Creating history in a world full of errors and failures is a rather difficult task. Age is a number which you might not have the wits to ask a woman, but cars proudly flaunt a legendary status associated with their age. Jaguar XJ50, for that matter, is an alluring machine that’s been on sale for the last half-decade. Yes, 50 years! As in our country, the prodigious saloon made its entry back in 2010, in its latest-gen avatar. And while Jaguar has periodically updated their luxury limousine, the latest update comes with a number, to mark that 50th anniversary. Here’s a sneak peek about the Jag from our Jaguar XJ50 review.
Before we start with the car, first let’s catch up with the history lesson. It all harks back to the Geneva Motor Show in 1961 when Enzo Ferrari made a mesmerising comment on the Jaguar E-Type. It was then, Sir William Lyons (founder at Jaguar) had an idea to build a saloon that’s as beautiful as it is to drive. So, what started as an “eXperimental Jaguar” in 1968 – hence the name XJ – turned out be an absolute success for the British carmaker. And since then, Jaguar has sold almost a million units of the Jaguar XJ.
Since the new Jag only gets a mid-life makeover, the design and styling remain largely unchanged. But if you look closely, the changes are quite noticeable. The large radiator grille now gets a chrome surround, the bumpers have been slightly tweaked and the side profile now flaunts a set of new 19-inch alloy wheels. Now, to distinguish itself from the standard XJ, the XJ50 also gets the XJ50 moniker on the fender and boot lid.
Even on the inside, the changes are quite subtle. The seats are now finished in ivory soft grain perforated quilted leather, which again is electrically adjustable and has ventilation and massage functions. The dashboard is draped in black leather, and the overall theme works well in conjuncture with the ivory seats, inspiring a sense of plushness and opulence from the cabin. And then there’s the XJ50 insignia on the dashboard, door sills and central armrest so the owner is perhaps always aware of the car’s history.
Under the hood, the Jaguar XJ50 is powered by a 3.0-litre V6 diesel. A sight in the brochure reveals 302bhp and 689Nm of torque, making it marginally more powerful than its competitors. Now, while 302bhp for a car that weighs almost two tonnes might seem a bit underwhelming, but the oodles of torque the zestful engine makes is more than adequate to entice a level of enthusiasm to the driving experience. As for the driving dynamics, the Jaguar excels when it comes to handling. The steering is direct, and it weighs up brilliantly – in spite of being an electrically assisted unit. The suspension, on the whole, is set on the stiffer side. And while the ride quality could have been better, it’s a sufficing trade-off for brilliant handling. So, the XJ50 really excels in most departments. To read our full Jaguar XJ50 review, be sure to visit us at autoX.
