It's the news that all the anglophile Russian oligarchs out there (and we know there are plenty of those on PH) have been waiting for - Jaguar is set to launch an armoured version of the new Jaguar XJ at the Moscow motor show.
Called the XJ Sentinel, the armoured XJ is based on the long-wheelbase XJ, whose aluminium structure allows it what Jaguar terms a 'very generous' payload of 500kg - despite the armour protection taking the vehicle's weight up to a distinctly beefy 3.3 tons.
Although the XJ Sentinel can be serviced using regular Jaguar dealer equipment, it has been thoroughly adapted to suit its intended security role.
The armoured inner cell - which Jaguar says is virtually undetectable from the outside - is made from high-strength steels with a Kevlar backing and can stand a 15kg TNT blast at close range, while the underside has 'substantial' under-floor grenade protection.
"The XJ Sentinel is the ultimate armoured luxury limousine," says Jaguar MD Mike O'Driscoll. "It offers governments, security organisations and private individuals, the highest level of security, with advanced design, refined performance and a beautifully-crafted cabin. The XJ Sentinel will be the vehicle of choice for the most discerning."
Jaguar's 'discerning' clientele also get treated to a chassis whose suspension has been uprated to cope with the extra weight, and whose brakes are sourced from the 503bhp supercharged non-armoured car.
It's a shame that the Sentinel doesn't get the supercharged motor, however. The 380bhp 5.0-litre V8 makes the ordinary XJ no slouch, but with potentially more than three-and-a-half tons to lug about, its performance is dragged down to a 9.7sec 0-62mph sprint and a 122mph top speed - surely you'd need more than that to escape the hijackers?
XJ Sentinel Specifications
| ENGINE |
|
5.0-litre V8 Petrol AJ-V8 GEN III |
Maximum power
Maximum torque
Transmission |
EEC-PS(kW)
EEC-Nm (lb ft) |
385 (283)
515 (380)
6-speed automatic |
PERFORMANCE
Acceleration
Top Speed |
0-100km/h – sec
km/h |
9.7
195 |
WEIGHT
Weight
Gross vehicle weight |
kg
kg |
3,300
3,800 |
DRIVING DYNAMICS
Up-rated suspension with active dampers front and rear
Jaguar High Performance Braking System
Strengthened 19" Aleutian Alloy Wheels with 245/45 19" Dunlop Self Supporting Technology®
Run on Flat tyres (RoF) |
PERSONALISATION
An extensive range of exterior paint colours, interior colours themes and optional equipment is available. |
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