New Jag XJ

Message

T.C. · #1 Post by **T.C.** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:01 pm

I had the great pleasure to be invited to my local Jag dealer for the pre launch test drive of the new XJ which will be available from (I am told) mid May, and I thought you may be interested in my thoughts on the car after having spent about an hour behind the wheel.

Up close, the car is stunningly beautiful with some curvy lines and quite agressive front end. It is quite a bit taller than the current XJ and I suppose to some degree and from certain angles it could be mistaken for the current Mondeo.

Inside the cockpit wraps itself around you closeting you in leather (and the car I drove) carbon fibre malthough the more traditional wood options are also available. Multi positional electric seats as you would expect, keyless ignition and the knob that raises itself out of the centre console when you fire the engine up.

The first thing that struck me was the virtual display dashboard. Still conventional dials, but akin to something my daughter would see on her X Box. Nicer than say the French type of digital speedo, but something that would probably take me a while to get used to.

Automatic gearbox is slick and seamless through its 6 speed box, but I like the way that the paddle shifts can allow the car to be driven manually or hold the right paddle in for 2 seconds and it reverts to full automatic with each gear you are in displayed in the left hand clock on the dashboard.

I drove the 3.0 Diesel engined car, and the first thing that hit me was that it sounded nothing like a diesel. There was no traditional diesel clatter, in fact it sounded like a normal petrol engine, and inside there is no noise at all.

The car is electronically limited to 155 MPH (as are all models) and whilst the bigger petrol engines may be a tad quicker off the line and up to 60, to be honest the big diesel was so quick and responsive I think in real terms you would be hard pushed to notice the difference.

Ride is smooth with just the right balance between rigidity and body roll and it actually does not feel that big once on the move. I hustled it through a few quick corners and it stuck to the road like the preverbial limpet, but you can switch to dynamic mode which raises the revs and stiffens up the suspension a tad, although again I found standard setting quite OK.

The engine is smooth, I mean really smooth, and the slightest whiff of throttle catapults you forward at an alarming rate if that is your bag, but conversley at 30 MPH it would sit there quite happily and still be refined and effortless.

Brakes are as you would expect from Jaguar, top notch.

Reversing is made easier by the TV monitor which switches on as soon a you engage reverse and gives a clear picture along with sensor bars to help you gauge distances, you just have to make sure that you also keep a check on your door mirrors as it easy to forget that thre may be vehicles parked alongside in confined spaces. But being a hatchback with a high boot line, the TV camera (which are located discreetly in the rear light clusters) is certainly a useful tool.

My biggest gripe, if you can call it a gripe? The car has a twin panaromic sunroof which means that headroom is lost, and I could not get comfortable because at 6 feet 5 I had the seat as low as it would go and reclined the back of the seat as far as I dare, but I still not get 100% comfortable, and by the time I got back my back ached quite a bit. Apparently a few other people have made similar comments, and having compared the XJ with the XF, I have to say that if I was in the market for a new car right now, I would have to seriously consider the XF over the XJ for that very reason.

No one could tell me if they plan to build the car without a sunroof, but every car there had one, but if they get too many comments like that they may have to consider it anyway.

That apart, I have to say that it was a very refined and impressive car with handsome looks, and if, the lack of seat height was sorted, a car I would very seriously consider in the future, although I got back into my 09 X-Type and immidiately felt comfortable and at home.

If you do get the opportunity to test drive the car(s) and apparently the road show is travelling around the country, I would seriously recommend the experience, and I would be interested to hear others thoughts after they have tried it.

Gio · #2 Post by **Gio** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:24 am

I prefer the XF, the XJ is an old mans car

T.C. · #3 Post by **T.C.** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 1:40 pm

Gio wrote:I prefer the XF, the XJ is an old mans car

The old XJ, agreed 100%, the new one? Oh boy, believe me when I say it is one hell of a car and very much a younger mans car.

Gio · #4 Post by **Gio** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 4:48 pm

T.C. wrote:
Gio wrote:I prefer the XF, the XJ is an old mans car
The old XJ, agreed 100%, the new one? Oh boy, believe me when I say it is one hell of a car and very much a younger mans car.

I take it you mean this one

To me its a retro car thats trying to pretend its as ugly as the Bentley' being made

HowardQ · #5 Post by **HowardQ** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:41 pm

Looks fine to me, then again I am an old man, so I'll stick with my Alfa for a bit longer.
What does that make Gio.

T.C. · #6 Post by **T.C.** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:51 pm

Gio wrote:
T.C. wrote:
Gio wrote:I prefer the XF, the XJ is an old mans car
The old XJ, agreed 100%, the new one? Oh boy, believe me when I say it is one hell of a car and very much a younger mans car.
I take it you mean this one

To me its a retro car thats trying to pretend its as ugly as the Bentley' being made

See it up close and personal and you will I am sure appreciate that the pictures really do not do it justice, but then hey, I am old now so it doesn't really matter if its an old mans car

The picture looks like it is the concept 2 door version, here is the real deal

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10283235-48.html

#7 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:28 pm

Drove past a parked up one of those today. very very nice looking motor

BikerGran · #8 Post by **BikerGran** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:29 pm

Well we can't all be the same and I think it's just plain plug ugly! And all it has about it of a Jaguar is the name.

rick · #9 Post by **rick** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:39 pm

Looks a bit BMWesque... or is it just me?

Is nice though :)

Samray · #10 Post by **Samray** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:59 pm

The bonnet is pure Jag and the rest of it has individuality, unlike most makes these days.

#11 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:04 pm

Old man's car?

Sod off, youre not keeping it for yourself!

AJFalco · #12 Post by **AJFalco** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:10 pm

Looks lovely
Is a Jag

'Nuff said

Gio · #13 Post by **Gio** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:21 pm

Well I don't know where the Bentley pic went but it was on earlier and its still the same car (the jag that is)

TBO I really loathe retro crap

#14 Post by **Kwackerz** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:45 pm

Where is the retrospective in that Jag?
Its hardly retro. dynamically styled, modern, completely unretro, yes.

HowardQ · #15 Post by **HowardQ** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:57 pm

Don't particularly think it's retro Gio, think they're going after BMW and trying to look more agressive and different from the old XJs, which works, but somehow the balance is not absolutely right for me, but I do like it and it will almost certainly be better in the flesh. Having said that I still think the original 3.8 E Type and the XK 150 were the two best looking cars they ever made!
Still a bit sad that they don't make elegant cars these days. I am biased but I'll stick with my old Alfa for a bit longer, which still looks great in my eyes, the 284 ft lbs of torque at 2k revs from the 2.4 20valve diesel also helps, bit like like a 4 wheeled Falco, then again they came from the same country, (I love Italian food as well!).
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r164 ... F00113.jpg