Jaguar's giant strides

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

The seventh-generation Jaguar XJ is longer, wider and taller and has more interior room than its predecessor, but preserves the look which has been Jaguar's hallmark since the first XJ was introduced in 1968.

It was launched to New Zealand dealers in Queensland the other day and is already in main-centre Jaguar showrooms.

There are four XJ models, now powered by V8 engines coupled to six-speed automatic transmissions driving the rear wheels.

Gone forever from the engine mix are the straight sixes which made Jaguar famous. Gone from the New Zealand XJ range is the 3-litre V6 from the S-Type.

Two XJ models are badged SE and come with the choice of 3.5- or 4.2-litre V8 engines. The 3.5 model delivers 196kW/345Nm and costs $153,900. The 4.2 puts out 224kW/420Nm and costs $174,900.

Next in the lineup is the $198,900 XJR, powered by a supercharged version of the 4.2-litre V8 producing 298kW/553Nm. That used to be 400bhp and 408lb ft.

The top-line model is the Super V8. It uses the same boosted engine with the same output as the XJR but has more goodies, hence the $214,900 price.

"We believe the retail pricing is the most aggressive in its class, given the exceptionally high standard of feature levels available," said Steven Pleciak, general manager of Jaguar New Zealand.

But dial in the options and prices can climb through the sunroof. The voice-activated system costs between $2535 and $3380. Heated seats with every-which-way adjustment are $7735. A heated, full-wood steering wheel costs $1805. Adaptive cruise control is $5165. Four-zone air-conditioning is $4165. Self-cleaning Xenon headlights are $2705. Sports air suspension is $1985. Special 20-inch wheels are knocking on $10,000.

The two cheapest optional extras are a special rearview mirror at $300 and ski hatch and bag at $590. The most expensive is twin rear TV screens with DVD player at $9920.

Jaguar says the new XJ can be all things to all people: a dynamic drive for the purist, or a magic carpet journey for the indulgent.

The new model - the second built by Jaguar owner Ford - is lighter, stronger, with a better ride/handling mix than the previous model, says chief programme engineer David Scholes.

The main departure from saloon tradition centres on the use of aluminium - which has a significant place in post-war Jaguar history - for the bodyshell.

Jaguar used technology pioneered by Lotus and refined by Ford stablemate Aston Martin to follow the example set by the Audi A8 in 1994.

The result is a car bigger overall but with a shell weighing 40 per cent less - about 200kg - than the previous model. Jaguar says the torsional stiffness of the car is 60 per cent better than the outgoing XJ.

"We chose a lightweight aluminium vehicle architecture for the new XJ not because it was something new, but because it enabled us to deliver real and significant benefits to our customers," said Scholes.

The kerb weight of the SE models is 1615kg. The XJR and Super V8 weigh 50kg more.

The XJ has always been the quintessential Jaguar and the new car represents not only what Jaguar has been, but what it will be.

Said design director Ian Callum: "The new XJ had to be clearly identifiable as an XJ, capturing the recognised essence and style of the classic lineage ... but it also had to have a modern idiom all of its own.

"The proportions, stance and obvious dynamic quality clearly display that all-important Jaguar DNA and give it real presence on the road."

The new car was designed to continue the comeback of a brand which battled before and after the Ford Motor Co bought it for $US2.5 billion in 1989.

Back then, Jaguar was a crock. It was leaking money. Each Jaguar came with 11 defects a vehicle, compared with one for the then new Toyota Lexus.

It took the Browns Lane plant in Britain 200 man-hours to build a Jaguar. Japanese workers built a Lexus in 10 man-hours.

In 1992, worldwide sales of Jaguar plunged to just 22,074. Ford was thinking of writing off its investment. But it didn't. It rebuilt Browns Lane, hired the brightest executives, men like its chief operating officer Nick Scheele, now with Ford in America.

Things started to turn around. Jaguar quality improved. So did sales. Within five years, worldwide sales had doubled.

The luxury carmaker jumped another rung in 1997, with the start of its most aggressive product launch in its history. First up was the XK8 sports car. Then came the S-Type, the first mid-size four-door in 30 years. The smaller X-Type sedan followed.

Sales soared, and Jaguar has sold more cars in the past 10 years than it did in its first 40 years.

Jaguar now has the broadest product line-up ever - and the new XJ is its signature saloon.