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2012 Jaguar XJ Philadelphia PA

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2012 Jaguar XJ Design

Pulling the lower door sheetmetal inward toward the rear wheel enhances the hips covering the rear tires. The only design element that incites any controversy is the black polycarbonate panel between the rear doors and rear window, a pillar normally body-colored on other cars. From dead astern it looks merely a wider rear window, but from any other angle it tends to look better on cars with dark paint or deeply tinted rear windows.

Handling of the 2012 Jaguar XJ

The XJ uses fully independent suspension adapted but not copied from the XF with steel springs in front for precision and air springs in back for the best and level ride among varying loads. Ride quality and bump absorption is very good as even on 20-inch wheels pock-marked roads and expansion joints didn't come jarring through. Full air-suspended cars like the S-Class have a slight edge in ultimate ride cushiness but haven't the steering precision of the Jag, while others have multiple electronic chassis controls to help deal with the weight but impart a sense of artificiality to the drive.

The Supersport gets a more powerful supercharged V8, cranking out 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. Jaguar estimates it'll hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, but given our time for the regular Supercharged, it's likely the more vigorous Supersport will do better. Fuel economy estimates echo the Supercharged.

2012 Jaguar XJ Lineup

The 2012 Jaguar XJ is a full-size five-passenger sedan available in regular (XJ) and long-wheelbase (XJL) models.The base XJ comes standard with 19-inch wheels, an adjustable and self-leveling suspension, adjustable drive settings, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera and more.

The Jaguar XJ may be equipped with the Luxury Package, consisting of 20-way power front seats with massage, ventilated rear seats, four-zone climate control, electric rear window shade, suede cloth headliner and piped floor mats and leather upholstery. The long-wheelbase XJL includes the Luxury Package and offers rear seat business trays on the front seatbacks, six leather shades with up to three contrast-stitch and piping colors.

Interior of the 2012 Jaguar XJ

Inside, the XJ gets dual-zone automatic climate control, a heated and powered tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, heated and ventilated power front seats (12-way driver, eight-way passenger, four-way lumbar for both), front seat memory functions, heated rear seats and extended leather upholstery. Leather and wood feature prominently in the saloon, now an enveloping shape filled with conveniences in a blending of  low-cowl and technology, Italian shapes, and English materials. You may think English materials mean only flat wood planks, leather seats and wool carpet, yet the English make a majority of the world's racing cars so they know advanced materials and processes as well. The instrument panel is a 12.3-inch screen with renditions of analog gauges on it. The numerals near the gauge needles illuminate brighter than the remainder, drawing your eye for quick recognition and since it's a screen any number of messages, maps, gear selected and other information can appear on it. We noted the tachometer indication doesn't move as quickly as the engine revs.

Conclusion

The 2012 Jaguar XJ beautifully blends eye-catching style with dynamic poise and it's also a bargain. The Jaguar XJ does everything you expect in a luxury sedan, with room, amenities, quiet and thrust, with a sporty side always in the background that offers more driver interaction but one that never changes the car's personality. Eye-catching lines and serene cabins that marry contemporary design with both traditional and modern materials convey a sense of style that more antiseptic modern conveyances can only wish for and that the XJ has the performance to back up.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com