-For 2016, the Jaguar XJ gets its first thorough makeover since 2010. And you’ll have to squint extra hard to spot the changes. Or, if we’re being honest, any XJ on the road at all.
That the current XJ doesn’t appear in any way outdated after six model years is testament to two things: Ian Callum deserves his big salary, and XJs—and indeed, all Jaguars—sell in very limited quantities. Be it due to perceptions of unreliability or Mercedes‘ total domination of the market, only 4300 XJs left the lot last year, continuing the car’s streak as the lowest-selling full-size luxury sedan. BMW and Lexus sold twice as many 7-series and LS models in 2014, and Mercedes nearly six times as many S-class variants. This is a damn nice car that too many rich people don’t drive.
-Still, it’s heartening that Jaguar didn’t fuss with the beautiful body. Oval exhaust tips, standard LED headlamps with J-shaped DRLs, a tweaked grille and front bumper area, and enlarged corner air ducts to match those on the 2017 XE and 2016 XF are the only noticeable updates. Engines and powertrains carry on as they were, but rear-wheel-drive models switch to electric power steering. Jaguar’s new steering gear wouldn’t fit on all-wheel-drive cars, though, so six-cylinder all-wheel drive XJs will remain hydraulically boosted.
-Inside, the XJ’s perplexing electronics get a reboot. As in the XF, the 2016 XJ gains what Jaguar calls InControl Touch Pro, its redesigned touch-screen interface that claims to reduce lag thanks to a solid-state hard drive, quad-core processor, and multiple computers connected via the faster Ethernet protocol. Swiping, pinching, and other finger gestures are supported, plus the voice control gets updated to allow you to dictate full addresses for navigation entry. The digital instrument panel also gets new graphics, including the ability to display the navigation map across the entire screen, à la Audi TT.
-Over time, the nav will also recognize your commute and suggest alternate routes to beat traffic. Another nifty feature: When equipped with 360-degree cameras, the screen will display the birds-eye view when you’re within 200 meters of the destination and point to open parking spaces. One of the cameras can recognize speed-limit signs and relay the info to the driver.
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-A new smartphone app can monitor the XJ’s fuel level, start the engine, adjust the climate, unlock the doors, and show its exact location. Rear passengers can plug their USB and HDMI devices to the optional entertainment system, which now features 10.2-inch screens that flip 180 degrees flush into the seat back when they’re not in use to ensure that no black boxes mar the elegant view.
The XJ’s safety electronics gain a stop-and-go function for the adaptive cruise control, additional warnings for the standard blind-spot system that can detect fast-moving vehicles, and rear cross-traffic alert. Rear-wheel-drive XJs now have automatic parallel and perpendicular parking abilities, as well. The new XF’s driver assists, including autonomous braking, lane keeping, a drowsiness monitor, and a head-up display, have not been added this time around. Expect those features on the next generation.
-While the XJ pampered plenty before, heated and cooled front and rear seats are now standard. The 380-watt, 14-speaker Meridian stereo gets ditched for an 825-watt, 17-speaker unit with three surround-sound modes. A new 26-speaker, 1300-watt system will be reserved for the uppermost XJs. The XJL Portfolio (the starter trim for long-wheelbase models) and XJL Supercharged include diamond-stitched seats, and the XJR is now available in a short-wheelbase configuration. Short XJs also get contrast stitching and piping, which before was part of a $4000 option package. Also, to make things more complex, the six-cylinder short XJs all get an “R-Sport” designation but no additional performance upgrades that such a name might suggest.
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- 2016 Jaguar XF: Lighter in Weight and Heavier on Tech
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- Jaguar XJ 3.0 V-6 Tested: Half the Cylinders, Twice the Reliability?
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- Jaguar XJ News, Reviews, Photos and Pricing
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The 2016 XJ goes on sale this fall. Pricing won’t creep much higher, as the XJ is already a surprisingly good value next to its heavier, less nimble competitors. Getting attention in a class that includes the redesigned 2016 7-series and stalwart S-class will continue to be a challenge, though.
-from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/1GbAidn
via Agya
