Spelling sheer class and power

The new Jaguar XJ comes with a choice of four engines, boasts new automotive technology and is roomier than its predecessor

The new Jaguar XJ was displayed at the Paris Motor Show in September this year, although it will not be officially launched until April 2003 and this 'pre-launch' activity generated a huge interest in a range of cars that will become the flagship cars of the famous 'Big Cat' brand from Browns Lane, Coventry, in England.

The first generation Jaguar XJ was launched in 1968 and since then, over 800,000 have been sold - more than half of all Jaguars ever made.

The latest version of the Jaguar XJ bristles with new automotive technology, including a lightweight aluminium construction, whilst at the same time retaining all the traditional Jaguar characteristics of luxury, performance, comfort and contemporary styling.

The new XJ body will be manufactured almost entirely from aluminium, a material that has had a long history with the marque. The construction of the body will use the ultra-strong techniques found in aircraft and the result will be a shell that is 40 per cent lighter than an equivalent steel body, but equally as strong and in places more so.

The shell will use rivet-bonding joining technology, for the first time ever in the automotive industry, in which self-piercing rivets are used in combination with aerospace-sourced epoxy adhesive to join the aluminium pressings, castings and extrusions. This provides great strength, robustness and durability.

The aluminium body is primarily a conventional monocoque with added structural castings and extrusions to enhance the body and to reduce panel count.

A magnesium beam (as strong as aluminium but 30 per cent lighter) fits across the width of the car to support the fascia and instrument panel and this combines with aluminium panels to produce a lightweight steering column. Magnesium castings are also used for the seat frames.

The new XJ is longer, taller and wider than its predecessor, thus offering more room for occupants and luggage alike. The styling has been carefully designed to produce a modern interpretation of an iconic design. The doors will be deeper and the waistline higher than before and the car will have slightly more of a 'cab forward' approach with the four wheels closer to the corners. The front overhang is much reduced and the windscreen has a less steep rake to it, but the resulting smaller bonnet retains the classic sculpted XJ shape and profile.

The new oval headlamps are a more distinct element in the front end styling and are positioned either side of a new grille of intersecting vertical and horizontal bars, although the XJR models have a different grille.

The interior of the new XJ blends Jaguar traditional values with modern features and convenience facilities. The interior professes to be the epitome of true craftsmanship combined with greater interior space and extremely comfortable seats, even by Jaguar standards. All necessary dimensions are improved for better headroom, legroom and shoulder room. The driver's environment - thefacia, seat and controls - are distinctively new and represent ergonomics of the highest level.

David Scholes, chief programme engineer for the new XJ, was quoted as saying at the Paris Motor Show, "You don't have to be a computer expert to operate the new XJ. Our customers are emphatic in their opposition to gratuitous technology and unwanted features intruding on the driving experience, which fits exactly with the Jaguar philosophy of making technology relevant at all times.'

However, Jaguar take the opportunity to introduce one of the more recent technologies which they have called 'Jaguar Voice' - this is a voice activated control of systems including audio controls, telephone, climate control and navigation. Yet another advance is a multi-media entertainment system that allows simultaneous enjoyment of three different systems - audio, video and games. Screens mounted in the rear of the front seat head restraints display TV programmes or games, with headphone capability to avoid disturbing other occupants. So the driver can be listening to the radio or a CD whilst one rear passenger plays on the game system and another watches a movie or DVD.

The interior is divided into four climate zones each with individual controls for regulating temperature settings and each zone having dedicated face vents and foot outlets.

The new XJ will be available with a choice of four engines. At the top end will be two versions of Jaguar's famous V8 4.2-litre engines. The supercharged version producing 400bhp will be used the XJR models and the naturally aspirated version with its 300bhp is available in other models. These powerful engines should produce an awesome dynamic driving performance as they will be matched with the new lightweight body shells.

The next engine is a brand-new 3.5- litre V8 that produces 262bhp. Another engine new to the XJ range is the 240bhp 3.0-litre AJ-V6 that has been introduced to offer a new, lower, level of price accessibility to the XJ range of Jaguar cars. This engine will, therefore, see a return of the famous XJ6 badge. All four engines will be coupled to the 6-speed auto-transmission that Jaguar first introduced in 2002 in the revised S-TYPE models. This transmission is designed by ZF and will be an ideal match for the new range of engines for the new XJ models.

The new XJ chassis will feature new suspension systems based on improving the designs and technologies used in the revised S-Type but with an important additional feature - self-levelling air suspension. The adoption of air suspension for the XJ is a first for Jaguar and will complement the aluminium-intensive construction of the double wishbone systems. Air suspension inherently has an advantage over coil springs in respect of comfort and refinement and is required for self-levelling systems. Self-levelling is important as the weight of passengers will be a significantly higher percentage of the GVW due to the lightweight body construction. The air suspension system will also automatically lower the ride height at speed to improve stability and increase aerodynamic efficiency.

The new XJ will also benefit from an enhanced version of Jaguar's CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension) which will be standard on all models.

One new driver convenience feature is the electronic parking brake that offers drive-away release and automatic application when the ignition key is removed. This system obviates the need for a parking or handbrake lever, thus freeing up space between the front seats.

The new XJ range will continue with many other advance technologies such as Emergency Brake Assist; ABS; Dynamic Stability Control; Adaptive Cruise Control and Advanced Restraint Technology System - this controls the deployment of the front, side and side curtain airbags in a front-end or side collision.

The latest generation Jaguar XJ models will be officially launched in April 2003 and will be available shortly after in the Middle East markets.