps the driver comfortable as well as perfectly glued to the seat. We didn't measure the distance, but 60-0 was accomplished in under two seconds without a squeal.
Body roll is limited by front and rear anti-roll bars for controlled cornering.
The road never feels jarring, and vibration is eliminated altogether, even through the curved tree branch of a steering wheel. The exhaust note is a true purr, and throttle is available instantly at any time. Without reenacting any drool, let's just say we enjoyed driving the XK8. Jaguar has a hit on their hands in both the XK8 and its engine. The car is currently sold out through December.