ENGLISH FOR THE ADVANCED

GEORG KACHER FROM SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG REVIEWS THE ALL NEW XJ

GERMANY --- There was never a brand that dared to undertake a change of style like Jaguar. The new XJ will make history, whichever way. This radical change in design can also be a flop and this was taken into account. According to Peter Modelhart, CEO of JLR in Germany, Jaguar anticipated that they could lose 50 to 60 per cent of their customers. Yet, the first orders show that maximum 20 per cent of the customer have a problem with the design.

Ian Callum and his team have designed a completely new interior with only very few features we are familiar with from the just as modern XF. The XJ has virtual instruments on a screen and the driver can choose them as required. There is a multi-function steering wheel with 17 switches. In addition the interior is characterised by wood, leather and chromium finish, all included in the standard price of 76900 euros.

On the road, the XJ is surprisingly dynamic. The three litre diesel engine has 275 hp and acoustically unobtrusive together with explosive engine performance. The Jaguar body is light compared to that of the competitors Mercedes and BMW, with 150 kilos less on the scales . Fuel consumption is 7.5 litres per 100 km, which is only half a litre more than the EU standard.

This would be doubled with the five litre V8 supercharger. The power and the sound of the engine are perfect for the sporty luxury league. Top speed is still set at 250 km/h, yet a higher top speed in the 300 range is is no longer being denied.