SOPHISTICATION on four wheels is the only way to describe the new Jaguar XJ.
The car which will carry the flag for Britain’s motor industry in 2010 is little short of a masterpiece.
From incredible styling to awesome power and a sumptuous interior, the XJ has VIP stamped throughout.
That’s a vital quality for this is the car which will ferry the next Prime Minister on official duties – not to mention captains of industry across the globe. But in true Jaguar fashion, the XJ is not just a chauffeur-driven limo. It is a car which can be relished by the driver.
The experience behind the wheel is absolutely enthralling – and that is either with a V6 diesel or V8 petrol engine under the bonnet.
On sale in May, the XJ will cost from £53,775 for the standard wheelbase 3.0 diesel rising to £90,455 for the long wheelbase supercharged Supersport.
It will compete with the likes of the Audi A8, the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class and the Bentley Continental but offers something a little different for those who demand the best.
The XJ has a personal feel not evident in German super sports saloons.
Cutting edge equipment includes a virtual instrument display, a dual view touchscreen and a mighty 1,200 watt, 20 speaker Bowers and Wilkins sound system.
Like Jaguar’s other current models – the XK and XF – the XJ is all aluminium and uses the latest construction techniques developed at the Castle Bromwich factory in Birmingham to make its monocoque shell some 11% stiffer than the previous XJ.
Nevertheless it is just as light and at 1.8 tons the XJ has the edge over its competitors. It is more than half a ton lighter than a Mercedes.
Not only does the lightweight construction help improve fuel economy it also aids agility.
Body roll is reduced by 20% and the ride is solid and refined. This is assisted by continuously variable dampers which adjust 500 times every second.
The steering is finely balanced and positive while gears are selected either via Jaguar’s rotary control in the centre console or from paddle shifters.
A dynamic drive mode sharpens the suspension, steering and throttle responses while the gearbox can be switched into a sport setting widening the rev ranges.
As such the XJ is a brutal performer and leaves no doubt that it can get the best from its mighty engines.
Jaguar’s 3.0-diesel engine is possibly the best around at the moment.
It made its debut in the XF and has lost none of its punch in the bigger XJ accelerating from 0 to 60mph in six seconds.
Top speed is limited to 155mph yet despite its high performance the XJ will average 40mpg with CO2 emissions of 184g/km – and for business users that emission figure presents a significant tax advantage.
A normally aspirated 5.0 V8 pumps out 330PS resulting in 0 to 60 acceleration of 5.4 seconds while the supercharged flagship Supersport is awesome at just 4.7 seconds.
Even so fuel consumption from the V8s is impressive with both averaging more than 23 to the gallon.
While the V8 models are aimed more at the US market they will be available in the UK although the diesels will be far more popular.
