2010 Jaguar XJ: First Look
Jaguar has redesigned its flagship sedan, the XJ, for the 2010 model year, giving it exterior and interior design in the style of the XF sedan, along with the new engines introduced for the 2010 XF. The XJ can be ordered now, but delivery won’t begin until early 2010. A slew of new images are below.
Jaguar has finally given tradition a rest, abandoning the classic four-headlight front-end design that dates back decades — and that had appeared unchanged to the untrained eye since 2004 despite a complete redesign. The 2010’s nose is a more balanced execution of the XF’s prominent mesh grille and sculpted headlight clusters. The hood is dramatically domed and creased, an apparent trend across the market.
Viewed from the rear, the XJ would be indistinguishable as a Jaguar were it not for the large and perfectly centered chrome “leaper” emblem. The taillights look like someone grabbed a Bentley by the tail and stretched it vertically. The car looks coupe-like in profile, with a gradually sloping roofline, high rear deck and high beltline. It’s more Mercedes CLS than 2009 XJ, and we hope that doesn’t represent compromised headroom. Jaguar emphasizes the “feeling” of light and space inside, compliments of a standard panoramic glass roof. The XJ’s interior has always been snug among full-size luxury sedans. Jag will offer a long-wheelbase model that offers 5 more inches of backseat legroom.
The interior got the full XF treatment, and that’s a very good thing. Like the exterior, it’s gone way contemporary, with a more modern design, piano-black and chrome surfaces, the JaguarDrive gear selector that motors up from the center console, and virtual gauges on a 12.3-inch display. Though the tech is high, the gauges still appear as classic analog, though different instruments can be emphasized based on conditions. It’s a mix of old and new, which the interior as a whole attempts to accomplish with familiar rich leather, as well as wood trim that runs in a continuous line from the door panels across the top of the dashboard.
The 2010 XJ comes in four models: XJ, XJL (long wheelbase), Supercharged and Supersport, the latter of which is available by special order only. The XJ and XJL come with a standard 5.0-liter V-8 rated at 385 hp. The supercharged’s version of this 5.0-liter engine makes 470 hp in the Supercharged trim level and 510 hp in the Supersport. Jaguar’s claimed zero-to-60 mph times are 5.4, 4.9 and 4.7 seconds, respectively. Though it shares its new direct-injection power plants and six-speed automatic transmission with the XF, Jaguar says the larger XJ’s swift sprints come courtesy of a similar aerodynamic drag coefficient and lightweight aluminum construction. The mileage estimates are 19 mpg for the standard and 18 mpg in the supercharged versions in mixed city/highway driving.
