Brand new Jaguar XJ

[Bobby Dazzler]

I really like the current XJ, but I like this too. For Jaguar's survival it needs to break from it's tradition or mildly evolving the classic XJ proportions.

 

[bpsorrel]

As a former owner of an XJ40 (XJ Sovereign) I think this new XJ has lost the "feline" grace of the older ones. To me it looks like a large XF with a Maserati Quattroporte rear.. I won't be getting the cheque book out just yet!

 

[bpsorrel]

Who does? Ford??

I doubt if Ford care anymore, but old Ratan Tata would be pleased I think!

 

[grober]

Is it based on the old XJ floor pan like the the XF was based on the S class? I'm afraid I don't see see its relevance after the excellent XF. I predict it will bomb in today's climate. This is not a comment on the merits of the car rather whether the market niche it's aimed at exists to any extent any more? Sorry.

 

[nullogik]

Its looks like an elongated Citroen C6:

I love the front and especially the interior - top marks for that, but the rear of the car is just all wrong.

 

[stats007]

Especially when the original looked so good:

 

[MPG]

I've owned a lot of Jaguars over the years & whilst this car is undoubtedly striking (admittedly not from every angle), I really can't see the "essence" of Jaguar in it.
As a number of posters have said, it has hints of Citroen around the rump with perhaps a splash of Bentley throw in. The real problem with the boot is the line of it is too high. Doubtless Clarkson will be telling us that this is to ensure the Golfists can get two sets of their bats into the boot, which probably isn't far from the truth.
With respect to the interior, whilst undoubtedly beautifully put together with the finest of materials it looks far too similar to an upmarket Mondeo or Focus - the old Ford parenting is still too prevalent for my liking. I also wish they'd ditch that silly theatrical rising gearwheel gadget. I like to get in a car and go, I don't like to wait for the gearlever to rise like some 1950's Wurlitzer from the centre console.
If only they'd gone for something which got its styling cue's from the legendary Series III - I still miss my one after all these years......

 

[kwakdonut]

I doubt if Ford care anymore, but old Ratan Tata would be pleased I think!

Ah, is that who owns them now?!!

 

[C240Sport97]

the black C pillar looks very odd

 

[The Boss]

Styling cues from a Quattroporte and a Mitsubishi Evo X. Can't say I like it. The XJ was instantly recognisable.

Agreed!

 

[The Boss]

As a former owner of an XJ40 (XJ Sovereign) I think this new XJ has lost the "feline" grace of the older ones. To me it looks like a large XF with a Maserati Quattroporte rear.. I won't be getting the cheque book out just yet!

Fear not, id lend u mine if it was on the dirve lol..

save up for the "cost effective SL" instead

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

However Jaguar-ish, feline, beautiful, etc the current and former XJs are, they've not sold in sufficient numbers since the 80s. IIRC back in the day the XJ outsold the S-Class and &-Series but not anymore.

 

[hawk20]

However Jaguar-ish, feline, beautiful, etc the current and former XJs are, they've not sold in sufficient numbers since the 80s. IIRC back in the day the XJ outsold the S-Class and &-Series but not anymore.

Yes indeed. The achilles heel of Jaguar, apart from dreadful relaibility over the years, has been the horrific depreciation. Business friends of mine who were Jaguar fans always seemed to have a terrible time after three years finding any dealer that would give them a remotely reasonable price -especially if they dared to go over book miles. And finding a dealer who would buy for cash so they could have a change of brands was often almost impossible. Meanwhile my Mercedes used to regularly get half price or close in part ex even though I had done over 30k miles per year.

 

[vincenz]

Jaguars new strategy is to sell less numbers than they once did, they have accepted they are not a 'volume' manufacturer anymore like BMW, Merc etc.

Its the reliability they need to sort out and hopefull with this, the XF and XK they will be there.

When X-type is killed off they will have a very desriable product range, I specced up an XJ before and they look fantastic.

That rear end looks great in real world pics.

 

[Peter DLM]

Jag can't win it seems.

Any hint of the 'old' Jags and people condemn them, now they are bang up to date on the styling and people are saying that there's no hint of the Jags of old !!

Personally I like it very much.

I also really liked the S-Type when it came out, and the post 2002 S-Type is a very good car indeed.

 

[Barbanasos]

A shame really that Jaguar has moved so much away from the original XJ shape and especially the two round lights. Although I am not keen on the exterior, the interior looks very nice, hoping that the materials (wood & polished alloy) are as expensive as they look.

Seems to me that since Aston Martin are still popular as a british sportscar, all other british brands (whatever is left) want to follow their lines, like lights, grille shapes and vents. Jaguar has clearly lost their identity and aim at completely different buyers, I hope it works for them.

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

A nice new model for Jaguar!

She's cute, it's just a shame about the ugly car. ;-)

 

[Mactech]

Am I the only one who dosn't really mind what the car looks like provided it works well?
I spend 99.9% of the time looking out of the car and feeling what it is doing, and virtually no time looking at it.
If the new Jaguar is nearly 200kgs lighter and the V6 diesel 40bhp more powerful that the current S Class Mercedes then it has to worth a test drive to see if the refinement level is in the Mercedes region. Going by what Jaguar have done with the XF, then it could be as good or better.
Maybe it's just me having worked with race cars for too long....they are designed by wind tunnels without a felt tip fairy (sorry stylist) in sight, but they start looking really good when they start winning

 

[st4]

Am I the only one who dosn't really mind what the car looks like provided it works well?
I spend 99.9% of the time looking out of the car and feeling what it is doing, and virtually no time looking at it.
If the new Jaguar is nearly 200kgs lighter and the V6 diesel 40bhp more powerful that the current S Class Mercedes then it has to worth a test drive to see if the refinement level is in the Mercedes region. Going by what Jaguar have done with the XF, then it could be as good or better.
Maybe it's just me having worked with race cars for too long....they are designed by wind tunnels without a felt tip fairy (sorry stylist) in sight, but they start looking really good when they start winning

An interesting view point but you do have to look at when its parked up on the drive, when you fill it up, or when your going towards it.

Some pictures flatter it much more than others. Personally speaking its nicer looking than a 7 series but not as nice looking as a W221. The best looking luxury car IMHO is the Audi A8.

People will buy that car because its the new Jaguar. Its priced very competatively, uses ZF tranmissions (very good) and modern range of engines.

I really like what they've done with the inside of the car, and from some views its a handsome vehicle but the rear is a mix of Audi A6, Citreon C6. If its built like the latter (which I suspect) then not so good, if built like an Audi I'd take the car seriously. However, a Jaguar is a car I've never aspired to own, it would take a miracle for me to buy one, and would always choose a BM, Merc or Audi above one. Given Jags sales I suspect I am not alone, but I hope it does sell well as its good for Britain.

 

[G.O'Rilla]

The more I look the more I like it. They dare to be different, can't please anyone but you can't say that it's boring. A second, third and fourth look at the interior - the better it looks; stunning in fact. I really want to look at this in the metal and really hope that it is a success.

let's not knock them for trying - that front looks business-like in the rear view mirror......