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2004 Jaguar XJ, Vanden Plas and XJR
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Vehicle Exterior
First, and foremost, the new XJ is recognizable as an XJ. Perhaps the untrained eye might not recognize it as an all-new as it maintains all the design cues that make the XJ distinctive. The undulating hood remains, as do the side-panel beltline accents and the distinctive head and rear lamp shapes. However Jaguar has applied Zenon front headlamps and LED taillight technology to the new version. When test driving the XJ make sure to take note of the beautiful wheels. They add glamour and style.
Vehicle Interior
Ian Callum, Director of Design for Jaguar Cars, describes the new XJ interior as, "classic Jaguar." The interior design is easily recognizable as a Jaguar with lots of soft leather, even on the dash, beautiful walnut veneers everywhere, plush carpeting and their classic center "stack" (center-dash) and console layout.
The vehicle's traditional controls have given way to touch-screen technologies for the climate, audio and navigations systems. Below that the center console contains the sport-mode selection, traction-control on-off switch, followed by Jaguar's J-gate gear selector (allowing manual selection of the second through fifth gears.) The traditional parking brake lever has been replaced with an electronic switch introduced in the 2002 S-Type. When the car is in park the brake engages automatically. Climate, audio and cruise controls also appear on the steering wheel. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is available on all models (standard in the Vanden Plas) and is part of an optional multimedia package.
Among the most important comfort and safety features of the XJ is the application of the power-adjustable pedals. This comely feature enables drivers of all heights to maintain comfortable and safe seating positions. Because it has memory, multiple drivers can adjust the steering wheel, seat and pedals their preferred position with no more than the touch of a single button; elegance and safety in one. This intelligent feature should be standard on every car on the market.
Ride, Handling and Performance
The new XJ's ride is superb, quiet and smooth, even under heavy acceleration. We didn't realize we had exceeded 100 mph when passing, until we looked at the speedometer. This is VERY easy to do.
The vehicle does as you command. Steering is precise and smooth. There is enough resistance for the driver to get good feedback from the road without it being tiring to drive. The braking in the new XJ is stellar. In the XJR stopping has been taken over-the-top with the addition of larger Brembo ventilated performance disc brakes.
The performance of the normally aspirated 4.2 liter, V8 engine is highly responsive and thus fun to drive. This power plant, standard on the XJ8 and Vanden Plas models, generates 294-horsepower. But for even more driving pleasure try the XJR with a supercharged version of the same engine generating 390-horsepower. This engine will move you from 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds, competitive with a Porsche Carrerra.
All versions of the XJ feature a 6-speed ZF automatic transmission which shifts so smoothly that at times you think you are driving a car with a Continuously Variable Transmission.
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