New Jaguar XJ : The full details

Keith Adams

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Hosted by Jay Leno, one of the world’s best-known chat show hosts and a renowned car enthusiast, the launch of the new Jaguar flagship was attended by an invited audience that included public figures, business leaders, celebrities and media.

Jaguar Cars Managing Director, Mike O’Driscoll, commented: “These are truly exciting times for us at Jaguar. The new XJ is truly beautiful, exhilarating to drive, and with its bold, enlightened approach to design, it meets the challenges of our fast-changing world. It re-imagines the ultimate sporting luxury car.”

The all-new XJ is available to order now (dependent on market), with the first customers due to receive their cars in early 2010. Prices start at £52,500 for the standard wheelbase 3.0-litre V6 diesel Luxury.

Sleek, sporting and sophisticated, the all-new Jaguar XJ brings a daring new spirit to automotive luxury – it offers a seductive mix of striking design, breathtaking performance and engineering without compromise.

Building on the success of the new XK and XF models, the introduction of the all-new XJ is a landmark for the revitalised Jaguar brand. Clearly positioned as the company’s four-door flagship, it extends the appeal of the XJ to a new generation of customers.

‘The new XJ is a thoroughly modern interpretation of the quintessential Jaguar. Its visual impact stems from the elongated teardrop shape of the car’s side windows, that powerful stance and its wide track. It is the most emphatic statement yet of Jaguar’s new design direction”, said Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars.

An innovative new panoramic glass roof is an integral part of the all-new XJ’s design concept, enabling the car to have a lower, more streamlined roofline, while dramatically enhancing the feeling of light and space inside.

Standard and long-wheelbase models are available from launch. The long-wheelbase offers an even more sumptuous and refined environment for rear-seat passengers with an additional 125mm of legroom. Whichever the wheelbase, the XJ’s 520-litre boot can swallow two large suitcases side-by-side.

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The all-new XJ’s cabin is a marvel in its own right, blending elegant, contemporary design with the comfort, luxury and unmistakable sporting style of a Jaguar. Chrome and piano black detailing provide an eye-catching contrast to the beautifully-crafted leather and veneer surfaces.

To complement the all-new cabin design is a level of choice in colours, veneers and leathers not seen before in a Jaguar. Three specification levels – Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio – allow the customer to tailor the car to suit their tastes. Beyond this are the Supercharged and the top-of-the-range Supersport, the latter providing the ultimate expression of performance and luxury, with a specification that includes a leather roof-lining, semi-aniline leather seats and veneers with laser inlays.

All of Jaguar’s acclaimed new ultra-efficient Gen III petrol and diesel engines will be available in the XJ. The 3.0-litre V6 diesel, 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 and 5.0-litre supercharged V8 have already proved their breadth of ability. Fuel economy and emissions are also outstanding, with the diesel-powered XJ returning combined economy figures of 40.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 184g/km.

Proven Jaguar dynamic technologies are taken to new levels in the all-new XJ. Features such as air suspension, Adaptive Dynamics (continuously variable damping), Active Differential Control and quick-ratio power steering deliver the blend of responsive, dynamic handling and refined, supple ride expected from a Jaguar.

Inside the car, advanced new technologies have allowed Jaguar’s designers to create an environment more akin to a state-of-the-art living space than a simple car cabin. Stunning, 12.3-inch high-definition Virtual Instruments complement an innovative, Dual-View technology 8-inch Touch-screen that can project DVD movies or television programmes to the passenger while the driver views vehicle functions or follows satellite navigation.

Premium surround sound options include the top-of-the-range 1200W Bowers & Wilkins system, which is comparable in audio quality to the best in-home entertainment. Advanced infotainment features also include hard drive-based audio and navigation systems, and comprehensive connectivity for portable audio and video devices via the powerful Media Hub.

The new XJ also takes a new approach to sustainable motoring. Constructed using Jaguar’s aerospace-inspired aluminium body technology, the XJ is lighter than its rivals by at least 150kg which significantly improves performance, handling and economy, while delivering increased strength, refinement and safety.

The lightweight aluminium structure – with 50% recycled material – underpinned by a lifecycle approach to vehicle design and manufacture, enables the new XJ to minimise its carbon footprint. This alone creates a potential saving of three tonnes of CO2 per vehicle, compared to a bodyshell made from new aluminium.

The XJ offers extremely attractive cost of ownership with impressive fuel economy and emissions performance across the range; high predicted residual values and 15,000-mile service intervals. These benefits are just some of the results of Jaguar’s obsessive attention to detail during product development. Processes such as the use of the latest ‘virtual’ technologies to implement 40,000 quality-specific assessments are one of the reasons that the Jaguar brand has received numerous recognitions for vehicle quality.

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Keith Adams’ blog: The new XJ: Why I’m disappointed

Watch a re-run of the Launch Event

To register interest in the all-new XJ, customers should visit: www.jaguar.com/allnewxj.

Jay Leno launched the new Jaguar XJ
Jay Leno launched the new Jaguar XJ
Keith Adams

34 Comments

  1. What a stunning new car – an extremely credible British alternative to the German dominance of this sector. This one model alone deserves to do more than anything else to pull the British motor industry out of the dark days of the current recession.

  2. Horrible, horrible horrible.. where has the wood gone, where has the style gone? I want a Jag, not some BMW wannabe ‘me too.’ I am not a fan of the XF, although the last XJ I liked was the XJ40. Too many silly, uneeded, features – the J gate worked well and there was no need to change it.

  3. What is this? A would-be Maserati Quattroporte? A rich man’s Citroën C8? Or maybe a new high-end saloon from Korea? Oh yes, hold on! Look at that oversized and ostentatious leaper hanging on the rear! It must be another “modern” Jaguar!

    A modern Jaguar indeed, the British answer to the German car market dominance! So exciting … it is just a pity that this car looks as British as the Barbican Centre. It may definitely appeal to the buyers of German cars, of course, but I’m not sure about the Jaguar enthusiasts.

    The truth is that now the only good British cars are made by Germans (Bentleys, Rolls, MINIs, the early Rover 75 and, to some extent, Astons as well) and that “German engineering + British style” seems to be a quite successful formula. No offence to anyone, but “British engineering + German style” sounds way less appealing to me. Good luck anyway!

  4. Nice front – dodgy profile and rear. Why do we get such bland pseudo-German/Japanese profiles – Lexus GS anyone?. Rear is bit Citroen. What happened to the Jaguar hump? BMWs always incorporate the Hoffmeister kink so why have Jaguar dropped the hump?

    The interior, though, is a work of art and is far classier than the cheap looking silver plastic job in the XF. Funny thing is that this is a far further jump from Jaguar genes – if you read about the XJ40 design programme you will see that model was, at the time, considered to be too much of a leap away from those same Jaguar genes.

  5. I can’t decide if I love it, or hate it. I suspect it’ll be impossible to see out of, stupidly large for the interior… but the interior design…

    Had I known about the 2.7 V6 diesel XJ existing, I might not have had a C6. Now I’ve seen this, I might not have another C6…

  6. If it sells it will look good, if it doesn’t sell it will look awful. It is a young person’s car. Sir William designed cars which he thought looked good, not cars to look like Jaguars.

  7. Jay Leno was a brilliant choice. I like the way Jaguar has a manageing director and not a CEO. I think the new car will sell well.

  8. Me again. When you see the car, you will notice that it has fantastic presence and you will have trouble taking your eyes of it.

  9. Not a car for me, as I prefer traditional Jags, but it’s a lot better looking than its competitors.

  10. I like it. Yes it’s not as beautiful as it could be, following – to a degree – the modern trend to go for something striking rather than truly pretty – and, yes it’s a big departure but so was the XJ40 and so was the original XJ.

    Compare the Series I to the old S-Type and the MKII and it must have seemed like a huge leap for the company. That’s what Jaguar seem to be aiming for now. Unfortunately it’s stuck to its traditional styling for so long (of which – don’t get me wrong – I’m a fan) that now, rather than changing the class, it’s catching up with it to some degree.

    Either way, I’d buy one. Even that back end is growing on me…

  11. Is there anyone out there with £52k sitting idle in their bank? Mind you, this car would seem a better purchase than the woeful and overpriced BMW X6M that’s just been launched. You’ll get respect for owning a Jaguar.

  12. I’d like to see a photograph of the engine. I believe Sir William liked to think that owners would be proud to show off the engine.

  13. I love it! It’s beautiful and forward-looking. Jaguar has reinvented itself (and it needed to after the dreadful X and S-Type). Also: the tyres fit, something that couldn’t be said from the first XK8…

  14. Yep, I think it looks too much like the XF. Don’t get me wrong I like the XF, but why make two cars that are more or less the same?

    I really don’t know how the new XJ will do, but my guess is that it won’t double sales so to speak but might tempt some XF buyers to trade up (in which case they’ve achieved nothing). I don’t know that it will necessarily take buyers off other brands. I think that potential Jaguar buyers of this car would probably want more apparent headroom in the rear.

    Good luck anyway.

  15. One more thing, when the XJ40 came along Jaguar apparently sent letters to its staff saying beware the Lexus is here or words to that effect. Strange really that the general shape of both the XF and the new XJ look a bit like a now dated Lexus / Altezza but I guess that doesn’t matter as the XF is selling like hot cakes.

  16. Looks like a brick with an Audi roof and C6 tail lights but I’m not going to spend £60-70k on one so my opinion hardly matters.

    Let’s hope it sells well and makes shedloads of money for Jag, so they can style the next one better!

    PS: The interior is a little too Fifties Detroit for me.

  17. Very nice. Taking a bit of a gamble with the backside but it’s probably fine in the metal. A damn sight prettier than Quattroporte if you ask me.

    My only gripe is the way the C pillar is resolved. The blacked out part is a bit half cock and would enhance the curve of the rear sail panel if it was in body colour, as on the XF but then, where it meets the bootline, it would go all squiffy… I don’t know.

    A billion times nicer than, say, B*W’s last cock up of a 7-Series. Not a sign of Bangle-type flame, less of a brutish Panzer tank than an S Class and not as bland as an Audi.

    If I had the cash, it would be top of my list.

  18. Mark :Very nice. Taking a bit of a gamble with the backside but it’s probably fine in the metal. A damn sight prettier than Quattroporte if you ask me.

    My only gripe is the way the C pillar is resolved. The blacked out part is a bit half cock and would enhance the curve of the rear sail panel if it was in body colour, as on the XF but then, where it meets the bootline, it would go all squiffy… I don’t know.

    A billion times nicer than, say, B*W’s last cock up of a 7-Series. Not a sign of Bangle-type flame, less of a brutish Panzer tank than an S Class and not as bland as an Audi.

    If I had the cash, it would be top of my list.

    Here here!

  19. I’m astounded by the beauty of this car. The old XJ was a technical masterpiece clothed in a body which was dated from the day it was launched but this is just a stunner. Having said that, the tail light and C Pillar treatment really remind me of my dad’s old Sunbeam Rapier fastback!

    Weirdly, I haven’t seen any XJs around MIRA whereas the A5 was over run with pre-production XFs a couple of years ago.

    JON

  20. Enhances the look, if anything. There’s some pictures of it on the road on pistonheads.co.uk that look quite nice. Did a lot to change my opinion.

  21. I had a look at Pistonheads.co.uk and, yes, there are some better (?) images there. I really don’t like the back end, although the roof line is OK.

    I can’t help thinking punters might like a higher roof line, but those rear lights, they are bad…. it certainly looks like the designers(?) were short of things to do one afternoon.

    It’s got the Japanese facelift look…what shall we do with it next look… I hate that. (Jeremy said about another car…stop designing it, it doesn’t need any more) Anyway, I think if it were me, I would pick the XF.

  22. JON :I’m astounded by the beauty of this car. The old XJ was a technical masterpiece clothed in a body which was dated from the day it was launched but this is just a stunner. Having said that, the tail light and C Pillar treatment really remind me of my dad’s old Sunbeam Rapier fastback!
    Weirdly, I haven’t seen any XJs around MIRA whereas the A5 was over run with pre-production XFs a couple of years ago.
    JON

    I agree when I saw it I thought Sunbeam Rapier, even the boot treatment has a hint of the Holbay boot on the Rapier.

    I have to say that I like the look, having seen them driving through my Village near Coventry and I think it will appeal to the the sort of people (and if you have seen the roads of Moscow their is a lot of them) who would buy an Audi A8, which is what matters.

  23. <

    JON :really remind me of my dad’s old Sunbeam Rapier fastback!
    Weirdly, I haven’t seen any XJs around MIRA whereas the A5 was over run with pre-production XFs a couple of years ago.
    JON

    I would expect that, given the economic climate etc, they would be making the most of the resources available at Gaydon.

  24. I think it looks fanastic and I can’t see why it won’t be building on Jaguar’s success from the smaller XF. If I were the average Joe in my Mercedes, BMW and Audi I’d happily trade that in for one of these. Sourced from the JD Power Survey, Jaguar have much better customer satisfaction than the Germans and are close behind Lexus as the XF is one of the most satisfying cars to own now.

    Yes I know the rear end looks a little ungainly but that could make it a feature that distinguishs it being an XJ than an XF but retains the clear Jag DNA.

    I mean if Ian Callum chose to put the number plate on the bumper would make it just look like an upscaled XF which he could’ve easily done. BMW, Mercedes and Audi do that and they basically look like the same cars in three different sizes.

    I know the Germans and Lexus make great cars in what they can do in how suave, sophisticated and refined they are but lack character or much in the way of genuine flair. The Jaguar has that and much more interesting where Aesthetics is concerned with the beautifully designed interior.

    A completely different league to the olde-worde predecessor – for the better. It clearly represents Jaguar moving away from the retro designs (from the 1960s) which they traditionally used for many years. The bold, dynamic and contemporary designs with the XK, XF and this new XJ demonstrates Ian Callum’s forward thinking stratergy and Jaguar moving into 2009 not 1969.

    This should be a success for Jaguar as the XF has been such a hit.

  25. 10 years later and the last XJ351 has rolled off the production line, with its electric successor due to arrive next year.

    The S Class dominates this class, with luxury SUVs taking a toll too. I also wonder if the XF has also taken many XJ sales, especially as in China you can get a LWB XF too.

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