Jaguar XJ: Get ready to be seen

CLIMBING INTO a really fine automobile is like wearing a bespoke suit. It's transformative. For if clothes make the man - and woman - then so does a car.

If you're stepping out of a Ford F-150 in a pair of overalls, no one would notice. Do that in a Jaguar XJ and it's a different story.

OK, now maybe there's a wealthy farmer or contractor who owns a pair of overalls and drives a Jag. And to all five of you, I say, "No offense intended." But having sampled Jaguar's finest sedan, the XJ Supersport, I would suggest trading in those Carhartts for a bit of Saville Row.

XJ drivers have to get used to being stared at; these cars are uniquely gorgeous.

Beyond their scarcity, it's the XJ's distinctive beauty that merits attention.

Jaguar no longer slavishly imitates past styling. Its new designs are thoroughly modern, but do pay homage to the past. The front grille comes straight from the 1968 XJ6. The rounded greenhouse appropriates its shape from the sexy XK coupe, while its thin supports contrast with the substantial lower body, a constant in Jaguar design. The effect is enhanced by the panoramic sunroof and dark-colored rear roof pillar, which give the illusion of a floating roof.

It's a bold stylistic leap. Unlike the previous XJ, which looked like an old Buick, the new one looks unmistakably like a Jaguar.

Inside, the reinterpretation continues. There's beautifully soft leather, plush carpets and unique Zebrano wood trim, just the sort of thing anyone would expect in a Jaguar. But look closer.

The instrument cluster is truly radical: It's digital. Three round dials mimic the look of analog gauges and, aside from the speedometer, they can be replaced by other readouts via toggle switches on the steering wheel. These toggles, while convenient, are too easy to accidently activate while turning the steering wheel.

It's not the only electronic screen nestled on the instrument panel. A screen in the center of the dashboard controls most of the other functions of the car, including climate controls, audio system, navigation and phone. If this sounds suspiciously like "My Ford Touch," it is. Keep in mind that while Tata Motors of India now owns Jaguar, Ford Motor Co. did most of the development work on this car. So the systems are identical in function, but different in look.

This makes, say, synchronizing your phone to the car easy, so that you can use the cars controls to chat. However, the system can be bothersome. The voice activation is a hit-and-miss affair. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Many functions require you to hit a very specific spot on the screen to activate. When you are successful, some functions respond slowly. These are all minor gripes, and very easy to accommodate.

But car designers should rethink how many functions to put into a system like this. For example, while most cars require hitting a simple button to activate a heated seat, the XJ requires you to hit three separate places onscreen before it's activated.

Kudos should go to Jaguar for its audio system. The Bowers and Wilkins 1,200-watt, 20-speaker surround-sound audio system features a CD/DVD player, two USB ports, Bluetooth 2.0 audio streaming and a 30-GB hard drive. The sound is some of the finest I have ever heard in a car audio system.

But what really matters is where the rubber meets the road. And just as the XJ's styling differs from its German and Asian competition, so does its performance.

All XJs use an updated rendition of last year's XJ chassis. It's built from aluminum to save weight.

Likewise, all models use a 5.0-liter double-overhead-cam V8 engine. In the base XJ, it's rated at 385-horsepower, and returns 16 mpg in city driving, 23 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA.

One step up is the XJ Supercharged, with a supercharged V8 developing 470 horsepower. The test car, an XJ Supersport, uses the same mill, but with 510 horses. The supercharged V8 is rated at 15 mpg city, 21 mpg highway. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard.

This large rear-drive car acquits itself well, as you'd expect. The driveline is ferociously quick, effortless even, and the supercharged engine shaves a half-second off 0-60 mph sprints. Speed comes on quickly, but smoothly.

The ride retains some of the softness of previous XJs, but overall, it's noticeably, but not objectionably, firmer. As you'd expect, body roll in corners is well-controlled, but it does crop up suddenly when this big cat is pushed hard.

Thankfully, the cabin is blessedly quiet, no matter what the speed. As for the cabin's spaciousness, you might want to consider the long wheelbase version of this car if back seat legroom is a priority. The short wheelbase test car had adequate room, but not without some compromise from front seat passengers. Count on spending an $3,000 for the extra space.

Like any true luxury product, the XJ is exclusive, exquisite and exceptional - like a fine suit of clothes.

Larry Printz, (757) 446-2220, larry.printz@pilotonline.com