HIGH ROAD
Tower of Power
THE CITY OF LIGHT PROVIDES THE BACKDROP TO A DRIVE IN JAGUAR’S SENSATIONAL NEW XJ.
BY HOWARD WALKER
It sparkles like a million Cartier diamonds. For five short minutes, every hour on the hour from sunset until after midnight, most of Paris seemingly stops in its tracks to witness the magical flashing lights of la Tour Eiffel.
That is until our sleek, new, steely silver, long-wheelbase Jaguar XJ whooshes silently by. Then heads rotate, jaws descend and a collective “Ooh-la-la, magnifique!” echoes from the sidewalk.
The effect is quite remarkable. Swarthy taxi drivers nod in knowing approval, kamikaze motorbike riders sweep within millimeters to get an up-close-and-personal look, old men tip their berets in respect. Ahh, c’est la nouvelle Jaguar.
As we cruise Quai Branly paralleling the Seine, there’s no better place to watch this shimmering of 20,000 flashbulbs. Open the new XJ’s giant double-panel panoramic glass roof, look skyward, and watch the light show.
We’ve come to the fabulous City of Light to get a first taste of this critically significant new Jaguar. Paris is, after all, the European epicenter of fashion, design, chic style, elegance and all things of good taste.
This is the new Jag. Replacing the staid and sedentary last-generation XJ, it trades conservative, old-school sedan styling for the bold, dramatic, sexy, sloping-roof lines of a coupe. Instead of being a second-string rival to the lardy Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S, it now locks horns with the likes of the Porsche Panamera and Maserati Quattroporte sports sedans, and yes, even Aston Martin’s new Rapide four-door.
In the metal the XJ looks simply breathtaking, a true piece of automotive art. From its oversized, air-gulping grille and cat’s-eye headlights to its cascading rear LED lights, the car oozes sporting elegance. And speaking of metal, like its predecessor, its body and chassis are crafted from lightweight aluminum that’s bonded and riveted aircraft-style for strength and rigidity. Lighter weight translates into more dynamic handling, more athletic performance, and improved fuel economy.
But it’s the new XJ’s cabin that will have you reaching for the Veuve Clicquot in celebration. Here, quite simply, is the sexiest, most stylish, most sumptuous interior this side of a Bentley, an interior that could quite easily have been assembled by Bentley’s own artisans.
There’s more wood here than in any Jaguar past, yet it sits in the background, almost as an accent. The attention-grabbing materials are the glove-soft leather, chrome and ultra-glossy Piano Black. The look is très Roche-Bobois.
And there’s real, usable technology here, like the 3D virtual instruments. Press the “start” button and on the glass screen behind the wheel, three big dials magically appear—speedo in the center, rev counter to the right, and fuel/water temp to the left.
Yet the instruments switch around depending on priority. Approach a turn with the satellite navigation system engaged, and the fuel gauge is replaced by a turn-by-turn arrow. Select the sporty “dynamic” setting to sharpen throttle response, and speedo and tachometer switch places so the tach becomes the main dial. It’s rather brilliant.
The cabin is designed to cosset and comfort five adults in seats that are big on support and adjustment. For limo-like legroom, the XJ’s long wheelbase adds an extra five inches in the back.
But to drive it is to love it. Gone is the former pillow-soft Jaguar XJ ride. There’s a new underlying firmness that hints at BMW levels of ride comfort, and reflects the car’s sportier, more athletic character.
Take your pick of a brand new 5-liter, 32-valve V-8 cranking out a healthy 385 horsepower, or a turbine-smooth supercharged version delivering 470 horsepower. Both are coupled to a light-switch-responsive 6-speed automatic.
Normally aspirated or supercharged, both deliver thrilling off-the-line acceleration paired with muscled mid-range thrust for swift passing. And when you step on the gas, both engines deliver the kind of deep, guttural roar that will have you grinning from ear to ear.
This is a game-changing car, a bright star that might just change the way we look at luxury sedans. And with prices starting at $72,500 for the XJ, and $87,500 for the XJ Supercharged, it is luxury coupled with exceptional value.
You could think that luxury car buyers would be in-Seine not to take a closer look.
Automotive editor Howard Walker can be reached at NIedit@naplesillustrated.com.
