XK Takes Victory Lap Before ’07 Redo

LOS ANGELES – Jaguar Cars North America unveils a Victory edition XK coupe and convertible for the ’06 model year here at the Greater L.A. Auto Show, intended to improve the sales mix of the vehicle during its final model year prior to a major redesign.

Some 1,050 XK8 and supercharged XKR models will be outfitted with items such as standard Bluetooth technology, oversized wheels, upgraded brake rotors and specialized paint schemes and interior patterns.

Pricing for the Victory package, which could be included on about 40% of the U.S. mix based on 2004 projections, is yet to be announced.

Jaguar’s Victory edition XK

A spokeswoman says the special edition XKs go on sale in June. Jaguar officials say the Victory editions come to the U.S. in celebration of the auto maker’s success in the North American Trans Am Championship in recent years.

However, the package should help the British auto maker improve the sales prospect of the vehicle in the ’06 model year, which serves as the going-away party for the current-generation car and the precursor to an aluminum XK.

The next generation is set for ’07 and is the first major Jaguar product to be styled under Design Director Ian Callum. The auto maker is rumored to be planning to show a concept of the at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week.

XK deliveries in the U.S. were off 2% through November vs. like-2003. Sales have dropped steadily from the 6,700 deliveries enjoyed in 2000 to an estimated 2,800 units in 2004.

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