Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency: Jaguar XJ

To get to work, I hop on 1-64 and every now and then my car comes to a stand still. While I usually love to drive, traffic puts a hamper to it. Today was one of those days where I  found myself moving at what felt like a inch per hour. With a few patient minutes on hand, I began to think about all the different Unsung Heroes for fuel efficiency that we have featured over the last couple weeks. They each are special vehicles in their own regard, and the Hero for today, the Jaguar XJ is no exception. You may be wondering, a Jag is fuel efficient? Yes, it is.

But before I give a rundown about that and all the wonderful things about the XJ, just sit back and imagine what it would feel like to have a personal chauffeur drive you around. During a visit to Checkered Flag Jaguar, I got a slight indication of how that must feel. Sherron Bent (pictured below with the XJ), a sales consultant, braved the smoke outside to introduce me to the XJ. The very first thing Sherron said about the XJ was its distinction from Chauffeur Magazine as the Chauffeur Car of the Year. At first sight of the XJ, I was caught by its presence. The mesh panels of its front grille grabs your attention. It truly has a regal look, inside and out, that would be fitting for any dignitary or any average Jane car lover like myself.

The 2008 model is a third-generation XJ and features an advanced aluminum body shell that makes it 40% lighter, but 60% stiffer than previous XJs. Being leaner results in shorter stopping distances, better driving dynamics, lower emissions and improved fuel economy. The XJ gets 25 highway miles to the gallon and 16 for city. With its 23 gallon tank, you are looking at an amazing 575 miles on the highway. Less weight for the XJ also means more power. Every XJ is fitted with a V8. Two engines are offered: the 4.2-liter, 32-valve, 4-cam aluminum V8 (300-hp) or the Eaton supercharger (400-hp).

You also have your choice from two wheelbases and five trim levels. The XJ8 and supercharged XJR are short-wheelbase models. The other three trims, XJ8L, XJ Vanden Plas, and the XJ Super V8 are long-wheelbases. On the XJ8 (starting at $64,500) standard features include: 19-in. Polaris wheels; body-colored exterior mirror caps and grille surround; electrochromic self-dimming power-adjustable heated door mirrors; automatic Xenon headlamp; rain-sensing windshield wipers; one-touch power moonroof; and Bluetooth® wireless technology. Visit the JaguarUSA website for a full list of features on the XJ8 and the other trims. 

Sherron wanted me to experience the luxury of the XJ and had me sit in the back while he took the driver seat. I was impressed by the spacious interior of the XJ. Even with Sherron, who is around 6-ft. tall, seated comfortably in the driver seat, I had more than enough space. The interior is done in the traditional Jaguar fashion with Burl Walnut trim and premium softgrain leather. I especially liked the rear-seat control console, where passengers in the back can control their own conditioning and heating system (this comes standard on the Super V8).

Remember the aluminum body structure that I talked about earlier? It not only helps with performance and fuel efficiency, but its also a safety feature on the XJ. Built into the body are crumple zones and a rigid impact-resistant safety cell. The Occupant Protection features on the XJ  includes: dual-stage chest airbags for front occupants; seat-mounted side-impact airbags; side-impact head protection curtain airbags; Adaptive Restraint Technology System (A.R.T.S.);energy-absorbent seat system; a tire pressure monitoring system; and more. Another cool feature on the XJ is the vehicle security system. Every Jaguar ignition key is outfitted with a coded computerized chip to help prevent theft. Visit the website above for the complete list.

The XJ has a timeless design and all the features of a modern luxury sedan. Like usual, it is best to let the XJ speak for itself by visiting Checkered Flag Jaguar, 2865 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach or speak with the Jaguar sales team at (757) 490-1111.