The 2005 Jaguar XJ Super V-8 is a classy cat

It may cost $91,000, but driving this automotive jungle cat makes you feel like a million bucks

By: Mike Blake

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The 2005 Jaguar XJ Super V-8 is sleek, elegant and sexy.


   Jaguar is famous for its lines, grace and performance. And now, the British icon and its leaping "panthera onca" hood ornament have gotten bigger as they have gotten better, with the all-new long-wheelbase supercharged version of its XJ8, the XJ Super V-8.
   The increased wheelbase of 124.4 inches (up from the 119.4-inch XJ8) and the supersized length of 205.3 inches (up from the 200.4-inch XJ8) is apropos in nature because its namesake, the jungle jaguar, is the largest New World member of the cat family.
   Sleek, catlike, elegant, sexy and liquid, this is one exceptional piece of automotive art, and it handles like a race car, athletically and gracefully taking the tight, sharp turns I put it through during my test drives. The beast accelerates like a jungle cat attacking and tracking down its prey. Inside, the luxury sedan fits like a second skin, and its contoured aggressive and muscular yet exquisite lines whisper the name "Jaguar" loud enough to turn the heads of all that see her coming.
   A feeling of aristocracy imbues you with the desire to pronounce the marque correctly, as in "Jag-You-Are" rather than in the lowbrow and incorrect "Jag-Wahr."
   Outside, the car speaks for itself: simply breathtaking. My test vehicle was traditionally striking in British Racing Green now called Jaguar Racing Green.
   Underneath is a story of its own. With a lightweight, technically advanced aluminum-alloy monocoque body, steel suspension subframes and rivet-bonded magnesium cross-car beams, this cat is safe, sturdy and durable. Under hood is a powerful aluminum alloy 4.2-liter DOHC V-8 that stampedes out 390-hp at 6,100 rpm, and thrusts out a whopping 399 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,500 rpm. This plant is good for a top speed of 155 mph and zero-to-60 in less than 5 seconds.
   On my test drives I got about 20 mpg, in line with the 17/city and 24/highway rating. The Super V-8 panther glides in and out of traffic and into turns and tight parking spaces with aplomb and speed-sensitive steering. Taking hairpin turns at decent rates of speed, this cat sticks to the pavement like glue. Air springs, self-leveling suspension and computerized damping let you feel all the nuances of the road without interfering with the smooth ride. Brembo antilock disc brakes with four-piston calipers and brake boosters, electronic traction control and dynamic stability control along with variable power-assist steering make this car a dream to drive. What else would you expect from a dream car?
   If you want something else, you get the Radar-Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Alert that gives you a digital readout of speed and also will slow you down with electronic braking and deceleration when the gap between you and the car in front of you is breached — this system will match the speed of the car in front of you, keeping the gap in order.
   Inside, the ride is quiet but not too quiet. Jaguar likes the idea of you hearing this potent mill do its work, but it is a subtle sound, not a crass roar. The Champagne interior leather and wood just envelope you in luxury. Heated power front seats (leather of course), a touch-screen navigation system, and a heated steering wheel just begin the interior features.
   You are bathed in English opulence by the plush lambs-wool carpeting, the Warm Climate Package that includes quad-zone automatic climate control, a manual side-rear sunshade and power rear sunshade. A multimedia package that provides an Alpine 320-watt sound system with 12 speakers, DVD player, two 6.5-inch video screens in the rear passenger area, and JaguarVoice control for multiple functions complete the exquisite ambience. The positioning of the cupholders in front is a bit awkward for manipulating the gear shift, but with all else around you this is a very livable inconvenience.
   For safety, Jaguar has included adaptive ultrasonic restraints, perimeter-sensing alarms, remotely activated panic alarm, energy-absorbing seat system to reduce injury risk, special latch child seat compatibility with tether anchors, front driver and passenger airbags, seat-mounted driver and front passenger airbags and side curtain front and rear coverage. The rear parking distance control sensors and front traffic sensors add to your safety.
   The sticker price of this classic feline is $91,395. That includes only one option: 8.5×19-inch chrome wheels for $1,400.
   Jaguar has a rich racing and automotive history but also has gained a reputation for building great-looking and awesome driving machines that fall victim to minor mechanical problems. Jaguar has worked hard over the past few years to erase that notion of minor difficulties with good craftsmanship, but I must tell you that in my test fleet vehicle, I did encounter a minor windshield wiper mechanism malfunction. It was merely a loosened bolt. Still, a quick trip to the dealer, or calling Jaguar’s 24/7 roadside assistance, will take care of that predicament, and when corrected, you will be left with one fine quality automobile.
   Cupholder position and wiper aside, this is one dream car. It may cost $91,000, but driving this automotive jungle cat makes you feel like a million bucks.
Visit www.carsatcarlisle.com for more on the automotive hobby. Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He’s been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.