It’s the morning after the night before at Jaguar’s Saatchi Gallery launch for the new XJ. This morning a fresh load of B-list hacks were invited to see the new car in the raw, eight hours after the A-listers who saw it at the glitzy launch party proper last night.
More importantly though, this morning and into the early afternoon, Jaguar’s got two XJs doing laps around London’s city streets. So today, we finally get to see the new XJ in context. Which is when we can all make an informed decision about whether it’s a spudder or not.
For what it’s worth, I think the car’s a very smart design – in both senses of the word. It’s fresh, it’s avant-garde, it’s perfectly proportioned, and you certainly can’t help looking at it. A Quattroporte’s prettier, sure – but, though it takes some getting used to, I’d say this Jag isn’t far behind.
And I can say for definite that it looks nothing like a Citroen C6. From any angle. I love the long and elegant waistline, the long rear overhang and the ‘raptor’s eyes’ headlights. The cabin’s impressive; not so elegant, perhaps, but attractive and brimming with technology.
I love the touchscreen above the centre stack; it can display a DVD movie to the front passenger and the usual system information to the driver at the same time.
Works a bit like one of those old-school holograms that change as you move your head. Very clever.
Disappointments? Well, I can’t sit in the back without my head hitting the headlining, and I’m hardly a giant at 6’3”. The boot still ain’t enormous. I was also a bit dismayed to hear that there will be no ‘R’ version.
The 503bhp supercharged V8 will be called the Supersports instead, and have a more relaxed tourer-type character. I think it’s a shame, even if all I’m mourning is the passing of a badge.
Mike O’Driscoll talked about the new XJ being ‘a tipping point’ for Jaguar. We all know that the company’s had a tough year, like so many, and there’s clearly a lot of hope that this car, alongside a strong XF and XK, can push it back into rude health.
It’s no secret that XJs haven’t sold as well as the German opposition for a decade or so. This one’s got the potential to be the market leader, I’d say. Well done boys.
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re: Jaguar XJ in the cold light of day
I must say, Obamabeach and his idiotic comments have made me chuckle at work this morning. Haven't been on this site for a while, but may well frequent this blog now!
Viva la prat!
re: Jaguar XJ in the cold light of day
@Obamabeach, I think you're taking it all a bit far. Conduct on this site is usually quite gentlemanly.
re: Jaguar XJ in the cold light of day
Good news for Jaguar fans ...
The company, along with Buick, has overtaken Lexus in the USA to take the No.1 spot in the 2009 JD Power Dependability Survey. Autoblog is a popular American auto website:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/19/jaguar-and-buick-upset-lexus-in-j-d-p...
I quote:-
'BUICK, JAGUAR KNOCK LEXUS FROM TOP OF J.D. POWER 2009 VEHICLE DEPENDABILITY STUDY'
by Michael Harley on Mar 19th 2009 at 7:00AM
"J.D. Power has released its 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study results and it’s a bombshell. For the past 14 years...Lexus has sat at the top of the chart...this year, Buick and Jaguar have tied for top ranking".
The 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more than 46,000 original owners of 2006 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded in October 2008".
• Jaguar=equal 1st (with Buick)
• Porsche=11th
• Audi=12th
• BMW=17th
• Mercedes-Benz=20th
You can also read about this pretty remarkable turnaround in Jaguar's dependability record, which has clearly been work-in-progress for some years, on the following New York Times website:-
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/jaguar-the-most-dependable-ca...
'JAGUAR: THE MOST DEPENDABLE CAR...REALLY'
By Cheryl Jensen. March 19, 2009, 7:01 am
Also from Autoblog:-
'2010 Jaguar XJ: We get hands-on with Coventry's new big cat' by Chris Paukert on Jul 9th 2009 at 3:15PM
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/2010-jaguar-xj-we-get-hands-on-with-c...
(This is an excellent and thorough review, as far as possible at this early stage anyway. Generally extremely positive)
WHY QUOTE THESE RESULTS?
I quote the current, bang-up-to-date, 2009 JD Power Dependability Survey results because The Times Online are currently redesigning their Comments section online and the last posted entry on their Jaguar blog quotes the following, which having done a bit of research I can confirm are 3 years out of date:-
J.D. Power ===2006=== Vehicle Dependability Study
1. Lexus (Toyota), Score: 136
2. Mercury (Ford), Score: 151
3. Buick (GM), Score: 153
4. Cadillac (GM), Score: 163
5. Toyota, Score: 179
6. Acura (Honda), Score: 184
7. Honda, Score: 194
8. Jaguar Score 210
9. BMW Score 212 aver. score 227
Andy, Sacramento, California
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Jaguar must fight its corner out there in the real world but I don't see why it should have to put up with misinformation, intentional or not. And if it has to suck up all the criticism from past weaknesses -as it has had to- then it is surely entitled to a fair crack of the whip when it excels -as apparently it is now doing.
We British are often slow to get going. But look out when we do. Weren't Spitfires manufactured in the Jaguar factory during WW2?
Nothing is written and who knows how it will all turn out, but Jaguar has finally come out fighting. God speed chaps. Keep it up!