It’s the agility that catches you by surprise. You expect weight and bulk and body roll. But in its place is the fabulous sensation of a car running on rails Turn that gorgeous, leather-coated wheel and the steering feels surgically precise, laser direct, and responsive to the slightest input. The car simply goes where you want it.
And as you exit the turn and pour on the power, you revel in a tsunami of thrust. The forward surge from 510 thoroughbred ponies is breathtaking. And as the revs build, there’s that fabulous soundtrack. A trace of hard-edged, bass-heavy roar to confirm its sporting credentials, its duality of character.
This is the all-new Jag XJ. After 10 endless months of chat, show debuts and car mag covers, we’re finally behind the wheel of this, the sexiest, most-advanced Jag sedan ever.
Of course, we’ve picked out the horniest version of them all to sample, the 510-horsepower supercharged XJ Supersport – the $113-grand flagship that’s due here in the fall. But even the $72,500 starter XJ, that lands next month with a new 385-hp 5.0-liter direct-injection V8 under the hood, is no slouch.
Yet arguably it’s the XJ Supercharged, packing 470-horsepower and an $87,500 sticker, that’s the pick of the litter. Opt for the long-wheelbase, black-on-black, and you won’t be disappointed.
Forget what you’ve seen in photos or even on auto show stands. You have to view this new Jag out on the street to get the full visual drama. See that thrusting nose approaching fast in your rear-view, or that daring, dynamic coupe profile as the car sweeps by, and you can’t help but be awed.
But pick your colors wisely because in some hues – whites especially – those blacked-out, wrap-around rear roof pillars look downright awkward. Also, view the car in profile and its butt sticks out further than J-Lo’s!
It’s inside however where the Jag design team has really nailed it. The view from the driver’s seat is sensational. A slim, slender line of veneer sweeps forward and curves around the base of the windshield. It’s like sitting in the cockpit of some ’50s Riva Aquarama.
And on top of the dash, there’s a pair of stunning circular vents looking like the nozzles of a jet fighter. Surrounded by hand-stitched leather, they’re crafted from solid metal, chromed to perfection and feature a milled outer ring to control airflow. Magnificent. The clock on the other hand, is like some cheap Chinese knock-off. Appalling!
Settle back in the driver’s seat and there’s a real sense of light and airiness courtesy of that giant, dual-panel panoramic roof. Ahead of you, brilliantly executed virtual instruments appear in 3-D. In the center console, that now-trademark levitating cylindrical gear selector.
One prod of the XJ’s chrome-ringed Start button brings life into Jag’s all-new direct-injection, supercharged 5.0-liter V8. Of course, you expect a flagship to be exciting. But nothing prepares you for the searing performance and truly dynamic handling of the new XJ Supersport.
Against the stopwatch, it’s capable of blasting from standstill to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds and sweeping on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. But somehow the figures don’t come anywhere close to conveying the sheer electricity of this luxury sedan’s performance.
See the gap in the traffic up ahead, pull back once, twice on those steering wheel-mounted paddles, and the Supersport flies. The surge of power, especially mid-range from say 50-to-70mph is just breathtaking.
So much of it is down to the car’s light yet supremely stiff, all-aluminum body structure. It gives the car nimbleness, an uncanny ability to change direction that you just don’t get with a lardy 7-Series Bee-Em or S-Class. Or, heaven forbid, a Lexus LS.
This new, more athletic character is also reflected in the quality of the ride. Gone is the pillowy-soft, yet always composed ride of the last XJ. This new car rides with much more firmness and authority.
This is a car that could sweep you across continents at a rock-steady one-fifty and land you at your destination 12 hours later feeling relaxed and ready to go again. A car that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in this no-bad-car luxury class. The best Jag sedan ever.
For more information about the 2010 Jaguar XJ, please visit http://www.jaguar.com