-
Home
- TV Shows
- TV Schedule
- NASCAR
-
Latest Headlines: NASCAR
-
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
New Models
DRIVEN: Jaguar XJL Stretches Out
Luxurious and powerful, the extra-length flagship sedan shows its multi-faceted personality during the rigors of a vacation road trip.
Jaguar's new styling works well on the stretch-wheelbase version of the XJ sedan. (Photo: Bob Golfen)
Generally speaking, when you have two extra-tall men partaking in an extra-long road trip, they occupy the front seats while the wives rough it in back.
Not so with our extra-splendid vacation transporter, the Jaguar XJL Supercharged, whose five inches of added wheelbase compared with the standard XJ sedan go toward creating the biggest back seat this side of a chauffeured limousine.
Which made it easy for my 6-foot-5-inch son to stretch out back there in regal comfort, while his regulation-size wife basked in the ballroom roominess, even behind the 6-foot-6-imch driver with his seat slid all the way back.
We were taking Jaguar’s big, lovely flagship on the familiar drive from the deserts of Phoenix to the beaches of San Diego for a late-summer holiday. Most of the drive is routine interstate travel across Arizona and into south-central California farmland, with the Jag touring quietly and seamlessly.
But the drive changes dramatically just west of Ocotillo.
There, you reach the diabolically winding, nearly 2,000-foot climb up Devil’s Canyon, which is where the XJL demonstrated that it’s much more than a mere luxury sedan.
Aptly named, the Devil’s Canyon ascent runs up a rock-lined gorge that was somewhat tamed by the modern highway – remnants of the old two-lane road can be seen along the way, the isolated segments carved into sheer cliffs. Still, the nearly six percent grade, narrow roadway and frequent curves make this section of highway either thrilling or terrifying, depending on the driver and the vehicle.
I’ve driven up Devil’s Canyon in all kinds of craft, but I can’t recall any that shrugged it off as easily as the mighty Jaguar sedan. The 470-horsepower supercharged V8 rumbled deeply as it lifted us through the climbing turns, feeling like the effortless push of a giant hand.
We easily doubled the posted speed limit much of the way up, but nobody on board took any notice. That’s because for such a large, plush sedan, the XJL still handles like a Jaguar, its well-engineered suspension with electronic enhancements keeping it poised and unflustered as the stark rock faces rushed past. The quiet interior belied the excitement going on outside.
Not so with our extra-splendid vacation transporter, the Jaguar XJL Supercharged, whose five inches of added wheelbase compared with the standard XJ sedan go toward creating the biggest back seat this side of a chauffeured limousine.
Which made it easy for my 6-foot-5-inch son to stretch out back there in regal comfort, while his regulation-size wife basked in the ballroom roominess, even behind the 6-foot-6-imch driver with his seat slid all the way back.
We were taking Jaguar’s big, lovely flagship on the familiar drive from the deserts of Phoenix to the beaches of San Diego for a late-summer holiday. Most of the drive is routine interstate travel across Arizona and into south-central California farmland, with the Jag touring quietly and seamlessly.
But the drive changes dramatically just west of Ocotillo.
There, you reach the diabolically winding, nearly 2,000-foot climb up Devil’s Canyon, which is where the XJL demonstrated that it’s much more than a mere luxury sedan.
Aptly named, the Devil’s Canyon ascent runs up a rock-lined gorge that was somewhat tamed by the modern highway – remnants of the old two-lane road can be seen along the way, the isolated segments carved into sheer cliffs. Still, the nearly six percent grade, narrow roadway and frequent curves make this section of highway either thrilling or terrifying, depending on the driver and the vehicle.
I’ve driven up Devil’s Canyon in all kinds of craft, but I can’t recall any that shrugged it off as easily as the mighty Jaguar sedan. The 470-horsepower supercharged V8 rumbled deeply as it lifted us through the climbing turns, feeling like the effortless push of a giant hand.
We easily doubled the posted speed limit much of the way up, but nobody on board took any notice. That’s because for such a large, plush sedan, the XJL still handles like a Jaguar, its well-engineered suspension with electronic enhancements keeping it poised and unflustered as the stark rock faces rushed past. The quiet interior belied the excitement going on outside.
The Lyonheart K
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTOMOTIVE
-
GREEN: Porsche Adding All-Model Hybrids
Gas/electric plug-versions of its entire lineup – including… -
AUTOS: Porsche Boosts 918 Spyder Power
The upcoming supercar will produce 887 horsepower from its gas/electric… -
AUTOS: Acura NSX Details Revealed
The rebirth of the mid-engine sports car – now an all-wheel-drive… -
DRIVEN: Jaguar’s Many-Splendored XJ
The British luxury sedan comes in 10 different flavors, with plenty… -
AUTOS: Lamborghini Egoista Launched
The wild single-seat concept car is unveiled at the end of the epic… -
AUTOS: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Hot Pontiac G8
NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick helped his driver modify the 2009… -
VINTAGE: A Fast Historic Tour Of France
Vintage race and touring cars compete in the 22nd annual Tour de… - More News
