The Detroit Newspapers's view

The first time I tested the 2011 Jaguar XJ, the front tire blew out.

It didn’t exactly blow out as much as the seal between the rubber and the rim stopped working. This allowed all of the air in the tire to escape in a millisecond and the tire pressure monitor to beep and draw a big red X through the front right tire.

I didn’t hit anything; I didn’t even swerve before it happened. The tire just decided it no longer wanted to be on that particular rim.

For a brief moment, I thought the car no longer wanted to be on the bridge either. So I found myself strapped to two tons of luxury steel swerving toward the concrete wall as I started to pull the wheel the other way.

Wow,” I thought. “That feels kind of funny.”

Not funny ha-ha, but funny as in bad.

The XJ’s power-assisted, speed sensitive, variable ratio, rack-and-pinion steering is firm usually, with a nicely weighted feel to it. This time it had a really rubbery tension that was heavy and loose at the same time. It felt like I was driving a Jet Ski.

And that concrete wall was getting closer.

How I didn’t hit anyone as I swerved across two lanes remains a mystery. But I credit my extra slow reflexes to saving myself and the car. Had I jerked the wheel back too hard, the tire could have slipped off the rim, driving me even closer to disaster.

Instead, I gently righted the XJ, taking my foot off the accelerator and not touching the brakes. I hit my hazard lights and pulled onto the shoulder, eventually driving it a short distance to a nearby gas station.

The blown tire meant I was not going to test this new Jaguar flagship’s 5-liter supercharged V-8 engine any more. It’s a new motor for Jaguar and comes in three flavors on the XJ. A naturally aspirated V-8 that produces 385 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque; the supercharged version that produces 470 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque; and the limited production XJ Supersport that produces 510 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. Pick your poison, they’re all excellent choices.

Muscle and performance

So this Jaguar has the muscle, as well as the performance parts that make it a thrill sedan on the road. It feels a little heavy on the highway, but heavy that feels good and well built.

From the slew of technologies such as the cornering brake control and engine drag torque control to the hardware like an extremely stiff body and 15-inch discs on the front wheels (supercharged models only) to bring things to a halt quickly.

There’s also an adaptive dynamics system that instantly dampens the ride for whatever you’d like ranging from aggressive sport ride to a softer comfort one.

There are three different settings for the six-speed automatic transmission that adjust the engine response and gear shift points to accommodate the driver.

Really, this Jaguar lets just about anyone become an expert driver, holding corners longer and going faster with complete control behind the wheel. Eighty miles per hour now feels like 40.

Of course, none of that really matters when you’re parked at a gas station, your tire no longer on the rim.

So as I waited for the Jaguar towing service — something that is coordinated very nicely through a service, I checked out the interior.

Magnificent interior

Much like the luscious exterior, with its long lines and high-tech touches of luxury, the interior is magnificent.

Instead of traditional analogue gauges for the speedometer and tachometer, the XJ offers a 12.3-inch high resolution display screen with virtual gauges on it. Somehow, these look even nicer than regular ones.

When you open the door, the Jaguar emblem lights up on the screen before you even push the button to start the car.

After the engine fires up, the round gear shifter rises up from the center console, waiting for your next command.

Throughout the cabin, the XJ emphasizes luxury instead of sport. The well-bolstered leather seats hold you comfortably in place. The 8-inch touch screen in the center stack seems to defy the glaring sun and controls most of the car’s functions such as heat and air conditioning, heated seats and stereo.

Of course, while you’re waiting, the 7.1 surround sound stereo by Bowers & Wilkins is a godsend. The 1,200-watt stereo uses 20 speakers and 15 channels to pump out anything you might want to play.

Had I wanted to, I could have climbed into the back of the XJ and watched a DVD on one of the two 8-inch LCD screens mounted in the front seat head rest and listened to it with the wireless headsets.

Maybe staying at a gas station isn’t such a bad way to test this car.

The thing I like about this sedan is how well it lives in both the performance and the luxury realm at the same time. It uses technology to enhance the driving experience without ever feeling over the top.

Then it adds luxury features, such as the panoramic sun roof that opens up the sky. Even when it’s parked, this car is good to look at and comfortable to sit in. It may only be waiting for a tow truck, but even that was a pleasant experience, as Jaguar would call me and check to see if my truck had arrived.

Really, the only thing wrong with this vehicle was the snow tires — which, for the record — were not Jaguar’s.

sburgess@detnews.com (313) 223-3217