Bosch European Motors
A bit of British nobility floods the senses when piloting the 2014Jaguar XJ. Jaguar would have no concern if it were the only game in town, but that's far from the truth. The premium full-size luxury segment, which includes vehicles hovering just under or at the six-figure mark, is a contentious grouping that includes the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Porsche Panamera. Each of those brings its own game to the battle, and none are easy to dismiss. To better understand the British perspective and evaluate its latest offering on a land without royalty, I recently spent a week with a long-wheelbase, all-wheel-drive Jaguar XJ in Southern California. The secret is aluminum. The result is a very rigid platform that is strong, corrosion-resistant and extremely lightweight. At first glance, this sedan appears to be everything but the enthusiast's choice. It is the automaker's largest platform, fitted with one of its least powerful engines mated to an all-wheel drive powertrain.
Mass is always the enemy, and a big car paired with a small engine and a complex driveline is often sluggish on the road. The secret is aluminum, the lightweight alloy that Jaguar embraced when it launched its all-new flagship in 2011. Unlike its predecessors, the fourth-generation model boasted an aluminum chassis built in much the same manner of a jet aircraft. Instead of using an alloy frame covered in lightweight panels like the Audi A8, Jaguar chose to assemble cast and extruded aluminum structural members, and then cover them with bonded and riveted aluminum sheet. The result is a very rigid platform that is strong, corrosion-resistant and extremely lightweight. Like most premium automakers, Jaguar offers its XJ with a choice of wheelbase, engine and powertrain. 895 destination), this Stratus Grey over Jet tester arrived under 3.0-liter V6 power wearing a few options that rocketed its price skyward. 7,750), which pampers those in the second row with reclining and massaging rear seats, video entertainment and leather-wrapped tables.
1,700) brightens up the doors, trunk sills and air vents. 670) blocks prying eyes and the sun's rays. 100,745 to put an identical car in your driveway. Whether or not the Jaguar's sleek exterior styling pleases, the lofty sticker price is quickly justified after dropping into the cabin. Whether or not the Jaguar's sleek exterior styling pleases (its distinctive blackened C-pillar penned by Ian Callum is best masked by darker palettes), the lofty sticker price is quickly justified after dropping into the cabin. Unlike the German, Japanese and Korean offerings, which envelop their followers with technology and advanced styling, the Brit relies on traditional luxury to pamper passengers. Occupants sit within a completely leather-lined cockpit with a bold sweeping dash highlighted with glossy finished wood. The four polished chrome climate-control vents are featured prominently, and nearly all of the switchgear is trimmed in the bright traditional metal. Natural hides covering nearly everything are rich to the eyes, the nose and the fingertips - it's sensory overload.
The driving position is good, with most of the controls in their proper ergonomic position. The standard XJ is hardly cramped, but the long-wheelbase model offers a generous 44.1 inches of rear seat legroom - that's 5.1 inches more than its sibling - thanks to its nearly 5-inch wheelbase stretch. LWB models have been enhanced with improved rear seat massage, power-operated sun blinds, rear-seat entertainment, chauffeur controls and new audio options. Jaguar has treated its XJ to a mild update for 2014, which included new standard soft-close doors, upgraded upholstery, new trim colors and revised wheel choices. Long-wheelbase models have been enhanced the most, with improved rear seat massage, power-operated sun blinds, rear-seat entertainment, chauffeur controls and new audio options. But the big headlines have been reserved for the powertrain, as the entry-level naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 - a Jaguar staple since the late 1990s - had been replaced by a supercharged V6. Under the hood of the XJ, with nearly all of its mass aft of the front axle, is an all-aluminum supercharged 3.0-liter V6 rated at 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent through a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, sourced from ZF.
All-wheel drive models like this one have a multi-plate clutch at the back of the gearbox that controls the amount of power sent to the front differential. Under most conditions, the majority of the torque goes to the rear wheels - emulating a rear-wheel-drive chassis - for traditional driving dynamics. However, up to 50 percent of that torque may be sent to the front axle if slip is detected. The AWD system is completely automatic, but a Winter Mode defaults to a 30:70 torque split to improve traction on slippery surfaces. A quick stab of the start/stop button brings the Jaguar to life, and it settles to a nearly imperceptible idle. The JaguarDrive Select to rises into place, and gear selection is just a clockwise spin of the dial away. The XJ is no sport sedan, but its subtle exhaust note is wonderful and very pleasing while underway. The soundtrack permeates the cabin as a deep and gentle purr from the trunk - the noise is genuine (from tuned mufflers) and very tastefully executed. Under full throttle it is more forceful, with a mechanical accompaniment from under the hood joining in.