Jaguar XJL Supersport

PREVIEW

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Supersport models come equipped with a 510-hp supercharged 5.0L V8 capable of a 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds. 2. Extended wheelbase models add nearly 5-inches between the wheels for a significantly larger rear seat area. 3. A 1,200-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system is optional with 20 speakers. 4. Starting at $72,700 the XJL Supersport retails for $113,200.

The video for Jay-Z and Kanye West’s new song “Otis” off their album “Watch the Throne” has the duo mutilating a Maybach 57, in what seems to be a statement against vulgarity and conspicuous consumption – something that the old Jaguar XJ series stood firmly against. The flagship Jag retained the same shape (and many of the same styling cues) for a whopping 41 years, a figure made even more astonishing considering that the very upper end of the luxury sedan market is extremely fickle, and the three German luxury brands have religiously altered their big sedans to suit changing tastes.

Carrying the same design forward for nearly four decades may have worked for the Porsche 911, but eventually, Jaguar’s luck ran out. And while Porsche’s reputation for quality and performance helped it stay afloat (not to mention building the best sports cars on the road) Jaguar carried the millstone of poor reliability and stuffy British sensibilities. No matter what your socioeconomic background, you could always think of someone you knew who owned a Jaguar that was in the shop more than on the road.

INTERIOR

Establishing any performance car bona fides is almost superfluous, as the XJL really shines when someone else is driving you around. The opulent cabin, finished in your choice of butter soft hides, lets passengers stretch their legs completely in the rear seat, while fold-down tray tables seemingly nicked from a Cathay Pacific first-class cabin are available for resting your blue fin tuna tartar as you take in the latest issue of Barron’s.

The middle seat arm rest can be folded down to bisect the rear seat (in case you tire of being in proximity to your companion) and features a number of compartments (including a cigar holder) lined in purple velvet. The wood extends throughout the cabin, and might as well be “reclaimed” wood from a plutocrat’s now-seized yacht. The door panels are outfitted with solid blocks of dark mahogany with some sort of feline inlay design, while another bow of wood stretches from just aft of the A-Pillar, all the way around the inner lip of the windshield and back around. Producing this piece likely costs more than the GDP of Guinea-Bissau, but what good is consumption if it’s not conspicuous?

The poor shmucks sitting up front will have to contend with plush wing-chair-like front seats with available massagers, as well as the controls to the 1200 Watt Bowers & Wilkins stereo system – another frightfully British touch that we enjoyed immensely. Using “Watch The Throne” as a demo, we cranked the volume up high and reveled in the rich piano samples and thumping bass provided by the B&W unit, although its clarity will be lost on those who favor Mercedes-Benz S550s with trunk-thumping subwoofers.

UNDER THE HOOD

Underneath the striking exterior is a highly advanced (but equally costly) aluminum chassis, a weight saving measure that also allows cash-poor Jaguar to have access to a lightweight but modular platform for vehicles of different sizes. While 4,220 lbs isn’t light by most standards, it undercurrents a Ford Taurus SHO by a couple hundred pounds, not to mention its direct rivals like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the significantly-smaller Maserati Quattroporte.

The svelte weight is even more impressive in light of the larger-than-life way the XJ goes about its business. The extended wheelbase car measures nearly 207 inches in length, almost five inches longer than a Cadillac Escalade. Power comes from a 5.0L V8 with a supercharger, making 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. Some outlets have seen times as low as 4.3 seconds to 60 mph – putting the XJL Supersport in a league with genuine sports cars. We never got bored of stomping on the throttle and watching the big cat leap. We even managed to squeeze 20.5 mpg in mixed driving over the course of a week, an impressive figure from such a massive powerplant.

Even though the XJL occupies a lot of physical space, it feels like it weighs have of what it does. Thanks to the aluminum construction and Jaguar’s wonderful chassis engineers, the XJL can be flung every which way into corners while responding with complete composure. Fast sweepers and highway ramps become a challenge in exceeding your own personal capabilities, as the abundant torque and engaging chassis dare you to take turns at unfathomable speeds.