Jaguar's uniqueness is especially evident inside. Slipping in is like strolling into an English gentleman's club, with yards of supple leather; luxurious deep-pile carpeting; and polished wood on the doors, instrument panel and steering wheel.
The leather is outstanding, light, creamy leather in our Vanden Plas, and the wood trim is beautiful. The steering is handsomely trimmed in wood and leather and the leather surround for the shifter is a much more elegant solution than wood or metal. The cabin includes one of the best clocks I've ever seen, elegant and straightforward. Instruments are handsome, unadorned gauges, simple and understated, in keeping with the elegant mood, and easy to read.
The stereo and climate controls are nicely designed with big knobs for volume and fan speeds. There are a lot of audio and climate controls, so it takes a little time to learn them. However, they are logical and well-designed and become relatively easy to find and operate even when the driving gets busy. It's the same way with the window controls, which are mercifully located on the door.
Memory functions automatically adjust the driver's seat, steering wheel and outside mirror. The driver's seat moves back when Park is engaged for easy exit. It moves forward to its previous position when the ignition is turned on. A cup holder pops out from the console, but drinks tend to get in the way when shifting.
Not everything is perfect in the XJ, however. Plastic water bottles fly out of the cup holder in corners. Also, the cup holder pops open when the center console is slammed shut.
The Vanden Plas, with its longer wheelbase, offers a huge rear compartment. Legroom is expansive, providing nearly five inches of additional space over the standard XJ8 (39.2 vs. 34.3 inches). Headroom is just as generous as legroom. The rear seat in this sedan is not a secondary seating area; it coddles its occupants with many of the luxury functions found in the front seat. Seat heaters are provided. The bench seat has two depressed seating areas, but a third person would be comfortable in the middle. Traditional British picnic tables (like airline tray tables, only much nicer) fold down from the front seatbacks. Two rocker switches, mounted in a small pod to the left of the seat, allow rear-seat passengers to move the front-passenger seat fore and aft and adjust the angle of the seat back, handy when the chauffeur is busy driving or when front-seat passengers won't cooperate or can't find the controls. Vanden Plas provides slightly more headroom in front, as well.
All models have the same size trunk. It's a good boot, but not as large as the trunks in the BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Jaguar's XJ cars are fast, stable, and surprisingly nimble. They glide along smoothly, making their owners feel like a million bucks.
Throttle response is instantaneous from the standard XJ8's 290-horsepower V8 engine. On dry pavement, with the traction control turned off, the XJ8 will light its rear tires and deliver startling acceleration performance. Jaguar says the XJ8 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, an impressive feat given its size and weight. Under the bonnet is Jaguar's 4.0-liter V8 with double overhead-cams and four valves per cylinder. Called the AJ-V8, it produces 290 horsepower at 6100 rpm and 290 pounds-feet of torque at 4250 rpm.
Likewise, the big Vanden Plas is fast traffic. Punch it at highway speeds and you're past all those lesser automobiles. We were surprised how well this longer wheelbase model handled on narrow, crowned roads in Virginia's Albemarle County. Handling is crisp and well controlled, even in vigorous transient maneuvers. Shocks automatically get firmer as the car is pushed through the corners. The Vanden Plas comes with Jaguar's Computer Active Technology Suspension, or CATS. It sounds like something from a James Bond movie, but it works great. Essentially, CATS is a two-stage adaptive ride control system that automatically adjusts the shock absorbers for road conditions and the driver's demands. Handling of the Vanden Plas is very impressive for such a big, heavy sedan. It comes with a choice of 16- and 17-inch tires on special alloy wheels.
Jaguar's five-speed automatic transmission is silky smooth, even at full throttle. You can almost feel the transmission signaling the engine to reduce power slightly because a shift is coming. There's a nearly imperceptible pause as the gear is changed, then the surge ahead continues. The five-speed automatic adapts electronically to varying driving conditions. It senses whether the driver is cruising the Interstate, hotfooting down a back road, or climbing a long grade, and it varies shift points accordingly for optimum power and efficiency. The driver may select Standard or Sport modes: The standard PRNDL pattern can be used, or shifts can be made manually by moving the stick to a separate gate on the left. This can be entertaining at times, but almost seems superfluous with a transmission that does such a great job of shifting on its own. The manual operation is electronically controlled to prevent downshifting at an inappropriate speed. The Jaguar transmission even compensates for aging by adjusting shift quality based on any slippage it detects.
Automatic Stability Control is standard on all Jaguars. ASC operates at all speeds, easing back on engine power to reduce wheel spin on slippery roads. If a rear wheel starts to spin, the anti-lock brake (ABS) sensor signals a computer, which then reduces the throttle opening, retards the ignition timing or cuts fuel to the cylinders. Jaguar's traction control system includes all ASC functions plus brake intervention. Both types of traction control can be switched off. The brakes work well on the XJ models and are easy to modulate.
The front suspension on the XJ Series is independent, with unequal-length upper and lower wishbones, coil springs, shocks and an anti-roll bar. Lower wishbones are used at the rear with the drive shafts acting as upper links, a setup Jaguar has favored since 1961. These components are arranged to discourage lift while braking and squat while accelerating. Variable-ratio rack-and-pinion power steering is speed-sensitive.
XJR, XJR100, and Super 8 models are transformed by the supercharged engine, and make the XJ8 seem sedate by comparison. The belt-driven blower is nestled between the 90-degree cylinder banks, forcefully pumping air to the intake system. Intercoolers chill the air to increase its density and, thus, its oxygen content: Call it O2 concentrate. The upshot is powerful and immediate throttle response, and the setup inflates the XJR's torque all the way up to 387 foot-pounds at 3600 rpm. At a mere 1600 rpm, the XJR produces as much torque as the normally aspirated XJ8 does at its peak. Zero-to-60 time is 5.4 seconds, and the quarter-mile arrives in the high 13s. That's quick by anyone's stopwatch, and amazingly quick for a big luxury sedan.
The supercharger whines when you're working it, a hot-rod sound that comes as a bonus with the XJR's hot-rod performance. Our test model was black, and it's the only color we can imagine for the XJR. In one package, you have elegance, brawn and, when you stand on the gas, outlaw aura. It may sound schizophrenic, but it all comes together in wonderful, symbiotic harmony.
For 2002, all XJRs ride on CATS. The XJR's suspension is tuned for its role. But this isn't a car you flick, it's a car you bend. And when you bend it into the corners with respect, it responds with dignity. The Pirelli 255/40 ZR18 tires certainly contribute to its impressive grip, which other testers have proven on a skid pad. But those same tires also deliver an ever-so-smooth ride. It takes an extreme road surface or an overly aggressive driver to upset the XJR. The ride and the engine could almost lull you to sleep, if you could possibly imagine falling asleep in such an exciting automobile.
The five-speed automatic transmission is perfectly suited to the Jaguar's personality. It's the same transmission used in the AMG Mercedes-Benz E55, and a heavier-duty unit than the five-speed automatic used in the XJ8, XJ Sport, and Vanden Plas. Punch sport mode and you can shift it manually, once you've slid the shift liver into the short end of Jaguar's trademark J-gate shift pattern.
The XJR also carries bigger brakes than the XJ8. The front rotors are 12.8 inches in diameter, up from the XJ8's 12.1, and the rear rotors are 8.0 inches vs. 7.2, yielding 16 percent more swept area. They'll certainly stop you quickly enough, but the pedal feel and travel is on the luxury side of sporty.
So despite its hot-rod demeanor, the XJR is really the ultimate grownup's cruiser. It's hard not to compare it to the far less compromising BMW M5, but they're totally different beasts, forcing one to admit that "high-performance sedan" is a broad description. The XJR may not be as quick as the M5 or AMG E55 on a twisting road circuit, but the Jaguar would hold its own on a banked oval like Michigan International Speedway or, better yet, the flatter Indianapolis brickyard. At those faster circuits you might back off the throttle and feel that fantastically smooth engine roll up and down. Top speed is rated at 155 mph.
Super V8 models offer the roominess and luxury of the Vanden Plas, but benefit from the much more powerful supercharged V8 and the XJR suspension.
Ford now owns Jaguar, and the XJ has greatly benefited from Dearborn's financial support and modern technology. Jaguar's traditional problems with electrical systems and electronics have been eliminated since Ford became involved.
Jaguar's XJ Series includes six models. XJ8, XJ Sport, and Vanden Plas are powered by a 4.0-liter twin-cam V8 rated at 290 horsepower. XJR, XJR100, and Super V8 models get a supercharged version of the same engine rated at 370 horsepower.
XJ8 ($56,330) comes with nearly every luxury item known.
Vanden Plas ($68,330) rides on an extended wheelbase for increased rear-seat legroom. It trimmed in elegant Autolux leather and inlaid walnut burl. Heated mirrors, heated seats, traditional British picnic trays, and a six-disc CD changer contribute to interior ambiance.
XJR ($71,830) comes with a supercharged and intercooled version of Jaguar's AJ-V8. To support its increased performance, the XJR comes with a firmer version of Jaguar's Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS) plus sticky P255/40ZR-18 Pirelli P-Zero tires, and special sport seats. For 2002, the DVD navigation system comes standard on the XJR.
Three variations are new for 2002.
The Super V8 ($79,330) is a supercharged Vanden Plas; it combines the long wheelbase and interior luxury of the Vanden Plas with the supercharged engine and tighter suspension of the XJR.
The XJ Sport ($59,330) shares its shorter wheelbase and naturally aspirated (i.e., non-supercharged) engine with the XJ8, but borrows the XJR's sport seats and more aggressive suspension and tire package.
The limited-edition XJR100 adds 19-inch BBS modular wheels and Brembo brakes with cross-drilled rotors to the standard XJR's qualifications. Special Anthracite paint lends a unique appearance, offset by charcoal leather with red stitching. The XJR100 is named for the 100th anniversary of the birth of Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons. Only 240 examples will be sold in all of North America.