So... in my endless quest for the perfect Jaguar, I occasionally come across extraordinary non-standard veneers. This one's absolutely amazing.



I don't know what to call it: burlwood, flame, crotch mahogany, whatever?! But my question is this: Don't XK8s normally come with a leather/wood steering wheel to match? And is that why this one doesn't have such--because they couldn't or didn't match the console/dash veneer?

Admittedly they should have been able to do it. Is the wood wheel a separate option?? I know Bentley saves matching veneer for every car, should a repair be required. I'd hate to try matching this masterpiece. But oh, so beautiful.

 

The steering wheels are wood but hey don't match. They are more of a pressed laminated type wood on the steering wheel. There is a member here that has a burled walnut steering wheel that was aftermarket

 

The steering wheel looks like an aftermarket recovering job because the sections which are wood on most XK's don't appear to be matching perforated leather.

An all-leather wheel is available from Jaguar as an option. It's in the 2006 XK8 Accessories brochure (US):

LEATHER STEERING WHEEL
Enhance the substance and style of your XK with this all-leather steering wheel
HJG9181FA LEG Perforated Leather - $565 (vehicles with factory adaptive cruise)
HJG9181EA LEG Perforated Leather - $530 (vehicles without adaptive cruise control)

However, it goes on to say only available in Charcoal. I have this in my 4.2-S.

You can get the complete XK wood set redone. Maple Productions in the UK specialise in this:

XK8/XKR : Myrtle Productions, fine wood car interiors and luxury steering wheels

They only show walnut or elm online but can supply whatever veneer you want.