Sleek, sexy and sophisticated

sorts.
When it comes to this aspect I believe that Jaguar’s new flagship the XJ fits the bill because it’s hotter than the retro limousine.
It is a vehicle made for the executive who does not compromise on quality and excellence.
The Jaguar XJ L Supercharged is sleek, sexy and sophisticated. It has a cabin that is adorned for royalty.
This car is fitted with a clever rotary shifter that brings the Jaguar’s supercharged V8 engine, which does zero to 100kmph in just 4,5 seconds, to life.
When I went for a drive in this beauty with Wilberforce from Premier Auto, I was so amazed about the capabilities of this car such that I had so much adrenaline pumping through my system.
It is a car that at once represents a stunning new direction for the stuffiest nameplate in the luxury class, and also a potential shake-up for a market segment dominated for years by Germany.
It takes a special car for a shopper to consider something other than a BMW 7 Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, yet the XJ should do just that thanks to class-leading style and performance.
In addition it has a massive list of standard features and a price that undercuts its Teutonic competitors by thousands.
Its supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, which in this trim level produces 470 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque.
The comfort-biased tuning of the XJ’s adaptive suspension means this car cannot quite match the poise of German super sedans, but there is a nimble feel to the XJ that makes you forget there is about 10 feet of long-wheelbase English limousine still behind you. This car seems to have an inherent and natural agility.
The XJ still has wizardry like a Dynamic Mode that subtly alters the calibration of the suspension, transmission, electronic differential and stability control.
Meanwhile, the XJ steers with a little effort, friction-free feel, yet there is also a level of communication that is far more rewarding than the electric-assist steering of BMW’s flagship.
I think that I could literally live in one only that there is no bathroom ha ha. Its large wheels absorb the harshness over nastier bumps that you won’t experience in the more accommodating Mercedes S-Class, but milder imperfections are sufficiently suppressed.
The XJ is certainly better sorted than the heavy-footed-feeling in the XF and there is also none of the wafting-on-a-cloud suppleness of Jaguars past.
Inside the cabin of the XJ L Supercharged, you will discover front seats that come standard with heating, cooling, massaging and 12 ways of adjustment (not counting the lumbar and side bolster adjustments).
They are perhaps not as pleasingly contoured as the seats of an S-Class nor as supportive as the seats of a Panamera, but we doubt you would not mind much.
The power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel assures a driving position that favours average-to-tall drivers.
In most cars, backseat travellers are short-changed, but not in the Jaguar XJ.
There is no massaging or adjustments as in other long-wheelbase luxury sedans, but passengers in back still get treated to standard heating and cooling, as well as their own controls for the climate system and sunshades. There are also vanity mirrors, drop-down tray tables (perfect for a laptop) and, most importantly, enough legroom for practically everyone.
Aside from the abundance of leather and wood, the first thing you notice upon climbing into the low-slung cabin is the two dominant display screens.
One is a touchscreen for the myriad infotainment and climate systems.
It is thankfully quite large, and offers a smarter menu structure and crisper graphics than Jag’s other models.
The trunk opening is also wide enough to easily swallow a pair of golf clubs, but a few awkwardly shaped points in the trunk make other big luxury sedans more practical.
Not only is the Jaguar XJ’s cabin design unique and appealing from an aesthetic standpoint, its craftsmanship and materials quality are a step beyond its already impressive rivals. Actually, if you are considering a Bentley or anything else in that same category, reconsider, as the XJ’s cabin is easily just as nice and far less expensive.
Soft leather (available in two tones) covers do not just cover the seats, but most of the dashboard and doors.
Your choice of four veneers wraps beautifully around the interior and behind the dashboard.
Piano-black trim, ice-blue lighting and tastefully applied chrome further decorate this cabin fit for royalty. So if you have the hunger for the good things in life and have hard cash, this vehicle is for you at a cool price offcourse.
Manfred Chaniwa and his team at Premier Auto Services will assist with pricing and finance options. Till next week, enjoy the British mean machine. Ciao.

l Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast who has attended auto shows, rallies and has written for various publications in the region for the last decade. She can be contacted via email on [email protected], Facebook: Torque with Fact Jeke.