2016 Jaguar XJ - The Jaguar XJ is definitely the brand's flagship four-door luxury sedan. Having an aluminium chassis and body parts, the XJ is light and nimble for the size, and it also gets good fuel mileage, having an EPA-estimated 27 mpg Highway. You will find long and standard wheelbase models, in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The typical engine is really a supercharged 3.-liter V6 making 340 horsepower, capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in five.7 seconds. Available too: a set of supercharged 5.-liter V8s. The XJR gets more performance features, such as a firmer suspension, aerodynamic splitter inside the spoiler and front in rear, and sporty interior touches.
There is certainly one transmission, a crisp 8-speed automatic that mates well together with the supercharged V6 and V8 engines. But it's the car's relatively low kerb weight that a majority of affects its kerb manners. The aluminium body panels are bonded and riveted, bringing the amount in the scales right down to 4200 pounds, which happens to be several hundred pounds under the Jaguar's German competitors.
The cabin is tight and too shiny for our tastes, although the Jaguar XJ offers good comfort and a plush interior with supple leather and real wood veneer trim. It features heated front and back ventilated, seats and massaging front seats, and ventilated rear seats. Jaguar's service plan will pay for everything but tires for your first 5yrs or 50,000 miles.
2016 XJ gets subtle design tweaks. The 2016 Jaguar XJ grille has straighter, larger and bolder a whole new mesh pattern. Adaptive LED headlamps are standard, as is also electricity steering on rear-wheel-drive models, and also, the taillights are restyled. Also new for 2016 is Jaguar's infotainment system called InControl Touch Pro, featuring its eight-inch touchscreen and navigation that may connect using a smartphone. The XJL Portfolio and Supercharged models get quilted leather to produce the inner more fabulous.
Supplementing six airbags, safety options include adaptive cruise control that alerts to speed limit changes ahead, blind-spot monitoring which also alerts to cars approaching quickly from behind, and backup alerts. The Jaguar's competition from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi offer these items.
Model Lineup
The 2016 Jaguar XJ is available in base R-Portfolio and Sports trim with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The XJL includes a long wheelbase for further rear-seat space. The top-performance XJR is rear-wheel drive, standard wheelbase.
Exterior
Rhomboid headlights complement the major mesh grille. The roofline is drop-dead gorgeous similar to a fashion model, along with the fenders swell in order to meet the reduced roofline. The back pillars are gloss black and manage to sail away, therefore, the rear glass generally seems to stretch from fender to fender, an elegant effect.
Interior
Light shines in with the expansive sunroof and glares in the glitzy instrument panel. The chrome is contrasted by piano-black trim that's premium quality but common. The front passengers' inside knees are squeezed against the centre console though the front seats are firm and ventilated, flat and heated. No less than there's good front legroom hence the legs can straighten.
Might overdo it with dazzle, even though the XJ makes great strides in interfacing. What was once a driver's car from the cabin, has become a relevant video game player's car. The screen does climate, audio, and navigation functions. Where there's a control button that does the same, the button is faster.
Driving Impressions
The aluminium Jaguar XJ feels exceptionally lean and athletic, light and taut. The handling is deft, and also, the adaptive damping erases the bumps yet not the enjoyment. The Z-rated tires stick like hot rubber.
We have now found the 340-horsepower 3.-liter supercharged V6 the ideal fit just for this car. It's responsive, tractable and predictable. It handles amazingly well for a long-wheelbase sedan though you lose some quickness in the handling with the XJL.
The ride is kept pure and smooth, upon an independent suspension with coil springs in front, and multi-links together with the electronically adjustable air springs in the rear. On supercharged cars, the back differential is additionally electronically controlled.
smooth and quick, although knockdowns are a bit slow in the Normal mode. You will find a Dynamic mode that sharpens the upshifts and matches revs around the downshifts, along with a Sports mode that does a similar only more aggressively. These modes also improve the damping, steering, stability and throttle control.
The all-wheel-drive is rear-biased. During Winter mode, from 30 to 50 % in the torque would go to the top wheels. Jaguar says the device is supposed for traction in slippery weather, not cornering with additional grip.
The Jaguar XJ is clearly not just a German car. It provides lovely lines and understated styling. Driving impressions through the Car Connection, with Sam Moses reporting through the Pacific Northwest.
