Jaguar surprised the motoring world with its XF, but that's definitely not the end of the road for Jaguar's design department. The new XJ completely overshadows its predecessors and I think owners of the old Jaguars would wonder why they even bought one in the first place.

The new XJ is sportier, more luxurious and much better looking than ever before. For starters, Jaguar listened to feedback about the XF's headlamps and that they should have followed the ones on the concept car, and now those from the XF concept have made it to the XJ! Also, it shares the same steering rack as the XFR which makes it agile for a car this big. And the XJ is made largely from aluminium which makes it much lighter than its German rivals which will help with its fuel consumption figures. Its clever too. With its 'Dynamic' Chassis mode you get heavier steering with more feel, sharper suspension settings and a more lively throttle response. The Sport mode lets you have a more sporty feel to the car, which is the size of a limo really. Its unique sporting software setting for the gearbox allows a delay of a downshift, rather than disallowing one completely as in other cars when the computers decide that you're going too fast for 2nd gear, which leaves you hanging in 3rd. In the XJ, 2nd gear can be engaged once the computer decides that the engine won't be over-revved. This whole gear shifting revolution is called 'bending the shift line' according to Jaguar.

To me, the sporting credentials and the fusion of luxury and its sportiness is unparalleled in this segment of the car market. Mercedes and BMW with their chunky cars just feel too mainstream for my liking. With the XJ, its luxury at its best and it has the whole package; good looks, wonderful engine and a stunning interior. Its just a class above the rest.