C.J. O’Donnell, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Communications, Jaguar North America

Making their world debut at the 2005 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2006 model year Jaguar XK 'Victory' editions celebrate Jaguar's four championship wins in the North American Trans-Am road racing series and add to a successful lineage of special and limited edition XKs introduced since its launch.

Now a familiar sight on the racetracks of North America, the racing version of the XKR coupe has achieved three of four outright Manufacturer's Championship wins in the Trans-Am Series for Jaguar. For the 2004 season, Jaguar claimed its fourth title – second in a row – when the Jaguar R Performance XKR, driven by Paul Gentilozzi, propelled him to his 29th career Trans-Am victory, tying the legendary Mark Donohue's career Trans-Am win record.

From the landmark XK120 sports car that first introduced the famous XK name in 1948, through the current range of XK8 and XKR coupes and convertibles, the XK nameplate has become synonymous with style, luxury, performance and grand touring ability. Just 1,050 of the special 'Victory' edition XKs will be sold in the U.S. beginning in June 2005.

"The XK ‘Victory’ edition is not only a celebration of the XK’s success in Trans-Am, but also its enduring success as one of the world’s most refined GT cars," adds O’Donnell.

All four XK models – XK8 Coupe and Convertible and supercharged XKR Coupe and Convertible – will be offered as ‘Victory’ editions when the line-up goes on sale next summer. The new exterior styling changes introduced for the 2005 models continue to give the car a bolder, more aggressive and more muscular look.

The XK8 coupe and convertible continue to be powered by the normally aspirated, 294 bhp, all-aluminum AJ-V8 Jaguar engine, while the supercharged XKR derivatives again pack a potent 390 horsepower. For the AJ-V8-powered XKR Trans-Am racecar, power comes from a highly-tuned version of the normally aspirated 4.2-liter AJ-V8 road car engine developing a massive 650 bhp.

The special XK 'Victory' edition road cars will arrive in four exclusive, limited edition exterior colors – Black Copper Metallic, Frost Blue Metallic, Bay Blue Metallic and Satin Silver Metallic – (other standard XK colors will also be available on 'Victory' models) with four interior colors and two distinct veneer options for the dashboard to create 18 possible combinations for the buyer to choose from. ‘Victory’ editions will offer Carbon Fiber interior trim on all XKR models, as well as feature a new Elm wood veneer on the XK8 models.

The 2006 Jaguar XK 'Victory' models will benefit from several additional new features including standard Bluetooth® wireless connectivity. With Bluetooth, a compatible telephone may be wirelessly controlled via the XK's steering wheel controls, without ever leaving the driver's pocket or purse, for easy, hands-free use.

The XK8 models currently feature 19-inch 'Atlas' style wheels, which will come standard with a sporty chrome finish, while the XKR models get a new, unique 20-inch BBS wheel design. The XKR also gets cross-drilled Brembo® brake rotors, while the XK8 adds power-fold exterior mirrors.