Monterey 2009: 2010 Jaguar XJ has North American debut at Pebble
2010 Jaguar XJ - Click above for high-res image gallery
The XJ was, for the longest time, the model most commonly associated with the Jaguar brand. Like Porsche's iconic 911, the XJ's basic shape had soldiered on for decades with significant platform changes hidden behind an all-too-familiar face. When Jaguar switched things up by introducing the forward-looking midsize XF a couple of years ago, people started to take notice that it wasn't going to be business-as-usual anymore in Coventry – or Mumbai for that matter. Heritage and tradition were one thing, but Jaguar needed something radical to reclaim its place at the top of the luxury sedan class. Enter the 2010 XJ, an all-new vehicle with an all-new look that should help Jaguar capture some all-new customers.
Borrowing heavily from the XF playbook, the new ultra sedan offers tastefully modern styling with a dash of traditional elegance and a healthy dose of British class. Sure, the tail lamps might look like they were borrowed from a Citroen, but in person this car has genuine presence. It is a large vehicle compared to the previous XJ, but not as big as, say, an S-Class Benz. The proportions remind us of the BMW 7 Series and the new Porsche Panamera.
As we've told you from our first encounter with the car a month ago, the new 2010 Jaguar XJ will be available in regular or extended wheelbase form, with one of three variations of the company's direct-injected 5.0 liter V8 underhood. The base models get a 385-horsepower normally-aspirated version; the XJ Supercharged gets boosted to 470 hp; and the top-of-the-line Supersport gets the XFR's 510-hp mill. Prices will range from a base of $72,500 to $115,000, making this one dear kitty. No matter the price, it's one striking sedan, and we can't wait to get some seat time soon. Until then, check out our high-res gallery from Pebble Beach below.
Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ Live
Gallery: 2010 Jaguar XJ
Live photos from Pebble Beach copyright ©2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
LG 10:24AM (8/23/2009)
Very impressive up front. The back is still great but needs some better presence. I guess I'm looking for the XF's tail to be somehow matched with this new car face and then it would be ideal.
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Arkz 10:24AM (8/23/2009)
It looks so much better in black.
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Arkz 10:26AM (8/23/2009)
Actually, that's technically dark brown, but close enough. Would look even better in deep black.
mybora99 8:39PM (8/23/2009)
The front end looks too much like an Infiniti FX for my taste. And that ain't a good thing.
Insight 10:26AM (8/23/2009)
I try to reserve judgment until I can see it for real...I try. I think I like it, though it looks huge and a bit like a Bentley Continental ran into an XF at really high speed and just the trunk is left sticking out.
Strange that the rear of the car is the place Jag decided to take a design risk - I think the rear of the XF is by far that car's most successful styling element.
Bet they sell a lot in black to mask the c-pillar treatment.
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zamafir 12:51AM (8/24/2009)
i'll never get why they did it, it's not like it was a stark raving success when audi did it decades ago, why ape 'em?
Visnick 10:29AM (8/23/2009)
Am I the only one who finds this car -slightly- ugly?
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Cameron 10:34AM (8/23/2009)
You're not alone. To me it's SO close to being awesome, and I'm betting it's a fantastic car from the driver's seat, but it seems like they were just trying to do too much with the styling.
Middle Aged 10:44AM (8/23/2009)
more like..............really ugly!
MajorGeek 11:15AM (8/23/2009)
I feel a little Buick, maybe a touch of Audi and even a bit of the Mercedes & VW roofline. Put it all together with a hood with squared off cues that look like it was made on a press by hand and frankly I find the entire car a pile of fail.
Josh 12:44PM (8/23/2009)
I don't like the rear 3/4 view at all, but the rest are very impressive (especially in the darker colors... er colours...) Overall, I love the car and it has grown on me a bit.
jacflash 3:34PM (8/23/2009)
I find it more than slightly ugly. I do wonder what Ian Callum was thinking here, particularly with that grille.
doug 10:35AM (8/23/2009)
Looks much better in real photos than in the original photos Jaguar released....but, that blacked out C pillar still looks cheesy, and notice the misaligned hood and huge panel gaps. Not good.
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Jared 10:47AM (8/23/2009)
The misaligned hood is awful and indicative of Jaguar's typical quality control (or lack of same). Check out the alignment of the hood at the right headlight. You can see the problem very clearly from both front and side views, in close up pictures and from a distance.
They are bringing this car to Pebble Beach and can't be bothered to ensure that the panels are properly aligned? Typical Jaguar fail. They (still) don't get it.
Arkz 11:42AM (8/23/2009)
I find it very funny that the spectators are only allowed to see the left side of the car. But in all fairness, this is probably a pre-production model with not much thought or care but into it.
the4thheat 10:45PM (8/23/2009)
It's an English (well, also Indian I guess) car...so this is merely part of it's authentic English charm!
If it had Lexus-like fit, well then it would "have no personality" and totally "lack charm".
lovesomegreatcars 11:00PM (8/24/2009)
"and notice the misaligned hood and huge panel gaps. Not good."
Whatever doug, obviously someone didn't close the hood (bonnet) all the way. That's all this is.
Here is another photo of the new XJ from Pebble Beach with the hood closed.
LINK: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dryheatpanzer/3847893132/sizes/l/
lovesomegreatcars 11:19PM (8/24/2009)
And also check out other live photos from Autoblog
LINK: http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2010-jaguar-xj-4/
LeeRyder 10:39AM (8/23/2009)
Looks like a Buick to me..pretty, but it is a Buick!
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BosGav 5:35PM (8/23/2009)
Half of this car's design is great. The other half is a big mistake-- hard to understand how it got through the system. In general people seem to be trying to be open minded to liking it, but I think we're all going to realize,
nope.
It's just bad.
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