Jaguar XJR Review

The latest Jaguar XJ was introduced to the UK in the spring of 2003. Although XJ initially stood for ‘eXperimental Jaguar’ there have been seven generations of Jaguar XJ - from the very first XJ6, which was unveiled by Sir William Lyons in 1968, to the all-new model. Total production since the first XJ model in 1968 is now comfortably past 800,000 cars - more than half of all Jaguars ever built.

The XJ now features an aluminium monocoque structure that brings outstanding weight savings compared to conventional steel cars; the new XJ is lighter than the outgoing model by around 200kg. This brings marked improvements in fuel economy and emissions and also provides excellent levels of safety and crash protection. In addition, the lighter vehicle weight allows for increased performance across the board and greater agility.

Having recently tested the wonderful Jaguar XK with the standard 300 bhp 4.2 V8 petrol engine, we though it prudent to try the 400 bhp 4.2 V8 supercharged XJR.

In the UK we have a choice of four engines -  a superb 204 bhp 2.7 twin-turbo diesel, a 240 bhp 3.0 V6 petrol, a 300 bhp 4.2 V8 petrol and the range topping 400 bhp 4.2 V8 supercharged engine that powers our test car the Jaguar XJR. All models are fitted with the ZF six-speed automatic gearbox featuring Jaguar’s famous ‘J’ gate selector.

As the Jaguar XJR is an all aluminium affair which gives the XJR an unfair advantage in the all important power to weight ratio, it only weighs in at 1659 kg compared to 1830 kg for a BMW M5. The body shell is some 40 per cent lighter than that of the equivalent steel body, yet the XJ is 60 per cent stiffer than its predecessor.