New XJ the cat's whiskers

By DAVID LINKLATER

Pretty familiar? Perhaps, but don't turn away just yet. Look a little closer, for the picture above shows Jaguar's all-new, seventh-generation XJ sedan, set for its first public appearance at tomorrow's Paris Motor Show.

In fact, Jaguar executives have had September 26 circled in their diaries for quite some time. Not only does it mark the opening of one of the most glamorous motor shows in the world, it's also 34 years to the day since the launch of the first-generation XJ.

The new XJ may be a dead ringer for the previous model from some angles, but it's a clean-sheet design from the British luxury marque with a crucial part to play in the fight against the likes of the Audi A8, the BMW 7-series and the Mercedes S-class.

The XJ headlights have evolved into an oval shape, and the new grille takes its inspiration from the original 1968 model. The front overhang has been reduced, the windscreen rake is not as steep and the waistline is noticeably higher.

The XJ is longer, wider and even more luxurious than its predecessor, but about 200kg lighter model-for-model thanks to aluminium construction. The bodyshell (also called "the body in white") is 40 per cent lighter than the old car, yet 60 per cent stiffer. The company says that its use of rivet-bonded joining technology for the whole body is an industry first.

A magnesium cross-car beam supports the dashboard and is combined with aluminium to produce a lightweight steering column. Magnesium castings are also used in the seat frames.

The new XJ will come with the choice of four engines: the famous XJ6 badge returns with an entry-level 3.0-litre V6. Next step up is the familiar 4.2-litre V8, with a supercharged version powering the sporty XJR. A new 3.5-litre V8 will also feature in the range. All four engines get a six-speed automatic transmission.

The front and rear suspension is developed from the S-Type, but with the addition of an air-levelling system across the range. A first for Jaguar, it increases spring stiffness relative to load and ensures that the ride height remains constant. The air suspension automatically lowers at high speed to improve stability. An enhanced version of the Computer Active Technology Suspension (CATS) is also standard.

Driver technology includes an electronic parking brake with drive-away release and automatic application on removal of the ignition key, along with adaptive cruise control that automatically maintains a safe distance from the car in front.

The biggest criticism of the previous XJ's interior - limited rear legroom - has been addressed in the new car with a 180mm increase in the wheelbase. The wood-and-leather ambience traditionally associated with Jaguar continues in the new cabin, which also features adjustable pedals for the driver and 16-way seat adjustment.

Options include voice-activated controls, four-zone climate control for the air conditioning and a multi-media entertainment system that can run up to three different audio, video and games systems simultaneously.

The new XJ will be shown in New Zealand early next year, but is not expected to go on sale until the second quarter of the year.