Test drive Jaguar XJ 2003 - 2007 Sedan
Spirit & Soul
In the far already 1971, the premium-world plunged into the redistribution of spheres of influence. The shooter was the British Jaguar, who equipped his cars with a motor of breathtaking V12 configuration, which had hitherto considered the prerogative of exotic supercars like Ferrari and Lamborghini. 5.3-liter power unit of 272 horses accelerated the solid XJ12 sedan to 240 km/h! Here even the Germans were won. Mercedes-Benz was able to contrast an arrogant newcomer athletan 300 SEL 6.3 with a 300-horsepower V8 (Haha!) And a maximum speed of 224 km/h, and the best of the BMW 2800CS had a shameful 170-horsepower insole six under the hood. As for the Americans, they pickled in their own juice. In anticipation of the oil crisis on Cadillac and Lincoln cars, monstrous motors like an 8.2-liter V8 v8 in Eldorado could still be hung up for the best Europeans in equal conditions.
Germany answered. But with some, let's say, with a delay. The first post-war German car with V12 BMW 750i appeared in 1987, Mercedes-Benz pulled up four years later with its epic 600 SE in the SE SE W140. But what about Jaguar? The unreliability and moodiness of the Yaguar V12 became the parables in the tongue. The company received more problems from these engines than bonuses. Ford Motor Corporation, buying Jaguar Cars Ltd. In 1989, for 1.6 billion pounds, made a number of attempts to improve the situation around V12 engines. As a result, it was decided to abandon them at all. The good name turned out to be more expensive than many cylinder prestige, and since 1997, the upper line of the Yaguarovsky rating has been occupied by cars with compressor V8.
There is such a version in the XJ family of the seventh generation. It can easily be bought: in Russia, the 400-horsepower XJ8 SuperchaRged costs from $ 129,000. And in the pictures you see the car easier than the basic XJ6 with a six-cylinder engine. But is he worse from this? No and no again! Here he is, passionately adored by fans and well -known amateurs of a low, flying silhouette on huge wheels. Here it is, a long hood crowned with four headlights, all as thirty years ago. Classic! The corporate design of a clearly biological origin: the softness of the contours is in harmony with an increased tone of metal muscles.
Classic forms naturally determined the conservatism of design. The new XJ is much like his predecessor both outside and inside. But this is only visibility. Under the traditionalist shell hides a riot of ultramodern technology. Jaguar XJ The world's first car with aluminum body type Monocock! The difficulties in preparing for the production of these bodies caused almost a six -month delay with the display of the model to the market. In addition, the machine is mass -pneumatic suspension with an electronic system for adjusting the rigidity of shock absorbers.
I am afraid that the efforts of engineers may remain not appreciated in full. Jaguar is so solemn that I do not want to drive it with smoke from under the wheels, on the contrary, I want to make a self-sufficient to defile on city avenues. It is foolish to prove to someone the power of this machine, it is intuitively obvious. And it is measured not in ordinary LS, but in completely different units. It is heard in the sound of the word Jaguar, when the lazy impressiveness breaks off with a threatening growl. It is inherited by a fascinating graceful jungle predator who can do alone, but accurate and therefore deadly attack. The corporate design of a clearly biological origin: the softness of the contours is in harmony with an increased tone of metal muscles. Jaguar will delight fans of lurking in the archives no less than desperate aesthetes: seven wins in 24 hours of Le-Man are worth a significant! Today, connoisseurs of the purity of the breed do not stop groaning and gasping: not the one, they say, has gone today Jaguar. And really, not the same. Independence does not smell, in the production program you can find front -wheel drive, four -cylinder engine, station wagon and oh, God! turbodiesel. However, such a genetic engineering proud cat is taught to survive in the modern world. And who needs a dead jaguar of blue blood? It’s easier to give up than fight. As for the diesel engines, or there will be: active tests of motors on diesel fuel are now conducted by Ferrari and Porsche! Are there any questions to the jaguars after that?
Light skin, varnished nuty tree, soft plastic, chrome is a lot, but the combination is selected with an excellent taste.
Open the car door and may console you. Here everything is dusting with snobbery and antique luxury. Light skin, varnished nuty tree, soft plastic, chrome is a lot, but the combination is selected with an excellent taste. The atmosphere here is a comfortable, relaxing. A striking contrast with the soulless-technocratic wealth of German cars! Even the central console with its simple buttons and faded displays does not cause internal protest. Showing its imperfection in this way, for some reason, Jaguar becomes closer, warmer. Another example of a charming irregularly irregularly irregular slot of the machine gun in the form of the letter J. is inconvenient, but stylish.
Modern Jaguar cars have real chances to tear off an impressive piece of Russian premium market. Especially in conditions of ongoing sales growth in this segment. They have a recognizable style, technology and something more that is commonly called not spirit, but their souls. But in order not to remain the choice of a bunch of informals, the brand as air needs competent promotion. With the institution of the Russian representative office of Jaguar, the British Brand received a long -awaited chance.
Jaguar XJ (Series VII)
Engines: 4
Transmissions: 1
Body flowers: 17
Salon decoration options: 12
Options: 38
Price: from $ 86900
Top version, it is the only one: 400 hp/0-100 km/h 5.3 s
Among the basic equipment:
adaptive pneumatic suspension Cats
dSC stabilization system
electric drives of the steering column and pedal unit
electromechanical parking brake
Among the options:
long -drawn body
sport Premium sports package
navigation system with TV tuner
four-zone climate control
rear seats electric drives
two rear colored LCD monitor
heating the steering wheel
onboard phone
remote control of the garage gate
sheep's wool rugs
Jaguar
It is part of: Ford Motor Company
Headquarters: Coventry, Great Britain
Brand registration: 1935
Founder: Lyons
Years: 1935-39 and since 1945
Production range: 4 models
Source: Wheel magazine [No. 91/2005]
