IT'S going to be a spring birth of the latest generation Jaguar X-Type as its creators unveil first details of their favourite baby with new features inside and outside and a new automatic transmission in the 2.2 diesel.

Pairing the 2.2 litre diesel with a six-speed automatic, and the one-touch control of Jaguar Sequential Shift is designed to broaden the new model's appeal.

While the 2.2D manual version has headline figures of zero to 60mph in 8.7 seconds, a maximum speed of 134mph, a combined economy of 47.1mpg and a CO2 rating of 159g/km, the respective figures for the 2.2D automatic are 9.5 seconds, 129mph, 41 mpg and 184g/km.

Outside, the new X-Type's styling is refreshed - the frontal styling introduces a new 3D' bright mesh grille, with a bold frame and body coloured outer surround that echo the design themes of both the XJ and XF.

New front bumper covers define the new X-Type's face, with taut, clean lines and neatly integrated side marker reflectors.

The redesigned rear bumper includes a full-width bright chrome signature blade while a new roof-mounted Antenna Pod for saloon and Estate replaces the previous aerial.

In profile, new sill shapes connect the re-styled front and rear bumpers and visually lower the new X-Type's centre of gravity, which is emphasised by cleaner, more modern side mouldings, while the side indicator repeaters are replaced with Jaguar ingot' badges The new door mirrors have the options of memory settings and power foldback and are either body-colour or have chrome highlights.

Completing the external changes, the new X-Type introduces two new five-spoke alloy wheel styles, while the exterior colour palette ranges from Porcelain White to the new Ultimate Black, with Pearl Grey, Glacier Blue, Chilli, Winter Gold, Liquid Silver and Emerald Fire among others.

The interior changes on next year's Jaguar X-Type focus on contemporary design and introduces four new seat styles, each with its own matching door trim.

One has leather borders with sport cloth centre cushions, and bold new horizontal twin-needle stitching - complemented by door trim pads matching the two seat trim colours, Champagne or Warm Charcoal. Those seats also have electrical four-way adjustment, for both driver and front passenger.

A second option offers either six-way or 10-way driver and passenger seat adjustment (market dependent), all leather seat facings with twin needle horizontal stitch, and door trims in seat trim colour with a three-diagonal twin-needle stitching pattern - with the additional choice of Ivory colour.

Customers wanting a sportier interior trim can choose the Sports Pack. In soft grain leather with twin-needle diamond stitching for the centre cushions, in contrasting colours - Warm Charcoal leather with Stone stitching, Ivory or Spice with Warm Charcoal - the Sports Pack seats have ten-way adjustment with driver's seat memory function, and the luxurious diamond-stitching pattern repeated in the matched door trims.

The range-topping Luxury Pack also offers 10-way adjustment, with memory, plus a subtly different all-leather style, combining horizontal stitching and contrasting piping - Champagne leather with Warm Charcoal piping (or vice versa), and Ivory leather with piping in another new colour, Oyster. The Luxury door trim matches the seats, but adds traditional walnut inserts.

Other trim levels offer combinations of leather, Rosewood veneer or Piano Black, while the Sports Pack includes Carbon Fibre highlights, and the Luxury Pack has Walnut veneer for the facia, gearknob, steering wheel and door trims as described.

Elsewhere, the new X-Type also introduces upgraded electronic features, from new digital audio options to improved Bluetooth connectivity and Generation 5' parking aids.

Available in saloon and estate variants, the new X-Type goes on sale in the UK in March 2008, and in other European markets from April 2008.

In addition to the 2.2 Diesel, the X-Type is available with 2.0 Diesel, 2.0 V6 petrol, 2.5 V6 petrol and 3.0 V6 petrol engines.