Jaguar’s flagship sedan, the five-seat XJ, has exterior and interior design cues in the style of the XF sedan. The long-wheelbase XJL has 5 inches of extra rear legroom. The XJ competes in the full-size luxury class along with the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
New for 2012
XJL Supersport models can now have a Rear Seat Comfort Package that offers seats that are heated, ventilated, massaging and reclining.
Exterior The XJ’s nose represents a more balanced execution of the original 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 belt line. It’s more Mercedes-Benz CLS than XJ. A notable feature is the blacked-out C-pillars (the pillars that flank the rear window). They give a floating-roof look that’s drawn mixed reviews. Exterior features include:
LED taillights
Dual exhaust
Power-opening trunk lid
Panoramic glass roof
Rear spoiler
Available adaptive headlights
Interior The interior of the XJ has a more modern design, with piano-black and chrome surfaces. The JaguarDrive gear selector motors up from the center console, and there are virtual gauges on a 12.3-inch display. Though the tech is high, the gauges still appear as classic analog, but different instruments can be emphasized based on conditions. It’s a mix of old and new, something 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. Interior features include:
Standard heated and ventilated front seats
XJL models offer 5 more inches of backseat legroom
Standard leather-wrapped steering wheel
Standard leather-covered dashboard
Standard premium stereo with HD radio, auxiliary inputs and hard drive storage
Standard navigation system with 8-inch touch-screen
Optional carbon fiber dash and door insert
Under the Hood Although the XJ shares its 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. Mechanical features include:
Standard 5.0-liter V-8 rated at 385 horsepower
Supercharged 5.0-liter engines make 470 hp in the Supercharged trim level and 510 hp in the Supersport
JaguarDrive Control with Winter and Dynamic modes
Standard air-spring suspension that varies firmness as conditions dictate
Safety Safety features include:
Standard antilock brakes
Standard front and rear parking sensors and backup camera
Standard blind spot warning system
Standard electronic stability system
Standard front seat belts that cinch up under heavy braking or aggressive cornering
