NO
31
he luxury family sedan
market is dominated by
Germans. So one tends
to forget there is another
worthy player in this segment, apart
from the Mercedes S-Class, BMW
7 Series, Audi A8 and Porsche Panamera.
I am talking about Jaguar’s XJ model,
which celebrated its 50th anniversary
last year.
And what “AMG” is for Merc and “M”
is for BMW, “R” is for Jag. Turning family
sedans into super saloons. To celebrate
five decades of the XJ, Jaguar went one
step further and introduced the XJR 575.
With the same engine as its super sports
car F-type SVR, a mighty, politically
incorrect 5.0 V8, generating 575 horse-
power. Which makes this luxury cruiser
a bruiser, a brute in a suit.
And when he takes his dinner jacket
off, the sleeveless muscle shirt appears.
An acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in
4.4 seconds. That’s Porsche 911 Carrera S
territory – in a two-tonne four-door
sedan with lush leather easy chairs.Being the fastest ever XJ, it even
beats the legendary super cat XJ 220
from the 1990s. The eight-speed auto
box shifts in a silky smooth way. I could
hear the deep rumble of the V8, but
in a so-much-more sophisticated
way than in its power plant donor, the
F-Type. And whereas you can turn any
AMG with the push of a button into
a growling monster, the XJR 575 remains
socially acceptable, even in dynamic
mode. Nevertheless, the chequered flag
button releases a bit more hooliganism
in the XJR, especially more slip from
the rear tyres. I could clearly feel it
on Clarence Drive, between Gordon’s
Bay and Betty’s Bay, on what is most
probably the most impressive coastal
road in the country. For gripping,
winding tarmac like this I am more than
happy to pay rates and taxes.
The steering is not so precise in those
tight corners; I could feel the weight
pushing. On twisty, narrow roads the
575 feels less at home. But the engine
response is always immediate in thisunexpected member of the exclusive
300 km/h club. The power-and-torque
combination is brutish, yet the ride is
still comfortable in dynamic mode.
And the active electronic differential
limits wheel spin.
My drive wouldn’t have been
complete without heading to the
end of the steep private road leading
up to the gate at Steenbras Dam. It’s
Corniche de Crêtes and Rallye Monte-
Carlo combined. It is also one of only
a few mountain roads in South Africa
that has a hairpin turn in excess of
180 degrees. And the views from the top
are incredibly beautiful, so I almost took
my eyes off the Satin Corris Grey nose in
front of me. By the way, it does come in
a more-in-your-face Velocity Blue as well.
All chrome has been blacked out on
the 575. LED lighting adds a modern
touch, and elements like the rear
spoiler, four exhaust pipes, three-piece
front splitter, and bonnet inserts with
“Supercharged” badge make this model
uniquely attractive. The interior has anARISTOCAT
In celebration of the Jaguar XJ turning 50
in 2018, the British car maker introduced its
fastest and most powerful model yet: the
XJR 575. This mighty V8 might well be the
last of its kind. Dieter Losskarn spent some
quality time with the brute in a suit.T
visi.co.za JUNE/JULY 2019 186�ISI REASONS