Computer controlled test rigs are used periodically to simulate punishing, high-speed autobahn driving for the equivalent of 100,000 miles at an average 100mph, to determine the long-term durability of the Jaguar XK.

The Jaguar XK had to prove its driveability and reliability during hundreds of laps through the 73 corners of the former Formula One circuit at Nürburgring in Germany. Jaguar´s new German test centre also extensively tested and fine-tuned the XK´s advanced electronic systems, including its Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), and the enhanced CATS adaptive damper systems.

To ensure that the XK body performs as if it´s hewn from a piece of solid steel, an army of robots applies the thousands of spot welds with scientific precision. This is designed to guarantee that the XK body shell – which is exceptionally strong and rigid – is free from squeaks and rattles.

Although robots are used extensively in the body build, there´s no substitute for the operator´s eyes and hands to guide, install, check and sign every component as each body is customised and then united with its designated chassis and powertrain.

Each hide comes in to Jaguar as specified by colour and finish. Skilled leather workers then carefully mark the faults and scars to be found on any natural hide. Cutters then use their skill and experience to hand cut the many elements of the leather trim with a minimum amount of wastage. No mechanical or laser cutters are used. Skilled seamstresses then finish and finely stitch each piece, which is then fitted by hand in the trim section.

The high quality Burr Walnut veneers for the XKR come, not from the trunk, but from the growths at the base of 75-year old American walnut trees. These ´burls´ with their rich distinctive patterning are dug out, roughly planed and shipped to England for cutting into fine veneers. Jaguar craftsmen ´mirror match´ veneers from the same burl for facias and door inserts. This means flipping the veneer of consecutive sheets to achieve a perfect mirror-image pattern. The veneer and laminates are then built up with alternate grains over a metal substrate and heat bonded. After lacquering, they go through progressive stages of polishing until each individual set is packed and matched with the individually specified Jaguar it is being made for. A similar process is applied for Elm and Birds Eye Maple.

Every XK that comes off the production line faces a battery of final quality tests to guarantee the durability and reliability of your new Jaguar. These include rolling-road tests, instrument testing and simulated monsoon conditions to test all-weather integrity and performance. When it finishes its final factory test, every XK, with seats, sills and brake discs protected by heavy polythene, is taken for an 8-mile road test by an experienced Jaguar test driver. Every function and reaction is tested before returning to the factory.

After proving on the road test, your XK returns to the factory for a final wash, paintwork inspection and heavy protective waxing before delivery to the dealer or to the docks for shipping overseas. When it arrives in the showroom, the protective wax and polythene brake disc covers are removed, and the car is hand-polished for its owner.