The Jaguar XJ as pinnacle sedan gets a freshening up – prices for SA sourced here

Oh what joy a large luxury sedan brings?  Being in control of a big machine, driving the best its manufacturer could design as showpiece for its technological prowess and status, and the feeling of wealth and isolation only found in upper-end sedans.  No need to have the size of an SUV – the classic sedan layout is still desirable.

Jaguar XJ – Jaguar’s pinnacle sedan car facelift

The current Jaguar XJ sedan, best described as the one with the long cat’s claws taillights, is up for a facelift and modernisation.  It has been a good 5 years since Jaguar shocked the motoring audience with a completely daring new XJ design.  The classic curvy XJ look that started with the XJ6 and was re-moulded into more generations of XJ, thrown out.

Now it has become time to give a facelift and freshening up of Jaguar’s pinnacle sedan car.  This is not a shape you want to mess up.  Keep it subtle.  Most noticable will be the new lights, identified as the “Double J” J-shaped LED daytime running lights (J for Jaguar) which let designers create a more pronounced headlight signature.  Those signature long cat’s claws taillights are retained, receiving J-outlined LED light pipes, with a pinstripe graphic and combine with LED light chips.

The grille is more upright, and features mesh detail (classic British), and tailpipes for the exhaust are not elliptical.  XJR keeps its 4 round exhaust tips.

Range shuffled

The Jaguar XJ range has been shuffled.  There are still the standard wheelbase XJ and the longer wheelbase XJ L options, with the model count increased from 7 to 9, for the South African market, split between 5 standard and 4 models XJ L.

Little-known fact is that the Jaguar XJ has been available with the 2.0-litre i4 petrol turbo engine since October 2013.  Some might think this is too small an engine for such a big car, and does a 4-cylinder really belong under the bonnet of Jaguar’s biggest?  It produces 177kW and 340Nm, which is similar to what older bigger engines put out, and it is a lot lower priced than the V6-engined models – the i4 engine versus 3.0D is a good approximately R 300 000 less.  This engine will now also be available in the XJ L body, and in higher specification.

A quick glance of the available trim levels:  Luxury, Premium Luxury, R-Sport, Portfolio, XJR and Autobiography.  Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio are mainstay trim levels, so they stay. 

Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio

The Jaguar XJ is already such an opulently-specced car, that the differences are really down to how much luxury leather and veneer or metal sport one would want in one’s Jaguar flagship sedan.

The Luxury specification already includes items like front and rear heated seats, so Premium Luxury specification, in addition to the Luxury level, adds cooled seats on perforated leather, seat piping, soft-close doors, keyless entry, power-fold mirrors, upgraded digital sound system, and wheels up from 18 to 19-inch.  Beware, the 18-inch thin-spoke alloy wheels on the Luxury look rather poor – best to option in a choice of 19-inch wheels to suit your XJ. 

Portfolio models have a more tailored look, quilted leather in a variety of colours (like Navy and Ivory, Cirrus with Mineral), seat massage function, heated steering wheel, 4-zone climate control, and their own wheel design choices.

R-Sport and XJR

Bringing a new sportier edge to XJ is the new R-Sport model, using the 3.0 V6 Supercharged engine, and some sporty details like a gloss black front grille (instead of chrome) and black rear valance, a discreet rear bootlid spoiler, side sills, front splitter, R-Sport tread plates, and metal-look pedals.

The XJR is still the performance model, using its 5.0 V8 Supercharged engine’s 405kW to make for a seriously powerful and luxurious big Jaguar.  You get bonnet louvres, red painted brake calipers, sports exhaust system and those respected red-green-chrome-black R logos.

Autobiography

The Jaguar XJ L 5.0 Supercharged Supersport as previous top model is being replaced with a name familiar from brother-brand Range Rover:  Autobiography.  Where the Jaguar XJ L Ultimate was a limited-edition with the most luxurious Jaguar interior (think swivel-out rear business tables) the Autobiography effectively now carries this rich flag. 

As such, the Jaguar XJ L 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography is only available in long wheelbase, with extra pampering in the form of leather headlining, gloss rich oak (which also describes the owner) with linear laser inlay, electric rear side window blinds, read LED reading lights (as this car is perfectly suited to be driven in, so you can be productive by reading/working in the back) and exceptional items like illuminated air vents and Autobiography intaglio.

Items to help you / your driver with the driving, like closing vehicle sensing, traffic sign recognition, reverse traffic detection, 360-degree cameras, park assist (automatic steering movements to park in parallel, bay, and to exit). 

Exterior evaluation will show this flagship XJ has chrome application to the 3 front bumper centre and side inserts, a choice of 3 stylish mulit-spoke detailed 20-inch alloy wheels, and the XJ L Autobiography affirmation on the bootlid.  This one is for the most distinguished gentleman, sir.

Local Jaguar XJ range pricing

Jaguar XJ i4 Luxury	R 986 742
Jaguar XJ L i4 Premium Luxury	R 1 212 842
Jaguar XJ 3.0D Luxury	R 1 287 766
Jaguar XJ 3.0D Premium Luxury	R 1 412 866
Jaguar XJ L 3.0D Premium Luxury	R 1 503 666
Jaguar XJ 3.0 Supercharged R-Sport	R 1 608 937
Jaguar XJ L 3.0 Supercharged Portfolio	R 1 670 137
Jaguar XJR	R 2 193 674
Jaguar XJ L 5.0 Supercharged Autobiography	R 2 403 374

Bored of the popular sights of the German big sedans like Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8?  Just cannot get yourself to spend your money on a car that looks like the Porsche Panamera.  Not sure about the Maserati Quattroporte?  Actually, it is a serious contender, as reviewed here:  Maserati Quattroporte GTS – the alternative large sporty luxury saloon?

Want to get something with proper ambience (that luxury sensation) and high-tech equipment – look at the Jaguar XJ, or especially the XJ L which is modern proof of the old Jaguar line “Grace, Pace, Space”.

Full details including a comprehensive brochure download is available from the website www.jaguar.co.za