I have seen 3 different BLACK colors for the 2012 XK and would like to get an opinion of which is the one that stands out the most. I don't mean to insult anyone as I know everyone believes they have the best color but as I continue my search it appears that there are more blacks then other colors. So all I have seen is Ebony , Ultimate and Midnight. Also when you purchased your used XK did you have a preferred list of colors and did you get your number 1 pick or did you settle for another color. Thanks

 

I prefer the ebony, imho it is the deepest of the blacks plus being a non-metallic has made blending/filling chips a breeze. Did it myself with wet sanding after and I can't even find them any more. When doing this with metallic, unless they're sprayed on, the flakes tend to float and bunch to the surface during drying.

Now everyone who has the other two can tell why theirs is better

 

I have the ultimate black, and to be honest, I'd rather have midnight. The metallic flakes in the ultimate black are multi-colored and give off a bit of a rainbow vibe in bright sunlight.

 

My 07 was ebony and I'm with Mike V. It's a stunning color. My 2010 is liquid silver and I like it...but I kinda miss the ebony. That car turned more head than my new one. In ebony, the car looks meaner, faster and more exotic. Not sure why. It just does.

 

Ebony is always the best black color, IMO. But it's the hardest to maintain, scratches show, etc.

I just don't think you can get that sort of depth from a sparkly paint.

 

Nice looking XKR...a Jaguar leaper badge on the rear trunk lid would really enhance the look of the XKR from the rear.

 

I'd take the XK off and just leave the R; no leaper.

 

No leaper for me! Thanks, though!

That is my in-laws' house in North Carolina--I don't live in such a large mansion. Once a year I try to sneak the XKR down there so I can detail it in their garage.

 

I have an XF supercharged and sat in front of an Ebony and Ultimate for over an hour! It's a really tough decision but I chose the Ultimate Black. I agree with all of the comments of this thread... Ebony is pure black -- tough to clean but when clean looks awesome. Even when Ultimate is clean the metallic makes it looks a little dirty and even greys it down a little... hard to explain. I like the Ultimate as I like metallic paints in general, but can certainly see why others would not choose


When I started looking I wanted an XKR portfolio ('08) in Midnight -- that is the best IMO but color is not available in XF. If you can go w/ that I would do it. Hands down the best of all of them.


Dave

 

I like the black on my 2012 S80 Volvo more than any black I've seen before. It's a black ember metallic. Looking at the car in the sun the ember metallic gives the car a sparkly copper tone. Looks very sophisticated and rich. My wife mostly drives it and never keeps it clean. Before I got my first Jag it was my daily drive and I loved to wash and wax it to see the color shine. I always got comments on the color. I never get comments on the ultimate black on my XKR.


To answer your question about getting color of choice when purchasing: Yes, and I got a lot more. The only color on my shopping list was ultimate black. My other requirements were for the coupe to have the dynamic pack, performance exhaust, and low mileage. I found one as close to new as a used car can be, only 300 miles from new and the original owner never even set in it. All of the interior leather seats and dash stickers were still on the car and I got it for $30,000 less than MRSP, being 5 months old. The only change I'd like to make on the car is to have the performance diamond quilted seat which came out in 2014.

 

I've had ebony before (c70T5 coupe) and had ultimate black on my 2012 XF. Ebony looks brilliant, but shows up every spec of dust, and watermarks can be a bitch too. Ultimate is a lot more forgiving, and easier to live with IMO.

 

My 12 xk vert is the third black Jaguar I have had. It is Midnight black, the other two were an ultimate black 08 xk vert and a black 2004 XJR. The Midnight black has a slight metallic finish which causes it to look blue/black in bright sunlight and doesn't show the swirls as much as the other two. I think it is best looking of the three.