Tuesday 4th September 2012

Driven: Jaguar XJ 3.0 S/C

A first taste of the F-Type's new supercharged V6 with a drive in the XJ 3.0 S/C

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Jaguar has historically not used many engines. The AJ-V8, developed under Ford stewardship and today still forming a core of the range, was only the fourth new engine series in its history. OK, pretty much all of them have been majestic, but it still highlights the gap between this aspirational premium brand and its big-hitting German rivals. Indeed, the gaps in recent years have been filled by Ford-derived motors - most obviously, V6 and four-pot diesels.

XJ still the best limo for drivers

Next year's F-Type is its breakthrough car. The V8 will be fun, but for 911-rivalling acceptance, a six-pot is needed too. What to do? Why, develop a new one. Which Jaguar has done. Admittedly, 75 per cent of the resultant 3.0 S/C (Jag's terminology) is shared with the V8, but is that really such a bad thing?

Jaguar's giving it an early debut. It's so confident the new motor is a winner, it's replaced the normally aspirated 5.0 V8 in the XF and XJ with it: cue one XJ outside a sleepy Stratford hotel one hazy morning, tank brimmed, to let PistonHeads grab an early first (engine) drive of the new F-Type.

Six of the best
Notepad primed, we begin. A cammy starter whirs, the engine fires. It's obviously quiet, but there's still more mechanical hum than we were expecting. A pleasant underlying purpose: enhanced by opening the windows with a subtle burble from the exhausts. This is in full limo-waft NVH-max spec, too. This is thus promising.

Supercharged V6 produces 340hp and 332lb ft

A few minutes' acclimatisation on the road. First impressions: the supercharger ensures it is lag-free, with throttle response so immediate it can be over-eager at times. It feels positive but lazy in regular auto mode, due to the ZF's programmed early change-up: choosing Sport makes it considerably more dynamic, revealing where its best work will be done. So it proves.

The torque delivery is electric at mid-range revs: it's instant, ample and linear, quickly delivering wonderful high-rev power. It rushes to the redline with effervescence and total smoothness, changing up to the next of eight gears with an audible pitch-drop swallow from the supercharger.

Styling remains untouched by mid-life facelift

Promising start
How fast? Plenty, particularly in perception. 340hp at 6,500rpm is your reward (Jaguar's highest specific output ever) but 332lb ft spread flat from 3,500-5,000rpm gets you there. The combination of Eaton TVS supercharger (presumably similar to that on the Audi supercharged 3.0 V6), dual variable cam timing and a higher compression ratio than the V8 blend to give a decidedly more eager-feeling engine, particularly at the top end. And that's despite the XJ's 1,776kg weight...

Noise is just as important. It's a sophisticated sound, made up of lightweight whirr, characterful growl and high-pitched whine. You'll make this out only if you deconstruct the noise: the basic impression is of impeccably smooth, spirited character. In this combination of mellow bellow and transmission-impersonating supercharger whine, is there a hint of E-Type aurals there too?

Driver's seat the best place to enjoy the XJ

And the XJ? It's still a wonderful alternative to the unflappable German competition. This is made for B-roads, seeming to shrink improbably and showing delicate enthusiasm an S-Class could only dream about. The tweaked ride means the way it breathes across undulating roads is even more brilliant - you know it would shame an A8 or 7 Series for control and freedom from disturbance - although the low-speed knobble remains some way from luxury-spec.

Overall, it's still the driver's luxury car of choice. Now further enhanced by an engine we've discovered is enthusiastic, linear, well-rounded and audibly characterful. What a promising base to work from for the F-Type...

JAGUAR XJ 3.0 S/C
Engine: 2,995cc V6, supercharged
Transmission: eight-speed auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 340@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 332@3,500-5,000rpm
0-62mph: 5.9 sec
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Weight: 1,776kg
MPG: 30.0
CO2: 224g/km
Price: From £65,365 (XJ 3.0 S/C Premium Luxury)

 

[Frimley111R]

Every time I see one of these it makes me wonder why anyone would buy an LS, 7 series, S-Class, A8, etc..

[daveco]

Frimley111R said:

Every time I see one of these it makes me wonder why anyone would buy an LS, 7 series, S-Class, A8, etc..

Yep. Seems to be the only interesting barge out there. Audi A7 is a handsome beast but this is by far the more unique car.

[Krikkit]

Looks great, and despite my misgivings that engine sounds great!

Much want, and hopefully the F-type will have even more character oozing from it.

[Luca Brasi]

Frimley111R said:

Every time I see one of these it makes me wonder why anyone would buy an LS, 7 series, S-Class, A8, etc..

Because it looks willfully awful?

[E38Ross]

Christ I really want one of these! Love it.

[Liquid Knight]

Manual option?


I know the Para Olympics are going on but surely Jaguar can make a car for people with two legs.

[monthefish]

Whoever spec'd that interior needs shot (especially on a press/demonstrator car).

It makes the interior look dowdy, which it really isn't.

[unrepentant]

I love my XJ, easily the best car I have ever owned. Looking forward to trying the S/C 6 although it would be with reluctance that I would give up the V8 growl.

[Frimley111R]

Liquid Knight said:

Manual option?


I know the Para Olympics are going on but surely Jaguar can make a car for people with two legs.

Yes but 99.9% want an auto and its not worth the cost of engineering one for such few buyers.

[Cheib]

They are good looking cars without a doubt. Never been in one and I'd never buy one new but you'd have to think about one very seriously once some poor bugger has taked the nasty depreciation early doors.

[8vFTW]

Looks great from every angle except the rear, for me. Why do Jaguar do this to me? The pre launch XF concept was great, front similar to this XJ, but rear from the XF. But the production XF they gave the headlights bulbous "growths" that look awful. Then when I saw the front end of the XJ, I thought great, they've finally come around a little closer to the original concept, then they go and stick that back end on it.

I think I don't like the rear because the tail lights remind me too much of a Lancia Ypsilon.

[Jobbo]

The engine shares 75% with the V8? I guess so; the remaining 25% of cylinders are thrown away and the rest is pretty much identical, including the block...

[Johnboy Mac]

''And the XJ? It's still a wonderful alternative to the unflappable German competition. This is made for B-roads, seeming to shrink improbably and showing delicate enthusiasm an S-Class could only dream about. The tweaked ride means the way it breathes across undulating roads is even more brilliant - you know it would shame an A8 or 7 Series for control and freedom from disturbance - although the low-speed knobble remains some way from luxury-spec.''

High praise indeed. It would make one wonder why people choose S-Classes and the like...

[anonymous-user]

monthefish said:

Whoever spec'd that interior needs shot (especially on a press/demonstrator car).

It makes the interior look dowdy, which it really isn't.

That's one of the better ones, you should see what some of the Chinese specify. Dark red exterior with brown and tan interior - pass me the bucket.

[TomJackUK]

8vFTW said:

Looks great from every angle except the rear, for me. Why do Jaguar do this to me? The pre launch XF concept was great, front similar to this XJ, but rear from the XF. But the production XF they gave the headlights bulbous "growths" that look awful. Then when I saw the front end of the XJ, I thought great, they've finally come around a little closer to the original concept, then they go and stick that back end on it.

I think I don't like the rear because the tail lights remind me too much of a Lancia Ypsilon.

Buy a facelift XF then

[Liquid Knight]

Frimley111R said:

Liquid Knight said:

Manual option?


I know the Para Olympics are going on but surely Jaguar can make a car for people with two legs.

Yes but 99.9% want an auto and its not worth the cost of engineering one for such few buyers.

Only 0.1% of drivers want to drive instead of being a glorified passenger?

How sad this world has become.

I would rather drive my 1988 Fiat Panda than be slave to drivers aids in that Jaguar.

[E38Ross]

Liquid Knight said:

Frimley111R said:

Liquid Knight said:

Manual option?


I know the Para Olympics are going on but surely Jaguar can make a car for people with two legs.

Yes but 99.9% want an auto and its not worth the cost of engineering one for such few buyers.

Only 0.1% of drivers want to drive instead of being a glorified passenger?

How sad this world has become.

I would rather drive my 1988 Fiat Panda than be slave to drivers aids in that Jaguar.

You Sir, do not understand the point of a barge. Most barges would be far, far worse off with a manual. This is coming from someone who wouldn't want an auto for a "drivers car" trust me, for cars like these, autos are the way... My e38 wouldn't be anywhere near as relaxed as a manual, these cars are designed to relax.

[Jimbo.]

Liquid Knight said:

Only 0.1% of drivers want to drive instead of being a glorified passenger?

How sad this world has become.

I would rather drive my 1988 Fiat Panda than be slave to drivers aids in that Jaguar.

Sure you would. You're missing the point of Jags about as much as you possibly could.

Besides, autobox, driver aids etc. or not: Jags can hustle. Well, dance we should say, being more graceful and all that.

EDIT: Clocked one of these on the Autoroute through France. A nice dark purple colour. On the move, it's a thing of utter beauty.

Edited by Jimbo. on Tuesday 4th September 20:29

[toppstuff]

What a lovely car.

[Cotic]

I'm missing something with this review. As I understand it, this engine replaces the 5.0 N/A V8, which a) sounded better, b) was faster, and c) errr.... was a V8.

OK, I see this engine is more economical, and I can understand why Jag have brought this out to satisfy the odd sub-three-litre tax rules in China and other markets. But what I'm not getting from this review is what I was hoping for; that the lightness of this engine, (compared to the supposedly heavier V8),improves the handling. Now that would be a benefit a pistonhead could relate to.

As it stands, for the readers of this organ, it's a retrograde step, no?

(Note that the above only stands for the XJ - I get that this article was really about testing the engine as a preview to the F-Type....)

Edited by Cotic on Wednesday 5th September 08:12