the new XJ Jag

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    Another Callum masterpiece . . . the new XJ Jaguar.

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  Another Callum masterpiece . . . the new XJ Jaguar.

Look no farther than the current super-sleek Jaguar XK sports coupe and the forthcoming new XJ luxury saloon, though that name is debatable because Jag’s new flagship XJ looks more like a GT car.

It was intentional because Callum wanted to get right away from the classical Jaguar look and move the brand into the 21st century.

First impressions would seem to indicate that he has achieved his intention.

The new XJ, due mid next year and priced from $193,800 for the twin turbo 3.0-litre V6, is a stunner from any angle and will undoubtedly spawn styling trends that will be used by other makers.

Scanning the long, svelte lines leaves you in no doubt about the potency of this large saloon car. It starts with the imposing, aggressive looking front with a deep grille, steeply raked screen, glass roof that seems to meld into the top of the screen, large doors with small window openings, fast back roof that ends at the tail of the car and those “Bentley” cats claw tail lights - wow.

And under the bonnet is an arsenal of Jag’s latest power plants ranging from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel V6 that’s good for a whopping 600Nm of torque and three versions of Jaguar’s 5.0-litre direct injection petrol V8, one naturally aspirated and two supercharged. The top engine has 375kW/625Nm output and can still return as good as 12.1 litres/100km fuel economy. It is capable of pushing the XJ Supersport model from 0-100km/h in a scant 4.9 seconds - not bad for a car that weighs in at 1915kg and has just about every luxury feature known to man.

Jaguar's all-new XJ unveiled in Qatar

Jaguar's all-new XJ unveiled in Qatar.

Jaguar, one of the world's most renowned luxury car manufacturers, in alliance with its Importer partner in Qatar, Alfardan Premier Motors, held an exclusive preview to showcase the market debut of its new flagship - the all-new XJ.Sleek, sporting and sophisticated, the All-New Jaguar XJ brings a daring new spirit to automotive luxury - it offers a seductive mix of striking design, breathtaking performance and engineering without compromise.

Building on the success of the new XK and XF models globally and in the Middle East, the introduction of the All-New XJ is a landmark for the revitalised Jaguar brand. Clearly positioned as the company's four-door flagship, it extends the appeal of the XJ to a new generation of customers.

Robin Colgan, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Middle East and North Africa said, "We are very excited about our All-New flagship which sets benchmarks in terms of design, performance and engineering. Jaguar customers in Qatar look for luxury, individuality and performance and we're certain the flagship XJ, which is truly beautiful and exhilarating to drive, will enjoy success here, just like the XK and XF."

Powered by the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 and 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engines; the All-New XJ is available in standard and long-wheelbase models with four specification levels for the cabin - Luxury, Premium Luxury, Portfolio and Supersport - allowing the customer to tailor the car to suit their tastes of choice in colours, veneers and leathers not seen before in a Jaguar.

The All-New XJ offers extremely attractive cost of ownership with impressive fuel economy and emissions performance across the range. The car will be available in showrooms across Qatar from Q2 2010.

Jaguar, Land Rover Finally Turn Profit

If you were among the few Jaguar/Land Rover fans that wondered why Ford would sell off two brands they’d just invested millions in, congratulations, you can now tell your friend’s “I told you so.”

Having bled cash for a while prior to the sale, both companies were given new facilities and new models right before their disownment, and it would appear that investment from Ford has finally paid off as Tata has recently announced that both companies have turned a profit. Yes, you read that right, a profit. Thanks to an increase of 23% in total sales over the last quarter, Jaguar/Land Rover posted a profit of almost $5 million.

While nothing to write home about (that’ll only buy you around 50 XK’s), the profit demonstrates exactly how far the two firms have come from their darker days. Now producing vehicles that are easily the equal of competitors once thought out of reach, it’s good to finally see the buying public expressing their confidence in the two historic firms.