Jaguar keeps new XJ opening price below $200,000

IN A move that undercuts rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Jaguar has announced its new-generation XJ limousine will be priced well below the expected $200,000 mark when it reaches Australian showrooms in the second quarter of 2010.

As the British brand’s redesigned four-door flagship made its world motor show debut in Frankfurt this week, after a glamorous premiere with Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson in London eight weeks ago, Jaguar Australia revealed that the 3.0-litre V6 diesel XJ opener – in short-wheelbase form – will have a recommended retail price of $193,800, plus on-road and government charges.

As well as offering more power, torque, stronger acceleration, less fuel consumption and fewer emissions than the Mercedes S320 CDI and BMW’s new 730d, the XJ V6D will also undercut them on price, based on current figures.

The S320 CDI Premium Luxury starts from $201,810 and the 730d from $198,800, handing the big Cat a $5000-$8000 advantage over its respective rivals, although it remains well above the $172,900 Audi A8 3.0 TDI quattro LWB.

The long-wheelbase XJ V6D – which, like all LWB models, will be available from launch – is set to start from $201,800.

Jaguar claims that the AJ-V6D turbo-diesel – which features the new twin sequential-turbo six, as seen in the latest XF – produces 202kW of power from 4000rpm and no less than 600Nm of torque from just 2000rpm, and can return 7.0L/100km and 184g/km in SWB form. The XJ oil-burner’s claimed 0-100km/h acceleration is also impressive for a 3.0-litre diesel limo, at 6.4 seconds.

In comparison, the 730d produces 180kW/540Nm, hits 100km/h in 7.2 seconds and returns 7.2L/100km and 192g/km. The S320 CDI manages 173kW/540Nm, reaches 100km/h in 7.8 seconds and achieves 8.3L/100km and 220g/km of CO2.

From the V6D, the XJ series moves into the third-generation 5.0-litre AJ-V8 petrol engine line-up, which in naturally aspirated Premium Luxury form starts from $246,000, rising to $254,000 for the LWB. A SWB Portfolio model variant will also be offered, priced from $269,000.

The natural-breathing version of the new AJ-V8 produces 283kW at 6500rpm and 515Nm at 3500rpm, and returns 11.4L/100km and 269g/km. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds.

At the $300,000-plus mark, XJ customers will be treated to the latest supercharged iterations of the AJ-V8, which at the highest end features a 375kW/625Nm version that can propel the limousine to 100km/h in a claimed 4.9 seconds, and return 12.1L/100km and 289g/km.

Dubbed the S/C Supersport, the top-shelf XJ will be priced from $349,800, or $362,800 for the LWB.

A detuned 346kW/575Nm version of the same force-fed V8, available only in SWB Portfolio trim, will start from $306,000. Officially, it is 0.3 seconds slower to 100km/h (5.2 seconds), yet returns the same fuel and emissions figures.

All engines are combined with a shift-by-wire, six-speed automatic transmission controlled by the JaguarDrive Selector or steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.

Jaguar Australia is still to reveal full Australian specifications, but has now confirmed models for this market will have “all XJ’s feature dynamic technologies”, including high-definition virtual instruments and dual-view technology. It said a panoramic sunroof was also an “integral part of the all-new XJ design concept”.

Jaguar Australia general manager Chris Lidis said dealers were now taking orders, and had received a lot of interest from prospective customers since the London premiere in April.

"Since the worldwide reveal of the XJ in London, we have received an incredible amount of interest from prospects wanting to know more about the vehicle,” he said. “There is a major buzz around this car, and if things continue in this way, our dealers are going to be very busy when the car arrives in 2010.

“What is also encouraging is that the XJ is attracting a new group of customers to the Jaguar brand. More than half of those who are contacting us about XJ have never owned a Jaguar before.

“We feel that the new XJ and the competitive price points we have been able to achieve should ensure that we continue to attract new customers to the Jaguar brand.”

The current XJ, which has all but disappeared from Jaguar Australia’s website (if not Jaguar showrooms), opens with the 2.7-litre XJ6 2.7D, priced from $160,600. The XJ8 4.2 LWB is priced from $187,100.

Jaguar XJ pricing:
3.0 Diesel Premium Luxury (a)	$193,800
3.0 Diesel Premium Luxury LWB (a)	$201,800
5.0 Premium Luxury (a)	$246,000
5.0 Premium Luxury LWB (a)	$254,000
5.0 Portfolio (a)	$269,800
5.0 S/C Portfolio (a)	$306,000
5.0 S/C Supersport (a)	$349,800
5.0 S/C Supersport LWB (a)	$362,800