First Impressions

Jaguar’s flagship four-door XJ is all-new for 2011, sporting a voluptuous new exterior, sumptuous cabin, and powerful new engine options.

Its visual mix of muscle and grace follows in the paw prints of the XF, but also includes inspiration from the 1968 XJ, from the upright grille to the long, simple sweeping flanks.

Twenty-first century design elements include a short front overhang, long cats-eye headlamps and a sleek, low-slung greenhouse, which features distinctive, and controversial, blacked-out C-pillars, along with a standard panoramic glass roof. LED taillights accentuate the XJ’s haunches and rear end.

A long-wheelbase version is available, which adds a little over five inches to the standard XJ’s already excellent rear legroom.

The interior features more leather than ever, swaddling the seats, doors, center console, and, in Supersport trim, even the roof.

The XJ’s instrument cluster is entirely virtual, appearing on a 12.3-inch screen beneath the shroud. The dash-mounted analog clock, however, is as real as they come.

Bowers & Wilkins surround sound delivers audio quality on par with the finest home systems.

In the chrome center stack, there’s an eight-inch LCD touch screen which controls everything from navigation to standard HD radio. “Dual View” technology allows the driver and front passenger to view two different media at the same time.

Base power is a naturally-aspirated, direct-injected 5-liter V8, rated at 385 horsepower. Supercharged models get a forced-induction, 470-horsepower version, and to top it off, the XJ Supersport gets the same 510-horsepower, supercharged mill that motivates the XFR. A six-speed automatic with sequential manual mode is the only shifter.

On sale now, the 2011 XJ starts for $72,500, but can easily tops six figures in more exclusive Supercharged and Supersport trim.