Jaguar's new XJ flagship has been voted Best ride by British car magazine Auto Express.
In its Driver Power 2003 awards, the magazine said the car's "smooth,absorbent ride knocks spots off its rivals". More than 25,000 drivers took part in the survey.
The new XJ is due to be launched in Ireland in the last week of April, with the public getting their chance to see thethe car in dealerships in Dubiln, Cork and Galway the following week.
With prices expected to start in the region of €85,000 and rise to €150,000 there is still no confirmation as to the price breakdown within the range, though the 3-litre V8-powered model is expected to be the best seller, taking over 60 per cent of the market.
With Irish sales expected to reach 150 a year, the new version is expected to preserve Jaguar's share of the luxury segment,
The new XJ demonstrates a more evolutionary approach to development, rather than the more revolutionary approach of Jaguar's competitors, such as BMW. One can understand the aversion to dramatic change, particularly for such a traditional audience.
That's not to say that this is a simple facelift for the flagship range, which first took to our roads in 1968. The balancing act between retaining its traditional audience while trying to join the vanguard of technological advancement in the industry is reflected in several ways in the XJ. First and foremost is the bodyshell, carrying the typically Jaguar lines on an all-new aluminium frame.
On the road, the XJ features four engine variants, including a return of a six-cylinder three-litre unit to the range. Next is an enthusiastic 3.5-litre V8 unit, offering for us the best overall package, while the 4.2-litre V8 and supercharged version in the performance XJR tops the engine range.
Inside, the benefits of aluminium are clear, allowing Jaguar to increase space without turning the XJ into a fat cat. A vast improvement on its predecessor, there is a whopping 40 per cent more space in the rear and 27 per cent more in the boot.