luxury -
Choosing a car at dealership. Thoughtful grey hair man in formalwear leaning at the car and looking away
More so than perhaps any other manufacturer, Jaguar stresses
its history.
The firm's new models, the revamped XJ sedans, hearken back
directly, not to their predecessors, the original XJ40, but to
the Series III that came before.
The new cars feature round quad headlights, revised engines
and upgraded interiors. Improved quality is a long standing
Jaguar promise, but progress really has been made.
Also offered is the first supercharged Jaguar ever, the potent
XJR. Fast rather than quick, it is still refined and
comfortable.
Also on the stand, to reinforce the historical connection,
will be a compact Series II sedan from the mid-1960s. This
charming, pretty, fast and great-handling car is on just about
everybody's all-time favorite list.
The Series II not only points to where Jaguar has been, but to
where it's going.
It may be 1998 before we see a production version of Jaguar's
new BMW 5-series fighter, as even Jaguar executives call the new
car, but artists' speculations are already appearing in European
auto magazines.
The new car will likely be based on a Ford North America
rear-drive platform. But since that project is being run by
Jaguar's former director of engineering, the new Jaglet should
be worthy of the leaping Jaguar emblem.
Can't wait.
