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XJ Ultimate's Exterior
The Jaguar XJ introduced a mouldbreaking coupé design ethos to its class, taking
Jaguar's established principle of long, unbroken feature lines and applying them
to a decidedly 21st century form. Dramatically different from its competitors,
the all-aluminum XJ captures the essential Jaguar design elements of elegance,
muscularity, sleekness and strength.
The detail changes applied to the XJ Ultimate serve to subtly enhance the
inherent rightness of the car's design, making it clear that this is the
luxurious flagship of the range.
The lower front air intakes are reshaped and chrome finished, matching the
powerful Jaguar grille, while LED daytime-running lights underline the
assertively shaped headlamps.
The 20-inch Maroa forged alloy wheels are unique to this model and feature a
dual-tone color scheme. A dark grey, technical finish is applied to the inner
surfaces of the spokes which contrasts with the bright, polished surfacing on
the outer edges, combining to create an appearance that is both glamorous and
purposeful.
Anyone following an XJ Ultimate will be in no doubt that the model is a cut
above, as it is distinguished by new oval tailpipe finishers in polished
stainless steel that echo the front air intakes and a discreet metal 'Ultimate'
badge underneath the 'XJ' nameplate. The 'Ultimate' badging is repeated in the
power vents set into the front fenders.
The first 20 Ultimate models made will be painted in Celestial Black, but
customers can also order their car in Polaris White - and any color in between.
In addition to an exclusive extended palette of paint colors, including a new 'chromaflare'
range, XJ Ultimate customers can order their car color-matched to any shade of
their choosing on provision of a suitable sample for a true bespoke experience.
Interior Design
Jaguar has always prided itself on creating unique cabin environments and the
interior architecture of the XJ is like no other, combining graceful and
unexpected forms with quality materials that reward the senses with their
tactility, visual splendour and luxury.
Now, the Ultimate's position as the XJ range's luxury flagship is apparent from
the moment the door is opened. A unique wood veneer, crafted using straight
ebony, has been formed into a Herringbone pattern with mirror image upper and
lower halves separated by a strip of piano black veneer. The Herringbone pattern
forms fillets in the doors and at the front of the car runs around the base of
the windscreen to create a dramatic feature that mimics the form of classic
wooden-hulled power boats. The clock mounted in the dashboard is also unique to
the model with a brushed aluminum face, embossed lozenge detail and 'spun'
bright finish.
The XJ Ultimate is offered in three interior colorways for the sumptuous leather
that covers virtually every surface and is also used for the headlining; Jet on
Jet, or Ivory seats and lower surfaces with either Mineral orBordeauxuppers.
Further personalization is offered through customers being able to specify the
headrests embroidered with a pattern of their choice. The 'Ultimate' intaglio
which sits in the center of the sweep of Herringbone veneer under the windscreen
can also be changed to read whatever the owner wishes.
The XJ Ultimate brings a particular focus to the rear seat passengers to create
an ambience that carefully balances the requirements of the modern, on-the-move
businessperson with certain surprise-and-delight features that underline the
XJ's 'work hard, play hard' personality and reward the discerning owner who
appreciates the sense of fun with which Jaguar imbues all its products.
Tailored Rear Seating
In the Ultimate the XJ's standard rear bench has been replaced by two unique and
individual seats designed specifically for this model. Elegant, cosseting and
ergonomically optimized, the tailored seats are covered in semi-aniline leather
which offers a more luxurious and tactile finish and allows the hide to retain
its essential qualities of look and feel, complemented by the hand-finished
stitching.
The seats feature winged headrests, powered recline and four-way lumbar
adjustment functions to allow passengers to achieve the seating position perfect
for them. The comfort levels offered by the seats are enhanced through the
inclusion of on-demand massage, heating and cooling functions.
The occupant positioned behind the front passenger seat is also provided with a
stow-away button that automatically powers the empty chair forwards to increase
still further the XJ's generous legroom. The front seats follow the same unique
design as the rears and offer identical functions with an additional range of
electric movement allowing 20 by 20 adjustment.
The seats are divided by a center console running along the length of the car.
Fully trimmed in soft-grain leather, piano black veneer and chrome, the console
houses a number of features exclusive to the XJ Ultimate. At the touch of a
button a table machined from a solid piece of aluminum with a gloss black and
chrome finish rises up to then be pivoted into position in front of whichever
passenger requires its use.
Chilled to Perfection
Raising the table reveals the first of the XJ Ultimate's surprise and delight
features, a pair of champagne flutes in a bespoke recess flock-lined in either
Mauveine or Jet and lit by phosphor blue ambient lighting. Within the center
console are 'fluteholders', designed specifically for these glasses and machined
from solid aluminum.
The flutes are, of course, there for a reason: discreetly integrated between the
rear seat backs, covered in soft-grain leather and marked by a chrome Jaguar
leaper is a hidden champagne chiller. Lined in the same flock as the champagne
flute recess to give the impression of a bespoke suit lining, it holds one
standard sized champagne bottle which, when the cabinet door is opened, is
effortlessly presented forwards to the passengers. The champagne is kept
perfectly chilled at the optimum temperature range of 7°C-10°C.
Technology
Rear-seat passengers are also provided with a range of entertainment options to
enjoy while sipping their champagne. The XJ Ultimate is fitted as standard with
Jaguar's Rear Seat Entertainment package which comprises two eight-inch
high-resolution screens mounted on the back of the front seat headrests.
These can display inputs from a number of sources; the DVD player, digital TV
tuner or an external media player that can be synced through the Rear Media
Interface, which provides USB and RCA connections. Sound can be provided through
the wireless headphones, allowing each passenger to watch separate entertainment
sources.
The rear seat environment, including the entertainment, is managed by a wireless
controller housed in the center console and which also allows passengers to
alter their individual climate zones and seat heating and cooling functions.
Meridian Surround Sound
The XJ Ultimate is also fitted as standard with the latest generation of in-car
audio systems. Specifically developed for the XJ by British ultra-premium audio
experts Meridian, marking a new partnership for Jaguar, the Meridian Surround
Sound System fitted to the XJ Ultimate uses the latest technological
developments to deliver music reproduction that is second to none.
Unlike other manufacturers, Meridian designs and manufactures audio systems that
combine innovative technology with the most natural of approaches: comparing
their musical reproduction to the sound of the original musical performance.
The 15-channel amplifier, 20-loudspeaker system features Meridian's unique
digital sound processing technology that allows every person travelling in the
XJ Ultimate to enjoy a musical experience that places them in the center of the
sound field. Meridian achieves this through its Trifield technology which
creates an all-enveloping sound field that makes each listener feel that the
music is exclusively focused on him or her.
Meridian technology achieves a level of natural detail, realism and performance
usually associated with speakers eight times the physical volume. Meridian Cabin
Correction and Dynamic Volume Control precisely and effortlessly minimize
resonances and monitor extraneous noise levels to allow the audio to be
unobtrusively maintained at a constant volume in order for it to be perfectly
heard whatever the circumstances.
iPad Integration
In addition to the entertainment on offer, the XJ Ultimate also provides a pair
of third-generation iPads with wireless keyboards. The iPads are housed within
specially designed leather-trimmed docks in the rear of the front seats and
hidden behind roller doors, also finished in tailored leather. The iPads are
automatically kept charged whenever the ignition is on and also included in the
cabinets are wireless keyboards to allow the tablets to be used without being
removed from their docks if required.
Performance and Dynamics
To underline its purpose in ensuring that passengers remain cosseted at all
times, the XJ Ultimate features revisions to the air-sprung rear suspension for
optimized ride compliance. While this provides a truly relaxing experience for
rear seat passengers, the XJ Ultimate loses none of the model's core dynamic
abilities and so is as rewarding to drive as it is to be driven in. The XJ's
lightweight aluminum construction means a weight saving over its rivals of as
much as 330 lbs (150 kg). This of course offers great advantages in terms of
agility, acceleration, braking and driver feedback and involvement.
The aluminum architecture also provides benefits in terms of emissions and fuel
consumption, allowing the XJ to provide an astonishing balance of performance
and frugality from its range of highly efficient, refined and muscular engines.
The XJ Ultimate will be offered with Jaguar's existing and acclaimed 5.0-liter
V8 petrol engine in supercharged form, and the equally highly regarded 3.0-liter
V6 turbocharged diesel. With 510 hp and 461 lb-ft (625 Nm) of torque, the
supercharged V8 provides astonishingly vivid performance, the diesel V6 offering
uncannily smooth and potent progress while returning fuel consumption figures of
40.1 mpg (EU) on the combined cycle.
The XJ Ultimate will also be offered with a new 3.0-liter V6 supercharged petrol
engine being introduced to the range for the 2013 model year. This engine, which
in the XJ Ultimate will produce 340 hp and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm), draws on the
award-winning technology inherent to Jaguar's V8 and offers similar performance
to the naturally-aspirated version of that engine (which is not available in the
XJ Ultimate), but with the emissions and fuel economy advantages of a V6.
The 3.0-liter V6 S/C will be offered in tandem with Jaguar's Intelligent
Stop-Start system and, in common with all powertrain options, will drive the
rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Jaguar XJ L Ultimate: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications