At the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea last night, Jaguar unveiled the all-new XJ – the company’s four-door flagship model...

“It is the most emphatic statement yet of Jaguar’s new design direction,” said Jaguar styling supremo Ian Callum, as he pointed out the elongated teardrop shape of the car’s side windows, the powerful stance and wide track. “The new XJ is a thoroughly modern interpretation of the quintessential Jaguar.”

Sleek, sporting and sophisticated, the XJ boasts a panoramic glass roof – the key to that lower, more streamlined roofline. Both standard- and long-wheelbase models are offered, the latter giving an additional 125mm of rear legroom, while the 520-litre boot on both models can readily swallow two large suitcases, side-by-side.

Jaguar has used aerospace-inspired aluminium body technology to keep the weight of the new XJ down, making it a claimed 150kg ‘lighter than its rivals’ – a vital factor in delivering the promised performance, handling and economy.

Inside the cabin, chrome and piano black details contrast with leather and veneer surfaces, available in a range of choices not seen before. Three specification levels – Luxury, Premium Luxury and Portfolio – are exceeded by the Supercharged and the top-of-the-range Supersport, the latter including a leather roof-lining, semi-aniline leather seats and veneers with laser inlays.

The 12.3-inch high-definition ‘Virtual Instruments’ complement an 8-inch touch-screen that projects DVD movies or television programmes to the passenger, allowing the driver to concentrate on vehicle functions or the sat nav.

All Jaguar’s efficient new Generation III petrol and diesel engines will be available in the XJ: the 3.0-litre V6 diesel, 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 and 5.0-litre supercharged V8, joined by a 470HP version of the supercharged unit.

Hosted by American chat-show presenter Jay Leno, last night’s launch attracted an impressive array of public figures, business leaders, celebrities and the media, keen to welcome a car which, in the words of Jaguar MD Mike O’Driscoll, “re-imagines the ultimate sporting luxury car”.

The all-new XJ is available to order now, with the first customer deliveries scheduled for early 2010. Prices start at £52,500 for the standard-wheelbase 3.0-litre V6 diesel Luxury.

Register for Jaguar’s updates at www.jaguar.com/allnewxj.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Jaguar Cars