When Bespoke invited me to test drive the new Jaguar XJ at Versailles’s Trianon Palace hotel, located on the edge of Louis XIV’s estate grounds, I was thrilled and I couldn’t imagine a more appropriate location. One replete in tradition, luxury and refinement - very Jaguar indeed.
Yet, as an avid reader of the auto press, I was keenly aware that this latest generation XJ would be something thoroughly new and not just a continuation of the usual XJ design and aesthetic. Finally, the famous English brand was no longer fixed to gazing into the rear-view mirror. Instead (and under recent Indian ownership) the marque is boldly turning the page on its traditional design language. This evolution was first revealed with the innovative XF and it’s being continued with the XJ. It will also soon find its way to the next generation XK too.
So what about the looks? Yes, it’s a stunner and perhaps beauty is in the eye of the beholder but it’s fair to say that the new XJ’s black C-pillar is a rather divisive design feature. According to the man that penned the design, Ian Callum, this was done to compensate for the car’s rather high rear end. Some love it, some hate it; I personally wasn’t a big fan but all’s not lost - you can get around it by ordering the cat in black so that the pillars match the body colour.
Apart from that, I must admit the car looks stunning and has only very few subtle design references to the old Jags. In stark contrast to many of the Jaguars released over the last few decades, this is not a new take on an old design; it’s an entirely new look that carries throughout. It’s a big car too. Except, the excellently balanced proportions make it difficult to appreciate just how big the car actually is. I challenge anyone to point out the short wheel base model from the long wheel base version. Like I said, great proportions.
Moving through the interior provides a true sense of occasion and also a complete departure from previous XJ’s. Yes it has the quality hides and woods that customers have come to expect of English automobiles, but they’ve been executed with a totally new approach. The technology and features are on par with the marque’s German rivals and honestly in some cases they’re even better. One interesting technological advance that I fell in love with was the TFT dials, which allow for customised information displays. Another great touch was the satnav screen that shows the driver all the information he needs while the passenger can (imperceptibly) watch a movie on the very same screen. You have to experience the dual-view touch screen display for yourself to truly appreciate how well it works.
The new Jaguar feels very well (and very tastefully) put together. I couldn’t help feeling like I was at the helm of a luxury Italian speedboat: The wood surrounding the dashboard and doors felt very Riva-like. The materials and the finishings are near perfect and some technological wizardry has been packed in too. From the hard drive that saves all your music to the fully iPod compatible 1,200W Bowers & Wilkins sound system - audiophiles will not be left wanting. I personally appreciate having all the latest gadgets but it’s even more important that they’re easy to use. Thankfully, the XJ has the right balance between dash buttons and virtual touch-screen buttons and the interface is very user friendly (hello BMW, how can you still not have touch sensitive screens?).
The new XJ impressed me by being modern on the eye yet very luxurious and comfortable. Being chauffeured around in the lap of luxury, extending out your rear-seat picnic table and admiring the surroundings through a panoramic glass roof was true bliss and a good representation of the XJ’s particular blend of technology and tradition.
The true surprise for me came when I took the wheel and decided to engage the sports mode. I have to say that this was not on my list of priorities when test driving the XJ but the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine has copious amounts of power on tap but when you hit the dynamic mode switch, suddenly the seat belts tighten up and the entire TFT instrument panel glows red. Once in manual mode, the display changes again to reveal a large RPM counter and gear indicator. Overkill? No, characterful. The car literally was transforming itself like something you see in Hollywood movies (Knight Rider or Condorman, anyone?). Once I hit the power, I knew it wasn’t all for show. The car propelled itself forward into the landscape at a tremendous rate with the V8 making itself audible even through the double-glazing. You don’t get the loud exhaust button but that’s not the kind of cat she is. “Wow!” Those 385 horses are impressive but I couldn’t help imagining what the supercharged version would be like.
So, in order to satisfy that curiosity immediately, I jumped into the V8 Supercharged Supersport and repeated the sports mode procession: 510bhp is a lot of power to handle. We’re playing with the big boys like the Panamera and Quattroporte here. The power is very linear, especially for a supercharged engine, and the six-gear transmission feels fluid and responsive without ever being brutal. I drove the XJ in manual mode for the entirety of the next day and it was truly delightful. The lightweight aluminium chassis really makes all the difference: less body roll, less brake fading and more importantly, you don’t feel like you’re driving a four-door saloon. Jaguar managed to save even more weight than the previous aluminium body by reducing the number of rivets by 11 per cent. The wider track gave me complete confidence to attack the French B-roads like I was in a two-seater sports car. My co-pilot’s only mission was to look out for the Gendarmerie Nationale while I was using the roundabouts like racetrack chicanes. The active diff and suspension offers amazing traction and a 0 to 100km/h of just 4.7 seconds. Honestly I believe this car would even be pretty nifty on a track.
After two days of highways, country roads and city driving, it’s clear to me that the new XJ perhaps has its sights more on the Maseratis and Porches than the Mercedes-Benz’s and BMW’s. It manages to be docile and quiet yet tremendously fast and effective. I suppose you could say it’s nimble like a cat, one whose claws have been integrated into the design of the rear LED lights.
All in all, I was expecting some luxury and refinement but the up-to-date technology and staggering performance were a true revelation. And you know what, some say that true groundbreaking designs have to grow on you, well those black C-pillars had grown on me by the end of the trip. The big cat has made it into the 21st century with style. Discount the XJ at your own peril.
Specifications
5.0 Litre V8 Supercharged
Power: 510 hp
0-100 km/h: 4.7 seconds
Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited)
Price: Approximately 115,000 USD
Dealers
Premier Motors
Crescent Tower
Khalidya, Abu Dhabi
+971 2 691 7000
Mohammed Jalal and Sons
Sheikh Jabar Al Subah Road
Manama, Bahrain
+973 1 770 7070
Al Tayer Motors
Garhood Atrium Building
Dubai, UAE
+971 4 201 1001
Al Zayani Trading Co.
Al Rai Ring Road
Safat, Kuwait
+965 472 1414
Saad & Trad
Corniche du Fleuve
Beirut, Lebanon
+961 1 613 670 / +961 1 613 671
Mohsin Haider Darwish
Wadi Al Khaleel St,
Ruwi, Oman
+968 2554 3390
Alfardan Premier Motors
Al Saad St.
Doha, Qatar
+974 447 7566
Mohmed Yousuf Naghi Motors
King Fahd Road
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
+966 1 462 7777
