Who thinks that for a large, luxury performance sedan there are only the German brands to consider, is forgetting for sure Maserati, but also Jaguar. The XJ has been a staple in the large sedan scene for decades, and that didn’t change when Jaguar decided to radically overhaul its design for this generation. These big cats have never been really docile but never showed as much power as the new XJR575.
Indeed, 575 is a direct reference to the amount of horse power that the new XJR sports. Combine that with 517 lb-ft of torque, and you know that you are riding a rocket, despite being in the luxurious surroundings of a large sedan. The XJR gets this power from its supercharged 5.0-liter V8, which is slightly tuned over its predecessor.
Where most of the competition goes for four-wheel drive, Jaguar stays old-school with its sedan’s: engine up front, and its power only directed to the rear wheels. It gives the car a rather sportive temperament, fun to drive, and yes, very, very fast. 0-60 mph is finished in just 4.2 seconds. This is nothing to be ashamed of when you are a true sports car, and especially not when you are a large sedan the size of the XJ!
The good news is also that Jaguar has restrained itself when coming to show off all that potential. The body kit compared to less potent XJ’s is modest, and it is mainly color that shows this car true nature. That is red for the brake capilers and Satin Corris Gray or Velocity Blue, which are exclusively available for the XJR575. Inside robust seats with diamond-quilted leather keep you supported and in place while you enjoy one of the fastest XJ’s Jaguar has ever made!
