Even if Jaguar has just unveiled a facelift for the old XJ, this is not the only news coming to us. In 2009 the company will unveil a totally redesigned model, with design cues taken from the latest C-XF Concept and from the upcoming XF sedan. Even if the new generation XJ will be built on the current aluminum platform, everything on the exterior will be changed.

More recently the 2010 Jaguar XJ was unveiled by late night funny man Jay Leno and the beautiful super model Claudia Schiffer. The all-new XJ is the first Jaguar model to be built using Jaguar’s aerospace-inspired aluminum body technology. The vehicle will be available with a choice of new ultra-efficient Gen III classification petrol and diesel engines consisting of a 3.0 Liter diesel V6, a 5.0 Liter naturally aspirated V8 as well as the almighty 5.0 Liter supercharged 8 cylinder power plant.

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Specifications
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  • Model: jaguar-xj

2010 Jaguar XJ

Specifications
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In an attempt to make all Jaguar models the most modern car on the road, the new XJ will have modern and aggressive lines and a more muscular look. The new generation XJ will be designed under the supervision of Jaguar design Chief Ian Callum. Jaguar wants the new XJ, codenamed X351, to be more radical than the XF that will be unveiled in 2008.

Ian Callum explains the design philosophy behind the car: "Sports sedans were Jaguar’s mantle with cars such as the Mk2 and Series 1 XJ of the 1960s – and we’re having it back! But we’re not harking back to another era for the sake of it. Instead we need to recognize design elements and move forward in a modern and contemporary way."

With prices to go up to more than $150.000, the new XJ will be a strong competitor for the Mercedes CLS, Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Flying Spur.

At 2007 Detroit Auto Show Jaguar unveiled the C-XF, a concept that previews the future generations of sports saloons and reaffirms the direction Jaguar is taking. On the same auto show, the company also promised that the “new Jaguars would be beautiful, fast, glamorous and evocative”. In order to keep that promise, the new XJ will take many of its design elements from the C-XF concept: the narrower nose with narrower headlights, the same large, square grille. Also the car’s interior design theme is close to that seen in the C-XF concept, but with addition of some hi-tech fixtures and fittings.

New on the XJ models will be the windscreen that is said to extend back into the roof panel.

Under the hood, the new XJ will feature a lineup of engines including a Volvo-derived in-line six and updated V8. There will be a 3.2 liter V6 and V8 engines and also the new 3.2 litre petrol six. Also the V8 engines from current model will be upgraded to 5.0 liters. The 5.0 liter V8 engine will have an output of 300 hp. It will make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 5.8 seconds and will have a top speed of 165 mph.

Jaguar will also add a supercharged version powered by a 5.0 liter V8 supercharged engine producing up to 500 horsepower; the 0 to 60 mph sprint will be made in 4.8 seconds and the top speed is estimated to 190 mph. All the XJ models will come standard with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

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History

Jaguar first unveiled the XJ in 1968 that has served as the Jaguar flagship model for most of its production span which continues through to today.

Jaguar XJ Mark 1: 1968–1992

The XJ Mark 1 was launched in 1968 in a series of television advertisements featuring Sir William, the company's founder. The Mark 1 had three different series: Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3. The XJ Mark 1 was produced until 1992.

The Jaguar XJ Mark 1 Series 1 (XJ6) was powered eighter a 2.8 L or 4.2 L Inline-6 engine. In 1972 Jaguar unveiled the XJ12 version powered by a 5.3 L V12 engine.

In 1973 Jaguar unveiled the Second Series XJ. The XJ12 version, with a 5.3 L V12 engine, was again part of the lineup along with long-wheelbase models and a coupé, now considered a collector's item due to its rarity. A .4 liter version of the XK engine was available from 1975.

Jaguar produced 91,227 units of the Series II, 14,226 powered by a 12-cylinder engine.

In 1979 Jaguar unveiled the 3 Series XJ, with design elements created by Pininfarina. The XJ was now offered with three engine variants including the 5.3L V12, the 4.2L Inline-6 and 3.4L Inline-6.

The last Series III XJ with a six-cylinder engine was produced in 1987. Production of the Series III XJ continued until 1992 with the V12 engine.

Jaguar XJ Mark 2: 1986–2002

In October 1986, Jaguar released the Project XJ40, an all new model that was intended to replace the original XJ6. The XJ40 was supposed to be designed by Pininfarina, but Jaguar decided to to stick with its internal design studio for their newest creation.

The XJ40 was offered with only six-cylinder units. In 1989 Jaguar replace the 2.9 liter engine with a twin-cam 3.2 liter version. Also the 3.6 liter was upgraded to 4.0 liter.

In 1993 Jaguar revealed the XJ81 or XJ12 saloon. The XJ12 was powered by a 6.0 liter V12 engine and featured a four speed automatic transmission.

In 1995, Jaguar unveiled the X300 Series with cues from the Series III. It was offered with a 4-liter six-cylinder unit or from the 6-liter 12-cylinder unit. In addition, a 322bhp supercharged version of the straight-6 was offered and badged as the XJR.

In 1995 jaguar also unveiled the XJ12, know as the X305, limited to only 3400 units. It was the last Jaguar to be powered by a V12 engine. The XJ12 was a big competitor for the BMW 750iL and Mercedes-Benz S600.

In 1997 Jaguar brought the first biggest changes under the hood and on the inside. The new model was code-named X308 and it was powered by a V8 engine, available in 3.2 L, 4.0 L and 4.0 L supercharged versions. The X308 had an output of 290 hp and 240 hp for the naturally-aspirated 4.0 L and 3.2 L versions respectively and 370 hp for the supercharged version.

Jaguar XJ Mark 3: 2002–present

The Mark 3 was unveiled in 2002 and featured an all-new aluminum lightweight body. The new XJ was codenamed X350 and included: XJ6, XJ8, XJR, Vanden Plas, Super V8, and Daimler Super Eight.

The Mark 3 was powered by the same V8 engine from the previous models, but the 290 Bhp 4.0 litre and 370 Bhp 4.0 litre supercharged engines from the X308 Mk II were replaced by the S-Type's 300 Bhp 4.2 L and 400 Bhp 4.2 L supercharged units respectively, while a new 3.5 V8 was also introduced for the European market. Derived from the 3.2 engine of the previous model, it produced 265 Bhp.

The 240 Bhp 3.2 L V8 from the previous model was replaced by the 240 Bhp 3.0 L V6 from the X-Type and S-Type. The V6 powers the XJ6, while the XJ8 is powered by a naturally-aspirated V8. The XJR is powered by a supercharged 4.2 L V8. The XJ6 and the XJ TDVi are the only X350 models not sold in the Americas.

In 2004 Jaguar unveiled the Super V8. it was powered by a 4.2-liter supercharger V8 engine that produced 400 horsepower.

In February 2007 Jaguar unveiled a facelifted version of the Mk 3 XJ for the 2008 model year. A range of four engines – from the highly acclaimed 2.7-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel engine that offers outstanding performance and economy, through to the mighty 4.2-litre supercharged V8, gives customers a choice of rewarding powertrains.

Every XJ has automatic transmission and includes many of Jaguar’s latest technical features, and of course craftsmanship and quality are high on the list of attributes.

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Competitors



2007 Mercedes CLS-Class

Mercedes unveiled the CLS-Class for the 2007 model year with three newly developed engines, even better safety and a more extensive range of standard equipment. The 292 hp six-cylinder engine of the CLS 350 CGI consumes about ten percent less fuel than a comparable V6 petrol engine with port injection. The CLS 500 will be equipped with the new V8 engine from the S-Class, whose output of 388 hp is about 26 percent higher than that of the previous eight-cylinder engine. Another new development is the CLS 63 AMG, whose V8 naturally aspirated engine generates 514 hp.

The range of engines for the CLS-Class now includes two eight-cylinder engines with high output and torque. The CLS 500 will be equipped with the 285 kW/388 hp V8 engine from the S-Class, whose output surpasses that of the previous eight-cylinder unit by about 26 percent. At 530 Nm the engine’s maximum torque also exceeds that of its predecessor by around 15 percent. The new CLS 500 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5,4 seconds, 0.7 seconds faster than the previous model.

Mercedes-AMG has developed the new CLS 63 AMG, which is powered by a 378 kW/ 514 hp V8 naturally aspirated engine. The new vehicle’s output has been increased by 28 kW/38 hp compared to the predecessor model, the CLS 55 AMG.

An all-new V6 diesel (165 kW/224 hp) will meanwhile increase the maximum torque of the CLS 320 CDI from 376 lb/ft to 398 lb/ft.

Maserati Quattroporte

The Maserati Quattroporte is designed by the famous Pininfarina house and is the ultimate embodyment of qualities for which Italy is well-known worldwide: respect of beauty and good living, style, sophisticated engineering, genuinely sporty temperament and alluring exclusivity.

The Quattroporte is powered by a double-overheaded-cam 4.3-liter V8, developed by Ferrari, which is rated at 393 hp at 7,250 rpm and 333 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. According to Maserati, it takes 5.1 seconds from 0 to 60 mph and puts the top speed at 171 mph. The power to the rear wheels is sent by a six-speed sequential-shift manual transmission (called ‘Duo Select’) with an electrohydraulic clutch. This Duo Select allows manual gear-changing via steering-wheel-mounted paddles or, optionally, it can function in a fully automatic mode.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Bentley unveiled the Continental Flying Spur in 2006 at the New York Auto Show. Is the fastest four-door in the company’s history, and the fastest in the world, with a top speed of 195mph.

The Continental Flying Spur is powered by a 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged 12-cylinder engine which will propel the car to 60mph in 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 195mph. This awe-inspiring piece of engineering was created for both the coupé and four-door versions of the Continental and delivers phenomenal power (552bhp/411kW) as well as that legendary wave of torque (479lb ft/650Nm) from low revs that is the hallmark of every Bentley.

The 12-cylinder block has a 48-valve head with four camshafts that operate using continually variable valve-timing. Power is transmitted via a seven-bearing crankshaft to the car’s six-speed automatic transmission. To ensure that the large powerplant met stringent Euro IV and US LEV emissions regulations the twin turbochargers were designed with a unique bypass valve that automatically sends exhaust gases to heat the catalytic convertors when the car is started from cold. This valve then operates as the turbocharger wastegate at all other times.