of opulent with its walnut instrument panel, leather-trimmed woodrim steering

wheel and aromatic leather upholstery.

It's also generally roomy up front--there's a little less headroom in

the convertible than the coupe--with seats that combine all-around comfort

and lateral support as well as any in the sport-luxury realm.

The rear seats, though fabricated from the same excellent materials,

are another story. Like most cars that characterize themselves as two-plus-two,

the XK8's rear seat area is essentially a nicely upholstered parcel shelf.

The XK8 has rear seating because Jaguar product planners believe the

demand for two-seaters is exactly equal to the market for eight-track cassettes.

But whenever we hear that plus-two designation, it invariably makes us

wonder: plus-two what? Jack Russell terriers? Ducks?

Never mind. The XK8 isn't about passenger capacity. It's about fast,

elegant motoring, something it delivers with exceptional competence and

zeal.