Indian assembled Jaguar XJ to cost Rs 90 lakh

2013 was a milestone year for the Tata Motors owned JLR group as they saw the start of assembly for their entry level Jaguar XF sedan in India for the first time. At the 2013 Auto Expo, Jaguar announced that they would also start making their flagship XJ sedan in India. The Jaguar XJ sedan takes on the likes of the established German trio: the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8. The ‘Made in India’ Jaguar XJ will be offered with both petrol and a diesel engines in India while the XJ Supersports will still be offered as a direct import.

The Indian-made Jaguar XJ will be powered with a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine making 240PS of peak power at 5500rpm and 340Nm of peak torque at 1750rpm. The more popular choice in India, the 3.0litre, V6, turbocharged, diesel engine will also be available at the time of launch. The diesel engine, making 275PS of peak power at 4000rpm and peak torque of 600Nm at 2000rpm offers adequate power and performance propelling the large full sized sedan from 0-100kmpoh in under seven seconds. Both Jaguar XJ models are mated to an 8-speed ZF transmission with power being delivered to the rear wheels. The Jaguar XJ is also one of the best handling sedans in its category with its 4-wheel independent suspension and air ride technology.

The new 2014 Jaguar XJ will also get a slight upgrade in terms of interior trim, especially in the rear. The XJ will be available with a choice of bench or individual seats with an entertainment being offered as standard. The package will include two independent screens, which can play various multimedia formats. The XJ’s large glass roof will continue to be provided in the Indian built cars. On the exterior front, the XJ will remain unchanged with the exception of a new wheel design. The long snout and coupe-like roof design combined with the blackened C-pillar and the upright taillights make the XJ one of the most beautiful cars in its segment.

Expected to cost about Rs 90 lakh (ex-showroom) for the cheapest version, the XJ will go up against the likes of the much more expensive Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and BMW 7 series. The Jaguar XJ will also go up against luxury SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GL, BMW X5 and Audi’s Q7. The Jaguar XJ will be the second model that the Tata owned company has decided to assemble at their Poona factory. The Indian Jaguar XJ should be released in June and will be available from JLR dealers across the country and will be available only in the long wheelbase or XJL trim.