Details Of The 2011 Jaguar XJ

The 2011 version of the Jaguar XJ is considered to be a tribute to the original XJ launched back in 1968 by Sir William Lyons. However, this car has nothing to do with the original model which was tentative, tottering and fragile. The new version of the XJ is available with six configurations. The base model offers a V8 5.0-liter 385 hp engine that costs $72,500. For $79,500 you get the XJL, the “L” is for the long-wheelbase (4.9-inch stretch). Moving on up, we find the 470 hp supercharged power unit that costs $87,500, for the short wheelbase configuration. The long version will cost you $3,000 more.

If you are willing to pay even more for a Jaguar XJ, you can choose from one of the short and long Supersport editions ($110,000 & $113,000). The Supersport is offered with a V8 XFR-Spec 510 horsepower engine which will rival with the A8 from Audi, the LS460 from Lexus, the BMW 7-Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class flagship limousine.

Moving inside the car, you will notice the curious placement of the dashboard which is sunken 2 inches below the windshield’s base. You will be delighted by the abundance of the perfect stitched cow skin and the elegant spears of burled wood. The air vents of the XJ have a softball-size and they look very similar with the ones on the Rolls Royce models. The sun visors, pillars and the headliner are all clad in creamy faux suede that is so rich, it will be almost impossible for you to resist touching. The car has very modern LCD gauges that change colors and shine a white spotlight of the current speed an rpm’s. The front seats of the Jaguar are simply put, perfect, allowing the driver to have a perfect relationship to the most important controls of the vehicle. The transmission tunnel however makes the cabin feel and look a lot narrower than it actually is. The car offers plenty of kneeroom, headroom, thigh support and side bolstering, exactly what you would expect from a luxurious sedan.

With the 470 hp engine, the car needs only 4.4 seconds in order to reach 60 mph from start which is 4 seconds less in comparison to the Aston Martin Rapide that has also a 470 hp power unit under the hood. The car benefits from almost instantaneous power thanks to the almost perfect ZF 6-speed gearbox. However, many critics in the industry said that the new 2011 Jaguar XJ should have been equipped with an 8-speed gearbox, just like its most important competitors, which would have improved the car’s ratings of 15 mpg city / 21 mpg highway that are quite average for a 2011 model. But, this 6-speed gearbox is actually very good, the car only needs 2.4 seconds to reach 50 mph from 30, and 2.9 seconds from 50 mph to 70, which is a lot quicker in comparison to the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG that will do 2.9 seconds and 3.4, respectively.

Although it benefits from many aluminum insertions into the body, the XJ has a hefty 4310 pounds weight, but the car still remains very easy to drive and the fact that the driver has almost instant access to all the power of the engine makes it a delight to drive in all conditions. The enormous rotors of the car will burn off 70 mph in 159 feet, which is just about the same as the Porsche Panamera Turbo.

All things considered, the 2011 XJ is everything you would expect from a Jaguar. The car offers the perfect balance between a sports car and a luxury automobile. Jaguar got its name from models like these that offer the best from both worlds: luxury and speed. We will have to wait and see how good it will stand up to its most fearsome rivals like the BMW Alpina B7, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and the Porsche Panamera Turbo.

Source: CarAndDriver.com

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