After all this time under owner Ford Motor's good offices becoming fully modern, Jaguar remains a wonderful throwback. It is powerful in the fashion of yesterday's muscle cars. And, a week-long test drive showed, plenty of additional delight is on tap. The five-speed automatic shifts better than other Ford automatics and as crisply and smoothly as almost anything on the road. Then you move the lever forward one slot for third gear, another slot for second gear.
First gear is chosen automatically, as needed.
But it's more useful in everyday driving than some others. You can, for instance, shove the lever full forward into second gear because you know you'll want a low gear in a moment, and the transmission will give it to you once the car's speed is low enough. Some designs refuse your choice if the car's going too fast and require you to shift again when the speed's appropriate. And the Jag's lever moved with damped delicacy, retaining dignity even when slam-banging through the gears. The optional system is easier and better than most.