Excellent news from our most embattled car maker. The new XK, built entirely from aluminium, has more than enough style and performance to earn a worthy class win here. Designed by Ian Callum, the man who styled the Aston DB9, and powered by Jaguar’s Welsh-made 4.2 litre V8 motor, it is a honey. The two best features. It looks stunning — much better than even the DB9 convertible — and it sounds fantastic. Less good is the high-speed lift, but keep it below 130 and you’ll be fine.

Jaguar XK: The XK series began in 1996 with the XK8 and XKR. The latest version, badged simply XK, was unveiled in 2005. Like its predecessors it is available as a coupé or convertible. There is only one engine currently available, the 300bhp 4.2 litre V8. Later this year a 3.5 litre V8 will be introduced. Jaguar also plans a 420bhp XKR, a V8 diesel and a 500bhp XKR-R.