Has your time come to ignite an eight-cylinder supercharged super luxury sedan? Have you had enough of the beautiful yet abundant Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Lexus models that are in every other driveway? Are you looking to stand out in a crowd and show your neighbors, co-workers and the rest of the world that you have class and intrigue like no other? If so, then your next trip should be to a Jaguar dealership to test drive the all-new 2012 Jaguar XJL sedan.
After 41 years of having the same basic body design, Jaguar takes a bold step to transform its flagship XJ into a restructured work of art. After sales of the XJ began to decline, the team at Jaguar decided to juice up their iconic sedan with revolutionary changes to the XJ’s exterior and interior design.
The all-new XJL is a long-wheelbase version of the XJ with a new “Executive Pack” that transforms the rear of the XJL into a mobile office with fold-down business trays, an electric rear sunblind and reclining rear seat.
The 2012 XJ and XJL body panels are forged from aluminum which delivers a light curb weight starting around 4,000 lbs. for the base model. The sides come straight down and the roofline extends back far over the trunk. The hood, front driving lights, grille and spoiler pose a sculptured elegance. The overall design is as animalistic and muscular as the wild Jaguar as its name sake.
The organic lines and sloping roofline establish the agile and grace expected from the luxury brand. The standard glass top has two fully functioning sunroofs that generate an environment of openness and light. The XJL may just be the new standard of luxurious prominence.
The full model lineup for the XJ is as follows: XJ ($73,700), XJL Portfolio ($80,700), XJ Supercharged ($88,600), XJL Supercharged ($91,600, XJ Supersport ($111,200) and the XJL Supersport ($117,700). I had the extreme pleasure of having the XJL Supersport trim as my test vehicle. I was living large and receiving the nods of approval and envy during my week long test drive. What a car!
The incredible performance of the XJ comes from three engine choices. The XJL Supersport manifests its power from a 5.0-liter V8 supercharged engine that produces 510 horsepower and 461 lbs-ft of torque. The other two supercharged models pound out 470-hp and 424 ft-lbs of torque. The non-supercharged versions of the XJ come standard with a 5.0-liter V8 with 385-hp and 380 lbs-ft of torque.
The interior of my XJL Supersport test model had more leather than my living room. The opulent cabin design flows with the elegance expected from a super-luxury car priced twice as much as the XJL. This includes every detail of the interior, from the two-tone butter-soft hides to the walnut and piano black trim.
The front seats were incredibly comfortable and include a massage feature. Replacing your standard gauges is a 12.3-inch high-definition virtual instrument cluster graphically displaying the speedometer, fuel, temperature and more. A thin band of walnut curl veneer trim encircled the dash merging graciously into a prominent 5-inch strip on the doors. The steering wheel is composed of wood trim and leather with a multitude of controls. An innovated 8-inch touch-screen is used to assist with the radio and environmental controls as well as navigation and backup camera.
The rear compartment of the XJL Supersport was as cozy as the front complete with lighted vanity mirrors and drop down tables on each side. An electric rear window shade for additional privacy with heated and reclining rear seats are superior features. As you would expect since the “L” in XJL stands for length, the rear legroom was plentiful. To increase your comfort even more, rear passengers have individual heating and cooling controls, seat temperature controls, and a removable foot rest.
Premium surround-sound options include the top-of-the-range 1200W Bowers & Wilkins® system that is comparable in audio quality to the best in-home entertainment. Advanced infotainment features also include hard-drive based audio and navigation systems and comprehensive connectivity for portable audio and video devices via the powerful Media Hub.
Room for improvement:
- Poor fuel economy at 12 City and 17 Highway
Cool Features:
- Massaging Seats
- Panoramic Glass Roof
- SmartKey Keyless Entry and Start
The standard safety equipments for all the 2012 Jaguar XJ includes Xenon front and LED rear lights, traction and stability control, antilock brakes, alarm and engine immobilizer, side curtain airbags, front side airbags, tire pressure monitor system, blind spot warning system and active head restraints. The optional adaptive cruise control provides boosted emergency brake assist and a forward collision alert system.
In Summary – My conclusion is that the 2012 Jaguar XJL would make Jaguar’s founder, Sir William Lyons, incredibly proud and wish he was around for a behind-the-wheel experience. Despite the radical design change, sale numbers are proving that timing was everything when they brought the XJ into the 21st Century in both appearance and electronic proficiency. In terms of luxury, technology, and build quality, I wouldn’t hesitate to compare the XJL against the Bentley Flying Spur, BMW 7-Series or the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. In my humble opinion, the 2012 XJL Supersport tops the list.
Specifications
2012 Jaguar XJL Supersport
Base price: $117,700 as driven: $118,575 (including destination)
Engine: 5.0-liter V8-cylinder Supercharged
Horsepower: 510 @ 6500
Torque: 461 foot pounds @ 5500
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic with Overdrive and Paddle Shift
Drive: Rear Wheel-Drive
Seating: 5-passenger
Turning circle: 41.7 feet
Cargo space: 18.4 cubic feet
Curb weight: 4223 pounds
Fuel capacity: 21.7 gallons
EPA mileage: City 15 / Highway 21
Wheel Base: 124.3 inches
Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper
Also consider: Bentley Flying Spur, BMW 750Li, BMW Alpine B7, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class
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