Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged Jaguar
2011 Jaguar XJ Supersport
May 27th
Elegant though it was, I have to admit that the Jaguar XJ was getting to be a bit of a hard sell. Its retro styling and sleek, cigar-shaped body were the epitome of cool twenty years ago, but Jaguar’s constant upgrades on the same theme just weren’t in keeping with the changing face of the luxury-sport sedan breed.
So, for 2011, at long last, Jaguar threw out the template completely. This was a big step for the British brand, whose lineup has always been strongly steeped in tradition. For the new XJ, Jaguar’s managed to produce a clean-sheet update that manages to incorporate just about everything that makes the cars identified by the chrome cats awesome. The 2011 XJ is close to being just what a modern Jaguar ought to be, in fact. More >
2006 Jaguar XJ Super V8 Portfolio
Jan 8th
How do you feel about classic lines, a spacious and comfortable back seat, sumptuous leather and wood and a supercharged V8 under the hood? It’s hard to argue with Jaguar’s vision of luxury. The unique XJ has been prowling the automotive jungle for decades now, and its long, low silhouette has been a part of the Jaguar lineup through thick and thin. Mention the name “Jaguar,” and chances are this is the car people will think of. Even the iconic E-Type of the 1960s can’t quite compare to the sheer staying power of the XJ’s basic design. For 2006 Jaguar introduces the most luxurious XJ ever: the Super V8 Portfolio.
The seventh-generation XJ was introduced in 2004; the long wheelbase (LWB) version followed later that year as a 2005 model. The wheelbase has been stretched five inches, and most of that is devoted to improved rear legroom. Does it work? The LWB model accounts for more than half of XJ sales. For 2006, the lineup gets subtle design tweaks, a higher level of standard content, and, most significantly, the Portfolio limited edition, of which only 150 will be brought to North America. Inspired by Concept Eight show car that hit the circuit in 2004, the XJ Portfolio builds upon the impressive, all-new platform introduced in the same year. More >
2005 Jaguar S-Type
Dec 31st
It gets bandied about so often that it’s practically a cliché, but it’s true that there’s nothing quite like a Jaguar.
Now, that’s technically true about any car, but in Jaguar’s case it’s an especially distinguishing feature. Among luxury cars and luxury sport sedans, the competition is so fierce that the constant application of “me-too” features and the latest fashionable design tweaks results in a trend toward homogeneity. It’s easy to drive coast-to-coast in an Acura, Infiniti, Volvo or Mercedes, but often a bit difficult to find anything like a personality. Not so with Jaguar. For better or for worse, the British manufacturer’s products stand apart from the luxury car herd, and always have. The 2005 S-Type is no exception to this rule. From its retro-influenced styling to its fluid grace on the road, the S-Type still stands out, even though it’s been around since 1999 without major design changes–and even though Detroit is hip-deep in the things these days, since all the Ford executives are driving them. More >