Jaguar's XJ To Live On As Super Luxury Hybrid Sedan

In *MY* mind, I see the luxury market, whose top end is occupied by Mercedes' best offerings. Then I see the super luxury market, occupied by Rolls Royce and Bentley. Did I forget anyone?

I definitely don't believe Jaguar rubs shoulders with RR or Bentley, and so far, they haven't shown themselves to be equals to MB's best offerings, so the whole conversation about Jaguar and "super luxury" seems moot to me.

Yes -and I have been posting about the difference between PREMIUM vehicles and Luxury Vehicles as well - pointing out that a BMW 3 series is a sport sedan - not a luxury car.(Among others).

However - Jaguar has indeed produced a succession of Luxury Cars that I feel over those years did compare with Mercedes on LUXURY - that Mercedes has seen the light and produced the Luxury versions of its newest vehicles doesn't change that - it only adds "OTHER FEATURES" to the equation. Jaguar cannot hope to compete on that level - but as a Luxury car - the Jaguar XJ is clearly equal to the BMW 7 series or Audi A8. Before BMW and VW took over Bentley and RR - Jaguar was every bit an equal with their 12 cylinder version of the XJ - and Jaguar even won that contest in Magazines several times too.

However - I agree with your definition of Super-Luxury - and Jaguar does not belong in that class anymore.

The current XJ failed because it is a terrible car.

Dynamically it's more Chrysler 300 driving than Mercedes S or BMW 7.

Stylistically, Ian Callum f#cked up. About the same time as the XJ was to debut, Bertone did the B99 Jaguar concept which was sensational. Jaguar gave us a Merkur Scorpio, hatchback-looking mess with cheap plastic masquerading as glass.

Ian Callum is not a brilliant designer is you look at his Jaguar years. He did the CXF concept which was brilliant, then watered it down big time for the first XF then he watered that down even more for the current XF. The XJ is putrid. The XE and the F Pace are DULL. Yes, the F type is gorgeous, but that is the only bright spot.


But the Jaguar engineers are also incapable of matching Mercedes polish and build quality. While Mercedes vehicles aren't as reliable as a Camry, Jaguars behave as if FCA pulls the strings on reliability targets.

Things break and fall off on an XJ that simply would never happen on a Mercedes S. The car develops squeaks and rattles QUICKLY.

Then factor in Jaguar's abysmal resale value and...

The trick to doing a new XJ is to go big and retro at least in the sense of people being able to see the car and instantly know it's an XJ. The XJ has a known look like a 911, a Corvette, a Mustang and deviating from that DNA is dumb.

Fire Callum.

Then do the next XJ.

I just hate it when I have to agree with Mr. Darringer. The only quibble is his observation about squeaks and rattles. My 2006 XJ Super V8 (now gone but still loved), remained solid.

I am currently driving a 2011 Mercedes S600 and by any measure I have to admit it is a better car. But it lacks character. It's so...efficient. Jaguars ought to be a gentlemen's club on wheels (although ladies are certainly welcome), with a bit of nimbleness and sufficient power. Callum missed the mark. The exterior was not distinctive, and the interior, although dramatic, was and is too cold.

A retro XJ would pull me back.

It's ok to agree with me. I'm always right. :)

My comments about the squeaks and rattles stem from the experience of three of my "grandfathers" (car guys more than double my age) that I had the fortune to come across when (1) I had no father figures, and (2) was a teenage car nut.

All three kept me busy washing, dusting, starting, and helping to keep their collections from rotting and all three were Jaguar men who reluctantly bought new XJs when they first came out.

I say reluctantly because all three hated the styling, but got good deals because of connections.

Perhaps the rattles were due to early production.

Two of the grandfathers went the Mercedes route and one gambled on an Equus out of curiosity. He loves it and wants a G90.