Next Jaguar XJ Goes The Way of XF

Britain’s Autocar magazine says that a coming revamp of the big Jaguar XJ sedan could be the brand’s last shot at life under Ford.

The magazine, in its online edition, reports that the replacement for the current XJ – dubbed X351 internally – will keep the current car’s aluminum structure but will get an entirely new set of aluminum panels that will drastically change the car’s look, making it even more cutting-edge than the upcoming XF sedan.

Jaguar marketers have reportedly shown mock-ups of the car to customers, and are pushing the car upmarket in a last-ditch effort to save the Jaguar brand. The new car will be cast against competitors like the Benz CLS, Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Flying Spur in its next iteration.

Styling, shown in two illustrations on the magazine’s site, leans on the XF’s shape but with even more “space-age” details. Under the hood, a magnetic-ride system will take the place of the current car’s air suspension. And a new twin-turbo V-6 will be the entry-level powerplant, with a supercharged version of Jaguar’s upcoming 5.0-liter V-8 a “certainty.”

The new version is planned for production in late 2009, Autocar adds.


Autocar predicts next Jaguar XJ Enlarge Photo Britain’s Autocar magazine says that a coming revamp of the big Jaguar XJ sedan could be the brand’s last shot at life under Ford. The magazine, in its online edition, reports that the replacement for the current XJ – dubbed X351 internally – will keep the current car’s aluminum structure but will get an entirely new set of aluminum panels that will drastically change the car’s look, making it even more cutting-edge than the upcoming XF sedan. Jaguar marketers have reportedly shown mock-ups of the car to customers, and are pushing the car upmarket in a last-ditch effort to save the Jaguar brand. The new car will be cast against competitors like the Benz CLS, Maserati Quattroporte and Bentley Flying Spur in its next iteration. Styling, shown in two illustrations on the magazine’s site, leans on the XF’s shape but with even more “space-age” details. Under the hood, a magnetic-ride system will take the place of the current car’s air suspension. And a new twin-turbo V-6 will be the entry-level powerplant, with a supercharged version of Jaguar’s upcoming 5.0-liter V-8 a “certainty.” The new version is planned for production in late 2009, Autocar adds. Autocar predicts next Jaguar XJ