“Grace… Space… Pace”
Since the 1950s, this slogan has defined Jaguar. For buyers looking for a comfortable, luxury car that’s fun to drive and above all stylish, it’s definitely difficult to beat this English manufacturer. Long famed for high performance luxury cars, the company is reinventing itself with a string of new models to maintain it’s English craftsmanship heritage while pushing the design into the 21st century.
However, the most important question is which one is right for you? The entire lineup is loaded with equipment expected from a modern luxury car ranging from high-end sound systems to panoramic sunroofs, but each model delivers a unique combination of features for everyone from the executive to the driving enthusiast.
The XJ
The Jaguar XJ’s aluminum space frame chassis of this grand luxury sedan makes the car incredibly light for its size. As a result, the sedan has all the space and comfort of a large luxury sedan, without the characteristic heavy driving feel. Not only will it embarrass many midsize luxury sedans on curvy roads, but it can also accelerate faster than any comparable models on the market.
Although the car has only been on the market since 2010, that hasn’t stopped engineers from making innovative improvements each year, rather than resting on their laurels. This is the first car to get Jaguar’s new supercharged 3.0 liter V6. While other automakers have opted for turbocharging, Jaguar utilizes a supercharger to avoid the telltale turbo-lag. This results an engine that provides smooth power delivery comparable to a V8 with nearly identical performance, along with better fuel economy and front-to-rear weight balance.
The new Instinctive All Wheel Drive system provides better traction in bad weather, while being tuned to improve dry weather performance as well, maintaining the feel and driving dynamics of a rear-wheel-drive car. It even helps the car move faster, putting more power through the front wheels at launch and then to the rear as the weight shifts under acceleration.
The XF
The Jaguar XF delivers the driving experience and many design features of the XJ in a smaller package, only trading some rear seat and trunk room for even better handling. While many automakers aim to clock the fastest time on the Nurburging, this sedan goes one step further. Last year, proving it’s speed at the 24-Hour Race, the XF took home the trophy.
For the most part, the major differences between the XF variants are the engine options. The base XF get a 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, producing 240 horsepower that, thanks to the lightweight chassis, allows the car to go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. Not enough power? The 3.0 liter V6 option produces 340 hp and the supercharged 5.0 liter V8 bumps that power figure to 470 hp. The XFR gets an engine tuned to produce 510 hp with an XFR-S model expected this Spring at 550 hp..
The XK
The Jaguar XK follows a long line of fantastic grand touring cars including legends like the E-type and XK120. Like the XF, the XK is available with a 5.0 liter V8 in standard and supercharged versions, while the XKR delivers more power and better handling.
At the top of the lineup is the XKR-S. It gets a version of the supercharged V8 producing 550 hp and 502 lb.-ft. of torque, as well as a race suspension to provide supercar-like performance. Since its creation, this car was designed to do a sub-8-minute lap on the Nurburgring. The XKR-S was also planned from the start to retain its ride quality, making it one of the few cars in this class that is still comfortable in real-world conditions. Like the rest of the XK lineup, the XKR-S has a suspension that can be adjusted on the fly to provide more comfort or sharper handling. However it is missing the garishness of most tuner luxury cars; to the casual observer, the only tip-offs to this car’s performance are the small hood inlets and the badging.
If you’re yearning for a convertible, any of the XK trims come available with a drop top. The weight and structural rigidity penalties are very minor, giving all these cars the same performance experience as their hardtop counterparts..
To test drive the Jaguar XJ, XK, or XF in DFW, visit us at Park Place Jaguar Dallas or Park Place Jaguar Plano.