Comfort takes a back seat in Jag’s revised XJ

JAGUAR has released details of its updated XJ luxury flagship, which will feature enhanced equipment levels and an even more luxurious experience for rear-seat passengers.

Updates to the rear passenger compartment in the long-wheelbase 2014 XJ include two new individual ‘airline style’ reclining seats featuring multiple adjustment options and two memory settings, with recline adjustments of 11 degrees.

Rear-seat occupants can choose one of three massage options – wave/rolling, lumbar and shoulder, while the centre armrest not only houses controls for the rear seats, but a ‘Front Seat Activation’ button that controls the front passenger seat from the rear.

Jaguar has increased headroom in the rear of the cabin by 13mm and included fold-out leather business tables for work on the run, while re-tuned rear suspension improves the ride for back-seat passengers.

Entertainment options in the LWB model’s rear seat have been given a boost, with the option of two 10.2-inch high-resolution screens on the back of the front head-rests that can display inputs from a DVD player, digital TV tuner or a media player.

This can be managed through the use of a wireless controller housed in the centre console that can also adjust climate zones, and seat heating and cooling.

The XJ can also be optioned with a premium 1300W Meridian Reference audio system.

Jaguar has only made minor mechanical changes to the 2014 XJ, including the addition of idle stop and a revised eight-speed automatic transmission that detects how the car is being driven and adjusts the gear changes accordingly.

In Australia, the XJ is currently sold in both short and long-wheelbase bodystyles and is available in three specifications – the entry-level Premium Luxury priced from $198,445 before on-road costs, a mid-spec Portfolio starting from $222,245 and Supersport from $319,645.

The super-hot XJR sports saloon powered by the same 404kW/680Nm 5.0-litre V8 as in the XKR-S coupe and XKR-S mid-sizer, has already been announced for an Australian berth later this year and will be priced from $298,000 before on-road costs.

It is not yet known when the updated XJ range will arrive in Australia, but it could be around the same time as the XJR.

The current generation XJ was released in late 2010 and now faces increased competition with the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class scheduled to arrive in local showrooms later this year. Meanwhile, Audi’s updated A8 is launching in the second quarter of 2014.

BMW’s 7 Series received an upgrade earlier this year after originally going on sale in 2008, and with 75 sales for the year, is the top-selling upper-luxury car in Australia.

The S-Class is the second-best seller with 62 sales from January to end of July, followed by the Porsche Panamera on 57 sales and the heavily revised Lexus LS on 53 sales for the year so far.

The XJ is the next-highest selling model on 40 sales so far in 2013, with Audi’s A8 trailing on 36 units for the year.