Jaguar XJ
There is a vast amount of history that goes along with the name Jaguar, but almost more importantly there’s a distinct aura that surrounds this much loved British institution. It’s this sense of pride and belonging that sets Jaguar apart and in doing so, leaves them a special place in many a heart.
Sir William Lyons founded the company, then known as the Swallow Sidecar Company, in 1922. Originally they manufactured motorcycle side cars before maturing into passenger vehicles. After World War II the name was changed due to negative connotations attached to the SS initials.
In 1968 Jaguar joined the ranks of the British Motor Corporation, later falling under the British Leyland umbrella in what turned out to be a dark time for the British motor industry. Financial difficulties eventually ended in the company being acquired by Ford in 1989.
Yet through all the turmoil, Jaguar’s history of glamorous sports cars, fast family saloons and racing successes has established a reputation around the world that rivals the most established and well thought of manufacturers. Not to mention the sense of national pride in the United Kingdom, where Jaguar holds royal warrants from the Queen and Prince Charles and in recent years has manufactured cars for the Prime Minister.
Enough of history however, because with the new XJ we see Jaguar plant themselves firmly in the present, with its fluid, contemporary style; it is the boldest interpretation yet of Design Director Ian Callum’s vision for Jaguar in the 21st century.
There’s an instant shock factor that comes with such a vivid movement from Jaguar’s traditional design philosophy, so
it is by no means void of controversy. The rear end especially can look oddly proportioned and somewhat out of place from certain angles. But overall the XJ draws no less than a second glance.
Hop inside and the bold design traits continue. Bits of cow and tree are lavishly used to cover all surfaces inside the XJ, paying tribute to the traditional Jaguar interiors of yesteryear, yet it maintains a modern and contemporary guise – thanks in part to the smatterings of brushed aluminium, but largely due to the amount of light entering the cabin from the panoramic roof.
The addition of a vast amount of technology inside the passenger compartment also shows Jaguar’s commitment to modernisation. At the heart of the XJ’s multimedia functions is a 30GB hard disk drive housed in the centre console. As well as holding the car’s sophisticated navigation system, it can store music and will connect to audio, video and memory devices through USB, auxiliary or Bluetooth. There is a digital dashboard display, in place of conventional analogue dials. These virtual instruments can be used to offer details of multimedia options whereby the rev counter is temporarily replaced by alert messages, such as low fuel, or prompts from the navigation system.
The XJ’s beauty is much more than skin-deep: it is constructed using Jaguar’s aerospace-inspired aluminium body technology, which makes the XJ lighter than its rivals. The result of this weight saving is remarkable, making this 5 metre long executive saloon feel like a sports car on twisty back roads – aided by quick, accurate steering and a clever dynamic suspension system. Put it on a motorway however and the big Jag’s mood changes entirely as it simply eats up long distances with ease.
Powering the XJ is Jaguar’s 3rd generation direct-injection 5.0-litre V8. Combined with an electronically controlled, six-speed automatic gearbox the big aluminium lump converts petrol into 283kW of tyre tearing noise. The impressive bit is how the XJ transfers all this power onto the road, thrusting the two ton masterpiece from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
“The all-new XJ has been engineered to engage the driver with exhilarating performance and surprising agility, but without sacrificing comfort or refinement. For a luxury saloon, the XJ really is as good as it gets,” said Mike Cross, chief engineer of vehicle integrity at Jaguar. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
Price: R 1 162 000
Engine: 5.0 litre V8 Petrol
Power: 283 kW
Torque: 515 Nm
Acceleration (0-100 km/h): 5.7
Top speed (km/h): 250
Fuel consumption (l/100km): 11.3 (claimed)
Miles Downard