I recently had the opportunity to travel to Versailles, France, to drive the 2011 Jaguar XJ. Sporting the first all-new styling theme since its debut in 1968, the new XJ represents Phase I of Jaguar's renaissance. The transformation started with the release of the 2007 XK. It continued with the XF sedan replacing the S-Type in 2008 (as a 2009 model) and with Jaguar dropping the largely unloved entry-level X-Type in 2009. When the XJ goes on sale this Spring, Jaguar will have an all-new lineup and will be ready to continue to Phase II, which I suspect includes a sports car to challenge either the Porsche 911 or Boxster/Cayman.
Redesigned inside and out and riding a heavily revised version of the aluminum unibody structure that debuted on the 2004 model, the new XJ is a better car in almost every way. The aluminum structure makes it lighter and sportier than most of the competition (the BMW 7 Series being the exception). The steering is impressively quick and direct, and the ride is smooth and refined. On the road, I did feel that the car felt like it rode a bit too high, though, which resulted in some unwanted head toss at highway speeds when making minor steering corrections.
Aiding the fun is a trio of outstanding new 5.0-liter V8 engines, which range in output from 385 horsepower for the naturally aspirated base engine to 515 horsepower for the Supersport model's supercharged version. The Supersport is capable of a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, which is lightning quick for a large sedan. All of the engines are responsive at any speed, and the two supercharged versions are essentially overkill. Then again, more is always better when it comes to power.
The new XJ's design has a lot of road presence. The corporate face that debuted with the 2007 XK and was further refined with the 2009 XF, looks great on this car. The coupe-like profile combines with a high beltline to create a sleek, almost custom look. In a nod to aerodynamics, the rear end sits rather high, which I think gives the car some visual authority. To alleviate some of the heaviness of the rear end, Jaguar has blacked out the rear pillars. It does help lighten the car, but I think it's a bit of design cheating.
The new styling extends to the inside of the car, where the dash has been lowered some six inches to create a feeling of roominess. I have two complaints here, though. Design director Ian Callum urged his staff to allow themselves the "indulgence of brightwork." That results in a bit too much contrasting trim, most notably the clock flanked by a pair of chrome-trimmed vents in the center of the dash. Even though the materials are of high quality, the amount of ornamention is just too much for me. I'm also not a fan of the all-digital instrument cluster, which can wash out in direct sunlight and feels more at home in a video game than a proper British sedan.
That said, the 2011 Jaguar XJ is a wonderful car. It's fast, roomy, attractive and sporty. And with a starting price of $72,500, it's more affordable than most of its competition. If this is the direction Jaguar is headed, I can't wait to see Phase II.
Filed under: Uncategorized
