2010 Jaguar XJ Officially Released (VIDEO)

The long wait is officially over as the 2010 Jaguar XJ was finally revealed at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, London this past Friday. With the XK (the company's grand touring coupe or convertible) and XF (their entry-level luxury sedan) recently getting overhauls, the XJ was sorely in need of an update, and this time Jaguar exceeded all expectations. The new 2010 XJ is the company's flagship luxury sports sedan and is available in 4 different trims with three engine options.

The Jaguar XJ/XJL models sport 5.0-liter V8 engines capable of 385 hp with pricing starting at $72,500 and $79,500, respectively. The L versions offer a longer wheel base with 5 extra inches of leg room. The Jaguar XJ Supercharged has the same 5.0-liter V8 engine but adds a supercharger that bumps the output to 470 hp. This version runs $87,500 for the base and $90,500 for the L. The Jaguar XJ Supersport is the top-of-the-line model and offers a 510 hp direct injection 5.0-liter AJ-V8 Gen III supercharged engine which costs $112,000 for the base model and $115,000 for the XJL version.

The only transmission offered is a six-speed automatic that drives power to the rear wheels via steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters. The base 2010 Jaguar XJ can perform the 0-60 mph sprint in 5.4 seconds while the Supersport can perform the same task in 4.7 seconds. The suspension system comes with air springs operated by electronic controls that adjust ride stiffness. The JaguarDrive Control allows the driver to choose between Normal, Dynamic or Winter settings to tweak the throttle response, steering agility, transmission gearing and ride quality. The XJ also has continuous variable damping (Adaptive Differential Control) and an electronically controlled rear differential (Active Differential Control).

The new XJ is definitely not just a supersized XF, and has its own very distinct identity. It features an ultra-light state-of-the-art chassis that's comprised almost entirely of aluminum with a small amount of magnesium and composite alloy. Even though the XF is a much smaller sedan, the XJ is actually a lighter vehicle. In fact, the XF is also lighter than the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8, the models it competes directly against. The 2010 Jaguar XJ is green friendly too, with 50% of its aluminum coming from post-recycled stock while the car itself is 85% recyclable.

Inside, the 2010 Jaguar XJ has a tremendous balance of luxurious appointments and technologically advanced user controls, with the added benefit of an amazing panoramic moonroof. The car's command center is a 12.3 inch TFT display, sitting above the steering wheel, which provides all necessary driving information such as speed, tachometer, fuel, temp, etc. What looks like physical indicators are actually virtual gauges, and Jaguar keeps things interesting by providing cool graphical transitions between screens. There is also an 8 inch screen in the center of the vehicle that provides access to the satellite nav and audio system. An optional Bowers & Wilken 7.1 channel audio system is available that puts out an eardrum exploding 1200 watts. The critics believe that this system is even better than the other high-end Bang & Olufsen and Naim offerings in the marketplace.

Jaguar has definitely come a long way since 1922 when it got its start making motorcycle sidecars. Ford didn't do anything particularly outstanding with the brand between 1989 and 2008 but finally got things right just before selling out to Tata. The new 2010 Jaguar XJ is a great marque for the new owner and we hope that the revitalization of the big cat will continue...

Source: Jaguar