Commended for its impeccable styling and luxurious interior, the Jaguar XJ has continued and in fact enhanced the British manufacturer’s glowing reputation for producing high-quality vehicles. Up until now, its flagship saloon exclusively came with a V8 engine and rear-wheel drive.
Those who have to deal with harsh winters and adverse weather conditions will be pleased to hear that Jaguar has now released an AWD version of its deluxe sedan. However if you’re interested in conquering the Great British countryside, think again, as the XJ AWD is not available in the UK.
Four-wheel drive
Jaguar has worked closely with sister company Land Rover to develop a tailor-made all-wheel drive solution. Rather than simply borrow technology from the off-road experts, Jaguar has re-engineered several crucial aspects of the XJ.
A new front sub frame has been installed in addition to an updated exhaust system, steering rack and prop shaft. Suspension bushes and dampers have been revised, as has a re-calibrated V6 engine, designed with the AWD technology in mind. Therefore Jaguar hasn’t simply fitted a four-wheel drive system onto the XJ’s existing components, the car’s underpinning has been fully modified and transformed.
The result is exceptional, with a usually unwieldy saloon in slippery conditions being completely planted to the surface. What’s more, the system can still distribute all of the engine’s power to the back wheels when possible to retain its rear-wheel drive pedigree. The technology detects speed, steering angle and brake pressure and feeds the torque where it is required.
Only available with a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, the new XJ retains features such as an 8-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, steering wheel-mounted paddles, dynamic stability control and intelligent stop/start.
Exterior
Just in case you were unaware of the XJ’s existing aesthetic beauty, its sleek styling makes this four-door saloon look more like a stretched sports coupe with streamlined panels and striking features. Its sunken headlines are integrated seamlessly into the front of the car, while the rear lights start horizontal, but swoop down with the body in a superb design feature.
The XJ’s looks are enhanced by a beautiful full-width glass panoramic roof, which extends from the top of the windshield to the front of the rear seats.
Interior
As you would expect, the XJ’s cabin is a hugely welcoming environment and with 24 interior colour themes to choose from, you can be guaranteed to find a style that suits you. One criticism could be that the amount of dials, instruments and displays is overwhelming as the XJ is packed full of in-car entertainment and safety features.
Nevertheless, with AWD beneath you that is now capable of dealing with a range of tricky conditions, few will complain about a heated seat that can massage your buttocks while driving.
Virtual instruments and integrated controls make the driving experience even more pleasurable, with a voice recognition system taking the hassle out of everyday functions like making a phone call or tuning the radio. A fully automatic climate control system with air particle and odour filtration only enhances its total comfort capability.
Availability
As mentioned previously, the XJ AWD is not available in Great Britain. This is because luxury four-wheel drive saloons only account for around 5 per cent of the UK market, meaning Jaguar would be wasting their time re-engineering a right-hand drive XJ.
Compare this demand to 50% in the US and up to 80% in snow-laden countries like Canada and you can see why one of Britain’s greatest manufacturers has turned its attention abroad.
The XJ AWD may struggle in Europe against favoured manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz who have similar models on the market, however at $76,700 in the US, you would hope Jaguar can show our friends across the Atlantic what British engineering is capable of.
