Jaguar XJ 2009

Behind the spectacle of the hoo-hah of yesterdays long awaited unveiling of the new XJ, there was a certain amount irony. Ironic, in a way that only the motor industry can deliver.

 That is, without the investment Ford PAG put into Jaguar - and it was billions, rather than millions - there wouldn’t be a new XJ, or for that matter, the XF or the XK. Now it is Ford who are staving off bankruptcy while Tata, the new masters of Jaguar Land Rover, bask in the glory of another new car which will cement the future of Jaguar.

But enough of all this irony and history (and government financial assistance which I haven’t mentioned but sits there like an elephant in the lounge), the new XJ looks very much a credible competitor for the likes of the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes S-Class. I say, ‘looks like’, because the gathered assembly of journalist who were privy to this exclusive showing were only allowed to gaze and touch this latest incarnation of the Jag flagship. Test drives will happen later on this year.

Ian Cullum, Design Director for Jaguar, had the honour of whisking off the silver sheet which had shrouded the XJ. “This is a happy car”, he told us, “…..and designed in the spirit in which Sir William Lyons would surely have approved”. I’ve know Ian for a number of years and at the launch of the XF last year he told me the forthcoming XJ would “be the car the XJ should always have been”. Well Ian, if you’re reading this, I’m going to agree with you. You and your team have done quite a job bringing the Jag line-up into the 21st century, and this new version of the XJ is a car you can make us all proud to be British again.

It looks the part; a executive saloon in which any fat cat businessman wouldn’t be at all embarrassed to turn-up to a board meeting in. More importantly, the coupe styling allows it to be driven by the said businessman at weekends without other motorists wondering if the person at the helm is the owner of such a fine piece of automotive architecture or just the hired help. With its front wheels pushed as far forward as legally possible (yes, pesky officialdom does play an important part in the difference between concept and production models) and the rear overhangs stretched aesthetically to a pleasing proportion, this XF is a tribute to Ian’s vision and courage of conviction.

The roof-line, with an integral glass panoramic panel, sweeps gracefully away to rear where its met by wrap-over tail lights - inspired by the pyramid tail-lamp cluster of the original XJ. Just the chrome silhouette of the Jaguar emblem - positioned smack-in-the-middle of the boot lid - tells other motorists this is a car for the most discerning. The front is much more dramatic; a sporting wire mesh grille flanked either side by a pair of raptor xenon headlights. The side panels are flawlessly smooth free, except for a running crease towards the bottom edge door metal. “We didn’t put detail in just for the sake of it”, waxed the overly proud Cullum.
Inside, and it’s big. Big enough for five, big enough to be called an executive cruiser. With the deep leather seats and black piano wood trim set against chrome accents gives the flavour of a cross between gentleman’s drinking club and a swanky foyer of a top boutique hotel. I liked this mixture, a subtle blend of the future combined with a toe in the past. But that’s where the Jaguar of yesteryear ends. Everything else is at the cutting-edge of technology. Jag have used the same TFT virtual instrument cluster which Land Rover will be using on next years models. The 12.3-inch high-definition screen displays the traditional dials and also other essential information which the driver might need. In the centre of the dashboard sit’s a dual-view touch-screen display which will play a DVD for front seat passenger while the driver only receives a display of the cars running functions. This is a very clever piece of kit indeed and a thing of white witchcraft.

As for pricing, Jag are keeping it simple with four levels of specifications - Luxury, Premium, Portfolio and Supersport. The 3.0D Luxury is the entry level model at £52,500 rising all the way to £85,000 for the top spec Supersport 5.0-litre V8 supercharged. And for an additional £3000 there is the option to go larger with a long wheel base version which gives an extra 5” of rear legroom. Don’t think for one minute the ‘basic’ model will be lacking in niceties though, included in the standard package is leather, SatNav, cruise control, interactive voice control, rear parking aid, 400W sound system with hard disk drive and media hub, Bluetooth and a very acceptable set of 19” alloys.

The biggest engine seller is expected to be the V6 3.0-litre diesel. This is the same engine launched earlier this year in the XF. It is a great piece of engineering which will produce, in the XJ, 275PS of power, return on average 40.1 mpg and promises to emit only 184 of CO2, which takes it to the top of its class on every aspect.

So there you have it, a quick synopsis of the new XJ. If it drives as good as it looks, and only time will tell, then the likes of Audi, Mercedes and BMW might just have to up their ante to stay in the game.