Jaguar has been busy pumping out new iterations of the XK. The XFR-S has breathed new life into the car’s performance prospects, and rekindled enthusiasts interest. The update for 2013 to the headlights also freshens the look significantly – it makes the older design look dated in comparison. Now comes a special new edition, but of a different sort than other XK iterations before it.
The Jaguar XK Artisan focuses on design elements of the car, introducing further levels of exquisite craftsmanship. The interior is the focus of this package. Firstly, there are new, sumptuous looking bucket seats finished in “scraffito” grain leather. Jaguar didn’t stop there though, finishing the instrument binnacle, door and rear quarter casings in the material.
Look up and there is a Poltana Frau headliner, while around the rest of the interior is two new authentic finishes – Shadow Walnut wood and Dark Figured Aluminum. Stainless-steel drive pedals and sill plates further add to the feeling of designer, authentic materials.
The look is gorgeous. Two new color options are available, called Navy with a Jet headliner and Truffle with Canvas headliner. On the outside you have a choice of three color options: Celestial Black, Polaris White and Rhodium Silver.
As far as standard equipment, you have a 525 watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system and the front seats are heated and 16 x 16 way. Changes on the exterior are limited to a set of new 20-inch wheels. The Artisan package is available on both the coupe and convertible versions of the XK, and it doesn’t come cheaply – about $19,000 USD extra at current exchange rates.
For now it appears to be limited to just the United Kingdom. No word yet on whether it will spread to other markets, or potentially other models – but if successful you can bet it will. At a $19K premium, we’re sure the margins on this are pretty hefty.
