Customers are clamouring to get their hands on cars like the new Jaguar XK.

And even before it was launched on the market here the sold out signs were up on a vehicle that costs 100,000.

What is more remarkable is that many were sold to customers who hadn't even seen the car. Most had put down 119,885 or 132,170, depending on whether they wanted a coupe or convertible.

At least 55 customers who have never seen or touched the new car have put their names down for ownership.

The new models are in limited supply across Europe and OHM, the distributers here are trying hard to source some extra cars.

The expensive end of the market has been doing very well this year where sales are expected to reach 190.000 mark, which will be up by 8,000 new car sales on last year and not far short of boom year 2000 where sales went over the 200,000 mark.

Sales of expensive SUV and MPV models continue to show strong growth . Vehicles such as Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Rav 4, Land Rover, Jeep Cherokee continue to attract a strong following.

Most are bought for fashion statements and spend most of their time on tarmac surfaces doing school runs.

The big wheel vehicles are certainly a high with the ladies mid-week and the men get them at the weekend.

There is a growing interest in small cars now that air conditioning, airbags and automatic transmission as an option.

Kia Picanto 1.1 litre LX will give you an air conditioned and automatic drive car for 15,000.

Small family cars and MPVs are now being geared up by manufacturers who want to cater for motorists who want less expensive transport.

It's about luxury and technology

It is the most technogolically advanced Jaguar ever. It comes in both Coupe and Convertible options and was shown here for the first time on Tuesday.

Each car is designed as a 2+2 sports car and now there is an aluminium construction to give the best-in-class torsional rigidity in the Coupe form and in the Convertible there is a 50 per cent improvement in stiffness over previous XK models.

Even though the cars carry a hefty price tag - 119,885 for the Coupe and 132,170 for the Convertible - there is keen interest because of the styling and the new engines.

At the heart of the XKs is the latest generation of the naturally aspirated 4.2 litre V8 engine developing a huge 300 bhp which satisifies Euro 4 emissions by using an exhaust gas recirculation system.

But the clean engine technology does not compromise performance. The XK can sprint from 0 - 60 mph in under six seconds and completes a quarter mile sprint in 14.4 seconds. The top speed is 155 mph which is electronically limited.

Jaguar boast that their new offering uses only top technology. The engine is mated to a 6-speed electronic automatic transmission. There is a cruise control with speed limiter, anti-lock brakes with stability control, bi-xenon headlights, rain sensing wipers , bluetooth technology and a 6 CD changer with MP3 capability.

Inside the emphasis is on luxury. Stiched leather seats , high waistline to g ive a cockpit feel and body hugging seats.

Despite its speed potential the XK has been designed to be more relaxing to drive.

To help avoid accidents there is Forward Alert and Adaptive Cruise Control. The Adaptive Cruise Control uses microwave radar to monitor the road ahead and automatically reduces speed if traffic conditions make it necessary by reducing power.

In an emergency it will also use the antilockbraking system to slow down the car more quickly.

The Forward Alert uses sensors in the bumpers to estimate the braking effort required to avoid a collision and will audibly warn the driver if a safe distance threshold is passed.