new XJ8

[dcb]

One of the car rags has a couple of pages this week
on the new XJ8.

Good news is

1. It's built from Aluminium - saving a few hundred
kg from the 1700 kg of the old model.

2. The folks that designed the interior of the X-type
& S-type don't seem to have been involved in the new XJ8.
Interior cosmetics seem not much changed.

3. Boot capacity up a bit.

4. They will be offering a version with a smaller engine.
V6 I think. No point buying the V8 version in the UK.

Bad news is

1. A big car just got bigger - length up from 5.02 m
to 5.18 m That's 17 feet long in old money.

[dcb]

quote:
In my mind, the major styling point of the XJ was the height - its low, it looks sleek. The new one looks like a Jaguar caracature (like the S type).

In my mind the current XJ8 has a boot which is too shallow. I can't see the end of the car when I park it.

Time to fit a rear spoiler ?

Also the boot isn't deep enough - I'd have been much happier with a wedge shape.

quote:
The previous XJR weighed 1.7Te and still hit 60 in 5 secs with 370BHP. The new one weighs 1.5Te, has 400 BHP but is no faster. So, the question is WHY? Ally panels are less resiliant to dents in carparks, never as strong once damaged and more expensive.

It won't affect most customers, but it wouldn't
surprise me if the car is in a higher insurance group
because of the alu body.

[dcb]

quote:
Car is bigger to address the issue that occupant space (esp rear legroom) was not class competitive...

Even my six foot two inch tall mate says there
is more than enough head & leg room in the back.

Anyway, the old car just fits in my garage,
the new car won't. I won't be building a new garage
anytime soon.

Also the old car is too big for most UK car
parking spaces. Time for US style big car park
spaces ?