16 September 2009 - 10:00
Frankfurt show: new Jaguar XJ
The new XJ is front and centre on Jaguar's Frankfurt stand, and it looks excellent. Any lingering doubts we had about the size of the XJ's arse have been dispelled by a good look at the car in the metal: it's a sharp, sleek thing that takes the XF's styling cues but moves them way upmarket.
Even better, we've had a ride in it. In the 503bhp supercharged V8, to be
precise. We weren't permitted to drive the XJ, but from a brief stint in the
back seat we can report that it skims delicately over bumps and feels improbably light-footed given its size.
Fast? On the couple of occasions we managed to convince our driver to put his
foot down, very much so. And noisy too - not noise from the 5.0-litre V8 or the
road, but from the new 1200-watt, 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo.
Yes, 1200 watts of massive surround sound. That is, in technical terms, a hell
of a lot of sound; the sort of noise on tap that, with an accidental flick of
the volume dial, could see your brain exiting your ears at terminal velocity.
Even ignoring the monster stereo - not an easy thing to do - the XJ's cabin is
a lovely place to be, all burnished wood and thick leather and shiny dials.
Flick the ‘sport button' and the dial display - a completely virtual unit -
shimmers from blue to red, a neat touch that makes us very happy.
The clever dual-view satnav screen - as seen on the new Range Rover - is
available as an option, too.
So, yeah, from our short spell in the XJ, it's fair to say we're impressed. We
won't know for sure if it's as polished an all-round performer as first
impressions suggest until we drive it early next year. We've got high
expectations.
Want to comment on this?
Really looking forward to this being tested on the show - it looks great and sounds like it will be too!
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i think it looks lovely.from the front at least.and the interiors are nice too..would be nice to see jag doing well again.
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I think this car looks excellent! And look at that interior! love it...
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looks great, just like an XJ should. even though I adore the styling I do have a request to make of Jaguar; When you make the XJR, can you please make sure that it's a lot more....................Sinister!
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the car looks great ,as a jag owner i am pleased to see jaguar doing well jus wish i could afford the new xj , cant wait to see it in the flesh
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lookin gud , ha , lets drive one as soon as it rolls out ....
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Why don't you get to drive it yet? It's thursday 17th Sept and i have seen a new one everyday of the week on my way home from work. It is a seriously stunning car i was worried about that derriere but it looks so good. I do live in coventry so i don't know if its anything to do with the jag plant here
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iT DOESNT LOOK JAGUARISH IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT I MEAN
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I agree with Mani and JaguarXJBoy - it loved the twin headlight design, as it made it look so epically unlike anything else. The new one could pass as a lexus or whatever else with a different badge.
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nice car but the old xj made me consider buying a jag because of its individual styling. this as said above could just be a lexus. so the s class is the better choice. or a citroen c6 for real individual styling
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This car is beautiful and I can't wait for it to go on sale soon. It looks sooooooooo different to before. :-)
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Ferko commented on this article
16 September 2009
niceeee!, Very niceeeeeeee!
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