Although the styling is familiar, the new XJ is longer, wider and taller than before, yielding more interior space for up to five occupants and their luggage.
By: Malcolm Gunn, Whellbase Communications
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Passion and performance have always been the Jaguar XJ’s defining elements. Now you can add high-tech overachiever to the mix.
Previous XJs were positioned as old-world heritage automobiles that emphasized tradition ahead of modern, state-of-the-art content and design. As a result, the XJ remained a step or two behind its European competitors.
Now under Ford’s direct ownership, the entire Jaguar range of automobiles is being expanded and modified to compete head-to-head with a host of German and Japanese brands as well as several upscale North American products.
The seventh-generation XJ series is the latest Jag to receive a thorough top-to-bottom renovation, although only serious aficionados of the marque will be able to instantly spot the ’04 version in a crowd. Fortunately, the company has wisely chosen to retain much of the XJ’s distinctive good looks, including the tell-tale split grille, dual headlights and gently-sloping rear deck.
Although the styling is familiar, the new XJ is longer, wider and taller than before, yielding more interior space for up to five occupants and their luggage. The larger trunk can now hold four golf bags in addition to a full-size spare tire. Even the passenger-door openings have been enlarged for easier access.
It might be an all-new XJ, but Jaguar traditionalists will still find a cozy, inviting interior dressed in rich leather and trimmed with plenty of burled walnut on the dash, doors, steering wheel and floor console.
Despite the gain in overall size, the XJ is actually more than 200 pounds lighter than its ’03 counterpart. To pare down the bulk, the big Jag is built using an all-aluminum monocoque (frameless) construction that replaces steel stampings. In addition, the body is held together using a system of rivets and epoxy adhesives first developed for the aerospace industry. The resulting structure is not only lighter, it’s considerably stiffer than that of the previous XJ.
The underpinnings are similarly advanced, with an air-suspension system replacing more traditional coil springs. Height sensors at all four wheels keep the car level and are responsible for slightly lowering the ride height to improve aerodynamics at speeds above100 mph. Ride quality is influenced by a computer-controlled active suspension that automatically adjusts shock damping according to road conditions. Then there’s standard stability and traction control designed to help maintain the proper cornering line and prevent wheel spin during acceleration.
That should come in handy considering the XJ’s prodigious thrust. Base XJ8 models as well as the extra-luxurious Vanden Plas arrive with a 4.2-liter DOHC V8 that makes 294 horsepower, 14 more than last year’s 4.0-liter engine. For serious performance, the XJR’s supercharged version of the 4.2 delivers 390 horsepower, a gain of 32 over last year’s cat.
A six-speed automatic transmission with both normal and sport shift ranges allows for manual shift control.
According to Jaguar, the new XJ will hit 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds, a time that dips to five seconds flat when the XJR is hauled out of the garage.
A few of the other premium-grade amenities include dual-zone climate control (four-zone optional), power moonroof, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, power adjustable front seats, rain-sensing wipers and a power pull-down trunk latch.
The Vanden Plas adds a DVD navigation system, Xenon headlamps, premium sound system, 16-way power adjustable front seats and lamb’s-wool rugs in the footwells.
Select the XJR and you’ll find most of the equipment already installed in the Vanden Plas plus beefy Brembo-brand performance brakes and radar-based cruise control that maintains a safe distance from the vehicle directly ahead of you.
The ’04 XJs have begun to depart their Coventry, England, assembly "hall" (Jaguar-speak for factory) to take up residence throughout the world. With new-found power, roominess and class-leading features, they’re no longer merely a visual conduit to a rich past, but the tip of the sword for a high-tech future.
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