The XJ saloon is the bedrock on which the Jaguar of today is based. Total production since the first XJ model was introduced in 1968 is now comfortably past 800,000 cars - more than half of all Jaguars ever built. Representing contemporary British automotive luxury at its best, each generation of XJ has delivered the blend of attractions that Jaguar customers demand: elegance, style, comfort and spirited performance.

Not only is the all-new XJ the seventh generation of one of the most famous saloon cars in the world, it is also the most advanced production Jaguar ever. This is thanks in no small part to the sophisticated aluminium construction. Centred on a lightweight monocoque body structure, this is set to become the intelligent way to manufacture large cars in the future, and takes Jaguar's well-documented experience and history of working with aluminium on to an entirely new plane.

The result of the lightweight vehicle architecture, and the application of numerous other advanced technologies, is that the all-new XJ delivers outstanding performance, economy, emissions and safety while retaining the dynamic agility and spirit for which Jaguar is renowned.

The benefits of a lightweight vehicle – the all-new XJ weighs up to 200 kg less than the outgoing generation and has even more of an advantage over some competitors – are in place all the time, from the moment the wheels start turning. These include not only measurables such as fuel economy and performance, but also subjective issues such as handling and ride.

Agile, quicker and more economical

In the all-new XJ, Jaguar's engineers have created a vehicle that is very agile. It is also quicker and more economical than the outgoing generation. Comparing the new entry model, the 3.0-litre XJ6, with the previous 3.2-litre XJ8 reveals that the new XJ is 0.3 seconds quicker from standstill to 60mph and almost 15 per cent more economical in the combined cycle. A more direct model-for-model comparison between XJRs shows that the new XJ is quicker to 60 mph (5.0 seconds versus 5.3 seconds) and yet returns average fuel economy in the

combined cycle of 23.0 against 22.4 mpg. Top speed of both vehicles is the same electronically limited 155mph.

These levels of customer gain in areas that are becoming ever more important, especially in the luxury sector, give the new Jaguar XJ significant advantages over its main competition. And that's without considering the driving experience, the traditional Jaguar attractions of craftsmanship, style and luxury, and the impressive array of driver-friendly technologies that make life behind the wheel of the new XJ more relaxing and enjoyable – and safer.

Four engines will be available and the full details of each can be found in the specifications section of this pack. Not all markets will take all engines, but the advanced six-speed ZF6HP automatic transmission – introduced to Jaguar in the spring of 2002 in the revised S-TYPE – is fitted to all models.

The weight of the new XJ has made it possible to bring back the famous XJ6 badge that started the XJ story in September 1968, when the first generation was revealed at the British Motor Show.

The 240 bhp (DIN) 3.0-litre AJ-V6 engine in the new XJ is already familiar to S-TYPE and X-TYPE owners. A new 3.5-litre AJ-V8 with 262 bhp (DIN) becomes the entry point to eight-cylinder XJ motoring, while the formidable 300 bhp (DIN) and 400 bhp (DIN) 4.2-litre AJ-V8 and 4.2-litre AJ-V8 supercharged engines power the top-of-the-range models.

Specification levels vary according to market, but in the UK trim levels run from V6 through Sport and SE to XJR and Super V8.

Even the entry level XJ6 enjoys a very generous specification. Standard features include rear park distance control, leather upholstery, 12-way electrically-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, electrically-adjustable foot pedals, electronic park brake, six-speed automatic transmission, cruise control with the option of Adaptive Cruise Control, automatic climate control, electrically-adjustable steering wheel, air suspension with enhanced CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension), traction control and Dynamic Stability Control.

Jaguar conducted extensive research programmes with existing customers and potential owners prior to commencing the all-new XJ programme.

The results of these identified that the XJ, which originated in the 1960s, had to evolve to meet the requirements of today's luxury saloon customers – including the demand for more interior space.

Addressing this without losing the distinctive proportions and character of the XJ was undeniably a challenge. Ian Callum, Jaguar Cars' Director of Design, worked with his team to deliver a car that is bigger in all respects than its predecessor with a more spacious interior. The exterior proportions are subtly transformed to reflect the added space for occupants and their luggage.

"The new XJ is a dynamic looking car," says Callum. "And when you position it alongside major competitors, it is also clearly very elegant."

He continues: "This is a more modern car in terms of its proportions, and while for practical packaging reasons the boot and doors are larger, the slimmer glass-to-door ratio results in a truly contemporary design."

The new XJ design moves to a more cab-forward approach, positioning the front wheels closer to the corners, incorporating a shorter bonnet and a shallower rake angle for the larger windscreen.

The new bonnet retains the highly sculpted shape that is characteristic of the XJ over the years. Its leading edge – and indeed the leading edge of the wings – still wraps around the shape of the headlights, which themselves have evolved into a more distinct element of the front design.

The new XJ's dynamic design is also evident in its profile, says Callum. "It has a lot more of a 'wedge' now, starting dynamically at the front and powering toward the back. All the power is on the back wheels, something that has always been the case with a Jaguar."

The XJ design team succeeded in accommodating a higher decklid while retaining the classic Jaguar 'haunched' design, hinting at the new car's potential power and performance.