New Jaguar XJ Mule Spied

Radically different

By Frank de Leeuw van Weenen
January 21, 2008 10:41 AM
Filed Under: European, Jaguar, Spy Photos

Radically different

While the new Jaguar XF is picking up its What Car? Car of the Year Award in the UK, the Jaguar technical team is out in Northern Scandinavia testing the new underpinnings of the brand new, and radically different Jaguar XJ. It will also be much more daring than the Jaguar XF since the XJ will sell far less than the XF, according to Ian Callum, Jaguar's chief of design.

Don't be fooled by the exterior, it is taken from the current XJ, which received a facelift recently, but has been adjusted to make room for the wider track. The underpinning is based on the existing all-aluminium platform but modified for the X351, the new XJ's codename. Our spies expect to see the unveiling of the new Jaguar XJ in spring 2011.

Ian Callum has been full of praise about the Mercedes CLS, leading us to believe that the new XJ will combine the classic Jaguar design cues with the four-door coupe concept.

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Comments

smokeonit1

January 21, 2008 12:26 PM

jaguar, RIP...

who wants to own a car barnd owned by TATA???

jaguarlady

June 19, 2008 2:54 AM

Obviously you cannot afford a Jaguar! I have personally met Mr. Ratan Tata. Yes, Mr. Ratan Tata. He is a very nice down to earth gentleman who will be very good for Jaguar. He is very excited about bringing the new ideas that Jaguar has in mind to production. He listens to concerns and ideas. Unless you have all of the facts, I suggest you keep your comments to yourself. Of course, negative comments usually come from people who cannot afford a luxury car of the Jaguar caliber.

smokeonit1

January 21, 2008 1:57 PM

i agree

Marsman

January 21, 2008 2:26 PM

You got that right brother...

coupecars

January 21, 2008 4:22 PM

come on. Tata is the best thing that could have happened to Jaguar, considering the present situation. Tata is a huge company and they have a lot of money, and that's what Jag needs to survive (as a small manufacturer) considering the huge competition. As long as they keep the developing and the production in Britain it's ok for me.

mickey_f1

January 21, 2008 5:54 PM

Well, you never know what's gonna happen, maybe Jag could still be classy. You don't have to push it so much. But I really think this front bumper is terrible, especially when you look at the side line! These lights deserve something better below them...

Zero

January 21, 2008 6:53 PM

Tata will probably just be providing Jaguar with a bit of cash flow. To be honest, the direction Jaguar has been going has been quite positive, with the new XF. But, they still seem to be using the older engines, which are very much limited in their class. The German car makers just seem to provide so many options when it comes to engines, it just seems that Jaguar is lagging behind a bit.

coupecars

January 21, 2008 7:18 PM

yeah I think you're right "Zero". The only thing that Jag really needs now are fresh engines. Look at the V8; it's practically the same since the first XK8 in 1996... well, we'll see.

Penner

January 21, 2008 7:40 PM

Tata nano looks better ;-)

Alfafox5

January 21, 2008 8:44 PM

The bumper is lame, though I happy to see the XF style interior moving to other members of the Jag family. As far as Tata goes... I hope it all works out. Jag's have always been a dynamic machine, a classy ride that was never as common as a Merc or a BMW, I mean, I have seen a Merc Taxi, but not a Jag taxi... (this could be a good or bad thing depending on how you view it). I think Ford is letting go of too much too soon. If all they leave themselves with is the Fords we get in the US, where will the tech come from? Volvo is remaining only because their chassis have saved Ford to this point. With Rover and Jag moving forward they should have held onto them... lord knows once they are gone, they will not easily be retrieved... especially as they improve. Here's to hoping it all works out.

beale

January 21, 2008 11:30 PM

I have a 2006 XJ8L. I leased it with some trepidation, mainly because of past reliability issues. It has been THE best car I've ever driven. The lightweight aluminum body offsets the lower HP in relation to the German sedans. And it get really great gas milage for a large car. 29 mpg on the highway if driven well.

As for Tata, while I do think Ford bailed out too soon, I would not underestimate a man like Ratan Tata. I think the next 15 years will be very, very interesting when it comes to Tata.

foose1397

January 22, 2008 4:31 AM

Man, will people stop making comments on how this thing looks because all this is is a test of the inner components. they just slapped on a 2008 xj body. As far as Tata goes. It should be good for jag providing they continue on the right design trend and use there premium parts. They def have the money to make things happen

mojammer

January 22, 2008 11:36 AM

2011? NOOooooo... why so long? I really like the XJ and the prospect of a major style change is intriguing to me. I just hope they keep it light like the current one. And that they put the big HP engine that's being developed for the XF into it (supposedly around 500hp last I heard; 4200lbs and 500hp puts it closer to the S65AMG than anything else).

german-cars-lover

January 22, 2008 1:06 PM

I hope they don't make it like the XF.

qball

January 23, 2008 6:34 PM

Lots of bad info here. The new XJ will be out in late 09 as a 2010 model. Its more rad than the XF. With the alu body and 500 HP it will fly. Tata is a bad name, I can here the jokes now but they are big and let their purchased companies work with the local management. Lets give em a break

Teufel

January 23, 2008 7:39 PM

How appropriate that the new owner of Jag is an old British colloquial term meaning goodbye...TATA.

Teufel

January 23, 2008 7:45 PM

How appropriate that the new owner of Jag is an old British colloquial term meaning "goodbye"...TATA!

qball

January 23, 2008 8:14 PM

to much bad info. XJ will be out late 09 as 2010 model. It is much more radical than the XF. Tata is a real company that's successfull. Better than the current setup, except for engineering needs, that's a valid question.

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