Living the high life

I've never liked being the centre of attention. But I can't help that today, for I'm dressed particularly loud. I've donned a pair of stripy beige trousers, white gloves to match my shoes and have a light blue sweater draped over my shoulders. And I'm biting down on a mahogany coloured smoking pipe stuck in the right corner of my mouth. I'm every bit the stereotypical golfer and, yes, my trousers are tucked into my socks.

I pull into the glorious Address Montgomerie Dubai and its phenomenal championship golf course in Emirates Hills. A fine collection of prestige cars are dotted about the beautifully manicured place. Bentleys and Rolls-Royces are the order of the day, as is the large contingent of unassuming gentlemen lighting cigars and sharing anecdotes before they tee off.

I edge closer to those million dirham machines and begin to feel rather self-conscious. I can sense a hundred eyes following my every move.

I know I'm sticking out like a monkey in a pink tuxedo but, fortunately, I am wrapped by something that can only be missed if you are short-sighted. What has made everyone stop and stare? That's simple. It's the gorgeous new Jaguar XJ which has just entered their lives.

It's a totally new car and extremely exciting — but it needs to be because it's up against some pretty formidable competition with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. Styling-wise, it's a radical departure from everything we've come to expect from the XJ and this new look is crucial to the marque's future survival. I can hear them asking each other all sorts of things. My favourite, "Is it an Aston Martin?" The response, "Of course not. It's that new, umm, four-door Maserati..."

The design team, led by Ian Callum, has produced a stunning shape that's linked to the XF but also carves a new direction for Jaguar.

The elongated teardrop silhouette of its new three side window design gives this Jag a new quality of sleekness, emphasised by a class leading drag coefficient of 0.29.

From its squinting xenon eyes, wide front track and deep-set mesh grille to its claw-like tail lights, the XJ is a vastly different animal from the ground up. You expect a flagship to be exhilarating, but nothing prepares you for the sheer beauty of this. Its fascinating lines capture your attention while the glamorous interior blows you away. It's a perfect blend of high-tech thinking and exquisite craftsmanship which creates real theatre for the senses, bringing excellence and elegance to the party. But the chrome side vents, set into the fenders behind the front wheels, tell you this isn't just a good-looking car. It has the performance to match.

It gets even better once you step inside because Jag creates interiors that rival six-star hotels. The cossetted cabin offers a rich blend of quality with sumptuous leathers, warm veneers and cool chrome. It's loaded with everything you can imagine and more. Fancy a massage while you drive? You've got it. How about your passenger watching a DVD while you follow the sat-nav from the same screen? It can do that too thanks to the dual view monitor. If all this technology is too much for you, fear not, for there is a proper analogue clock proudly sitting amongst all the gizmos. It looksa treat. That 8in touch screen deals with most of the functions but does take some getting used to. It's complicated, but master it, and you will have the world at your fingertips. The premium audio system, a full surround 20-speaker, 1200 watt Bowers and Wilkins set-up, will blow you away. Jaguar says it's the most sophisticated system ever fitted to a car.

It also has climate and humidity controls, Bluetooth hands free phone compatibilities and my favourite — virtual instruments. They appear on the thin-film transistor screen in high-definition virtual reality. Speedometerin the middle, rev counter on the right and fuel and engine temperature gauges on the left.

The media hub features a hard disk drive with 10 gigabytes reserved for you to rip music. You can stick a USB drive in one of two ports neatly tucked away in the centre console or connect your iPod or MP3 player, whatever you've got, basically.

The start-up sequence will leave you impressed. Push the start button and a chrome Jaguar drive selector rises dramatically from the centre console. The touch screen flickers on and those virtual instruments are displayed.

Other neat cues include a classy band of wood that flows around from the driver's door, to the windshield and across to the passenger door. It helps to bring down the mass and makes it feel airy inside and less claustrophobic.

Even though it has a fairly high and chunky dash, you don't notice it too much. The AC vents and dials all glow in a soothing blue light, just like the illumination on the door sills. It's these little touches that make this Jag sucha pleasure to be in.

In addition to having an adaptive cruise control, it also has a collision avoidance system — the same radar that looks forward to keep you spaced on the highway will also let you know when you're about to bang into someone in low-speed city driving. But it won't apply the brakes like the Volvo S60 system —it just lets you know with audio and visual cues.

They've also added some wonderful touch technology in here. For example, on the glove box you just lay your finger on the silver button and it opens — no need to push any buttons. Same goes for the dome lights on the roof. You don't click them to switch them on, you just hover your hand near them and they activate.

There are two glass panel roofs on the car — the typical sliding, tilting one up front and a fixed one at the rear with its own suede curtain.

From the rear seats you have a good vista of the large flowing centre console which gives the car a sporty feel. Added to this, it has an independent TV, DVD, CD, radio and music via the media hub with touch screen control — you would be excused for choosing not to drive, but rather be driven.

It has 125mm more legroom than the regular XJ. It may not sound like much, but sitting in the back of this long-wheelbase Jag feels like you are stretching out on your favourite armchair in your living room. Make that top-class hotel. Despite the sloping coupé-like roofline, there is no shortage of headroom either.

But, get behind the wheel and prepare yourself for a ride like nothing before. This XJ is carrying less fat, courtesy of its aerospace-inspired, lightweight aluminium body, so you get immense acceleration, decreased stopping distances, and razor-sharp handling thanks to the quick-ratio steering. You sense it in the first bend: an agility, athleticism — it's like controlling something that's alive but, amazingly, this big limousine morphs into anintimate sportscar when you push ithard around corners.

Its proven, dynamic technologies such as the air suspension, active differential control and quick-ratio power steering help to dig its claws deep into the road. It remains firmly planted and behaves impeccably under almost all driving conditions. It handles superbly, while the steering is crisp and responsive.

Under the bonnet lies a 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine equipped witha sixth-generation Eaton blower. It produces an incredible 470bhp and 575Nm of torque. It gets to those huge figures largely through lots of software programming and a free-flow performance exhaust system.

Mounted to the huge power plant is a ZF six-speed automatic. In addition to normal automatic mode, this rear-wheel drive transmission provides sport, dynamic and winter modes. Leave it in normal, and the car pulls like a train. But if you want the ultimate thrill, hit that little button with a flag on it. Once depressed, the seatbelt tightens and those virtual gauges change colour to a racy red. The steering stiffens up and the power kicks in and sweeps you away like a rocket ship.

It's exceptionally refined, offeringthe supple and luxurious ride whichyou expect from a Jaguar, but it's also good to know that under the new skin lies a pounding racing heart capable of obliterating the opposition.

The XJ may not improve your handicap, but the drive to the course will be even more thrilling than firing a hole in one.

The XJ's sleek body has been constructed mainly from aluminium, using more than 50 per cent recycled material which Jaguar plans to increase to 75 per cent in the future, and it also uses magnesium and composite alloys. What's more, the body panels use less energy meaning a potential saving of three tonnes of CO2 per car built. This has allowed Jaguar to create a lighter and stiffer body, in fact, it is the lightest in its class. By using an aerospace-based riveting and bonding process, the structure has been toughened up by using these advanced new materials. As a result, it has improved the strength and rigidity of the XJ, increasing its refinement and boosting safety rating.

Building on the success of the XK and XF models, the all-new XJ is a landmark for the revitalised Jaguar brand. Clearly positioned as the company's flagship, it extends the appeal of the XJ to a new generation of customers.

Dynamically it leads the way. In looks and economics, not so much. Then again, V6 is coming, at around Dh300K.

Tech sheet

The XJ's sleek body has been constructed mainly from aluminium, but it also uses magnesium and composite alloys. This has allowed Jaguar to create a lighter and stiffer body, in fact, it is the lightest in its class. By using an aero space-based riveting and bonding process, the structure has been toughened up by using these advanced new materials. As a result, it has improved the strength and rigidity of the XJ, adding refinement and a superior safety rating.

Riding in style

The XJ is as thrilling to drive as it looks. Thanks to the technologies pioneered in the XFR and XKR models which include continuously variable damping (Adaptive Dynamics), electronically controlled rear differential (Active Differential Control) and a quick ratio power steering system, the XJ managed to combine the best of both worlds. It's a dynamic and sporty saloon but since it's a Jaguar, it is still as refined and luxurious as you would expect.

Specs & ratings

Model XJ Supercharged

Engine 5.0-litre V8

Transmission Six-speed auto, RWD

Max power 470bhp @ 6,500rpm

Max torque 575Nm @ 2,500rpm

Top speed 250kph limited

0-100kph 5.2sec

Price Dh459,000

Plus Looks, comfort, performance

Minus Most people can burp louder than the weak horn