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2004 Jaguar XJ, Vanden Plas and XJR
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Vehicle History
The original XJ6 was first introduced in September 1968. Since then there have been six generations of the XJ sedans. The all-new XJ is the seventh generation of the vehicle. Over 800,000 XJs have been built. That's more than half of all Jaguars ever produced.
The XJ was originally conceived as a single model to replace four different predecessors; the Mark 2, 2 versions of the original S-Type and the 420. Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar, had this as his vision for the product line's future in the 1960s. It was also a response to the popularity of sporty GT model coupes in the United States. Eventually the emphasis switched to a large sedan, and the coupe was modified to take on two more doors.
The XJ has maintained a legacy of innovation throughout its production. XJ innovations include; independent rear suspension, anti-dive geometry on the front suspension and first time rack-and-pinion steering on a sedan with power assistance and disc brakes all around, among many others.
Jaguar has maintained their pedigree and reputation for elegance, interior craftsmanship and luxury despite decades of spotty reliability. Reliability has increased dramatically over the past decade under the influence of parent, Ford Motor Company, yet retained the elegant pedigree. As with its predecessors the XJ has an abundance of wood, leather, and chrome styling features and accents. There is no significant loss of elegance as the company implements new technologies.
Changes Over the Previous Model
Although the new version of the XJ looks very much like its predecessor it is a brand new car, top to bottom. One of the most significant changes is the body of the vehicle is now all-aluminum. Jaguar has been building vehicles out of aluminum for a long time. Swallow Side Cars, the company that became Jaguar produced its first all-aluminum vehicle in 1922, a motorcycle sidecar. The aluminum strategy was necessary to accomplish a myriad of planned vehicle improvements. Aluminum's light weight allows improved performance and fuel mileage. For example the new aluminum body shell of the XJ weighs 485 pounds as compared to an equivalent steel version which would weigh 794 pounds, if produced.
The XJ is sixty percent stiffer and forty percent lighter. This means increased rigidity, less corrosion, less stress on the vehicle from reduced weight, a quieter ride, a forty percent larger cabin and a twenty five percent larger trunk (largest trunk in a Jaguar ever.) All this leads to a superior ride, improved handling, increased longevity and thus a higher resale value over time.
Adding to the improved ride quality is the all-new air suspension. This is a feature appearing in more and more luxury cars. It will be in the new Audi A8L which will be introduced around the same time as the XJ. Air suspension has advantages over coil-spring suspension systems such as superior comfort, regardless of load conditions -- the vehicle's full suspension travel is always available to counter rough road surfaces regardless of the weight within the vehicle.
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