But anyway. At first glance, little has changed on the 2013 model year XJ. Or at second glance either. In fact visually, it’s pretty much exactly the same as the current model. But there are tweaks elsewhere. Before we get to the engines, please note the new eight-speed ZF transmission, with fuel-saving stop and start tech. And, depending on the market, you may notice some new badges. And that’s it.
So, the new engine. It’s a four-cylinder, turbocharged unit, mounted longintudinally, that produces 237bhp and 252lb ft. You may remember it from the Range Rover Evoque, where it gave the little SUV the feel of a hot hatch. But that was in a hatch-sized vehicle. This is not. And yet, Jaguar says it’ll work. A 0-100kph time of 7sec is quoted in the press conference, which isn’t scintillating but certainly isn’t slow.
But how does it feel? Time to find out. Outside the hotel, a fleet of XJ Ls await for the assembled journalists, and off I set. The route takes us through the English countryside and towards the stunningly picturesque Cotswold region. The roads are A and B-roads and typically English – badly maintained, tree-lined and full of traffic and speed cameras.
And on this beautiful day, they’re also full of classic cars.
Lots of classic cars.
