Jaguar has held previews for the all-new XJ flagship that will go on sale in Ireland in January. The sleek, sophisticated and sporty saloon is the boldest interpretation yet of Design Director Ian Callum’s vision for Jaguar in the 21st century. It combines elegant, contemporary design with the luxury and unmistakable sporting style of a Jaguar.
The beauty of the all-new XJ is more than skin-deep; it is constructed using Jaguar’s aerospace-inspired aluminium body technology, which makes the XJ lighter than its rivals by at least 150kg. Proven Jaguar dynamic technologies are taken to new levels in the new XJ with air suspension, Adaptive Dynamics (variable damping), Adaptive Differential Control and quick-ratio power steering delivering the blend of responsive handling and refined ride expected from a Jaguar.
A panoramic glass roof is an integral part of the new XJ design, giving the car a lower, more streamlined roofline, while enhancing the feeling of light and space inside. The interior designers have created a state-of-the-art living space with Virtual Instruments complementing an innovative Dual-View touch-screen that can project DVD movies to the passenger while the driver follows satellite navigation.
The XJ benefits from the most advanced, powerful and efficient Jaguar powertrains ever. The new 3.0 litre V6 diesel with twin turbochargers offers 275 bhp with Band E road tax of just €630 p.a. The 5.0 litre V8 naturally aspirated petrol has 385 bhp (0-100kph in 5.7 secs) and the 5.0 litre V8 supercharged petrol has 510 bhp (0-100kph in 4.9 secs). All engines are coupled to a shift-by-wire, six-speed automatic transmission controlled by the JaguarDrive Selector or steering wheel paddles.
The 3.0 litre Diesel will be available with three specification levels; Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio. The Luxury specification will include satellite navigation with 8” Touch Screen, Voice Activation, 400 Watt 12 speaker sound system, 19” alloy wheels, leather upholstery, 10×8 way electric heated seats with driver memory, panoramic glass sunroof, reverse park assist, dual-zone climate control and heated windscreen.
The XJ 3.0 litre Diesel will start from €86,450 excluding delivery charges. This is €5,835 below the previous 2.7 Diesel and that is not allowing for the enhanced specification adjustment which would increase further the dramatic improvement in price that the new XJ enjoys. This is in contrast to the UK where the new XJ has increased significantly over the previous XJ. The outstanding value-for-money of the all-new XJ is further highlighted when you consider that the Mercedes Benz S320 CDI starts at €111,585 and the BMW 730 D M Sport starts at €117,805.
The Jaguar 2010 model range enjoys specification and powertrain enhancements combined with extremely competitive pricing.
The highly desirable Jaguar XK sports coupe and convertible receives exterior and interior improvements and the new 5.0 V8 naturally aspirated and supercharged engines, which give more power and efficiency with lower fuel consumption and emissions. The revised and more luxurious interior benefits from the design accents and JaguarDrive rotary gearshift of the successful XF model. The 5.0 litre V8 entry price of €114,920, excluding delivery charges, is lower than the previous 4.2 litre model.
The XF sports saloon heralded the new design language for Jaguar and has been hugely successful in extending the appeal to a new generation of customers. The 2010 XF receives an upgraded interior and the superb new 3.0 litre V6 twin turbo diesel with a choice of power outputs, 240bhp and 275bhp, offering more power and lower fuel consumption than the outgoing 2.7 litre. The XF now starts at a competitive €57,995, excluding delivery charges, with annual road tax of just €630.
Surprisingly, it is possible to buy a Jaguar for below €30,000, the X-TYPE which has also had an upgrade in specification for 2010. The X-TYPE is offered in saloon and estate models, with a choice of 2.0 litre 130 bhp manual or 2.2 litre 145 bhp automatic turbocharged diesel engines. The starter price of €29,995, excluding delivery charges, compares with the Mercedes C180K at €38,765 and the BMW 318D SE at €41,810.