A couple of years ago, German cars were considered as ideal celebrity cars, but our Bollywood celebrities are now going the English way. Ranveer Singh, the Bollywood heartthrob, is among Jaguar car lovers. He owns the XJ – CAR SUTRA Black Edition. His Jaguar grabbed much media attention, when he was challenged by Hrithik Roshan during the promotion of his movie – Bang Bang.
The Jaguar XJ series, first launched in 1968, has always been known for its regal appearance, immense comfort and fast pace. It was the last Jaguar sedan that was made with inputs from the founder of the company, Sir William Lyons, and had been featured in various glamorous and media events. The Jaguar XJ is one of the most popular cars among royal families and UK Prime Minister.
The 2014 XJ, current model, based on Ian Callum’s new design, looks ultra-modern, sportier and more confident than its predecessor. Using aluminum chassis and body panels, it weighs lightest in its league. The new model features automatic xenon bulbs, LED daylight running lights, swage creases - emerging from the top of the front wheel and merging the middle of the car, black-clad C-pillars, LED rear lights and various styling elements.
The wheelbase has been increased by 125mm that translates into more cabin space. There is ample legroom and headroom, even for the rear seat passengers. The saloon gets a rotating gearknob, which is also found on the XF and latest XK. Interior is very ergonomic and practical. Jaguar used lots of wood adorn and leather to add more to its premium appearance. The conventional analogue dials are replaced with the new digital dashboard display.
The latest Jaguar XJ sedan gets a modified version of the original 2.7-litre engine – i.e. 3.0-litre. The same powertrain also powers the XF, but is available with two states of tunes. While the XJ gets a 271bhp and 599.27Nm version. The sedan takes just 12.4 seconds to achieve 110-130mph. The old 5.0-litre V8 engine has been replaced with a more powerful supercharged V6 – the core F-type engine. The diesel powertrain is mated with an 8-speed torque converter auto transmission. Throttle response is too quick, and the engine feels punchy across different rev range.
The saloon’s body control is superb during sudden direction changes as it maintains its composure at high speeds. The 2014 XJ model isn’t available in the country, though, we have various other Jaguar cars in India.
