Sport sedan has become the new buzzword in luxury cars. We’ve heard it time and again—the space and comfort of a family car, the strength and speed of a sports car. But it’s so rare to get behind the wheel of one of these things and feel like nothing has been compromised. The 2011 Jaguar XJ Sedan is the exception to this rule.

Photograph by Jim Prisching

Jordan Aron, President of Imperial Motors in Lake Bluff, with the 2011 Jaguar Xj Sedan

You can feel it rumble to life around you, a force to be reckoned with. From the moment you step on the gas pedal, it’s clear this machine wants the road. It responds to your slightest touch, practically reading your mind. It doesn’t just look like a sports car, it communicates like one. It lets you know at all times that you are in complete control of a truly powerful instrument. It has none of the hesitation or second thoughts of a sedan, where you put the pedal to the floor and feel like you’re out in front, trying to pull the car along behind you. It wants to move with you, and it wants you to move faster. The mounting pressure of the pressed leather seat against your back means you decided to completely experience the new XJ. You’ve dropped your foot and opened it up. Suddenly, it’s like laws of physics only apply to everyone else.

“The 2011 XJ is the most impressive car in the luxury car segment today. It has styling that stands out and a new direction that appeals to more buyers,” says Jordan Aron, President of Imperial Motors in Lake Bluff. “The quality of construction and the generous use of leather, metal, and wood on the interior blow away the competition.”

Even though the 2011 XJ is a ground-up redesign, it still has the cool Jaguar amenities that continue to mark the brand as the height of automotive style: the stylish fob you carry in your pocket that unlocks the doors when it senses your proximity; the push-button start feature; the JaguarDrive selector that rises smoothly from the center console when the engine starts; and the thin-film-technology screen which displays a sizeable gear indicator as you shift with the steering wheel-mounted paddles when you switch into manual.

The exterior of the car is what received most of Jaguar Chief Designer Ian Callum’s incomparable attention. Practically the only thing retained from previous XJ models is the raised streak running front to back on the hood of the car. Despite the fact that it’s the longest car they’ve put out yet (they extended the front, presumably to maintain its gorgeous lines), it’s still the lightest car in its class. In fact, it’s 250 pounds lighter than anything Jaguar’s competitors have managed to produce. Its lightweight nature is due to the all-aluminum, aircraft-inspired chassis, and would also account for its seemingly effortless aerodynamics and preternatural handling.

The XJ comes standard with a 5.0-litre V8 engine, introduced in last year’s XF and XK models. But if 385-horsepower just isn’t going to do the trick, there’s a supercharged version that’ll kick you up to 470-horsepower. A precious few special order models even house the SuperSport model engine, with 510-horsepower and 461 foot-pounds of torque. That’s zero to 60 in 4.7 seconds. You’ll practically need air traffic control for your weekend drive. This thing flies.

“Along with the launch of the all new XJ, Jaguar has added Jaguar Platinum Coverage,” says Jordan. “All 2011 Jaguars come with the Best-in-Class warranty of five years or 50,000 miles, including complimentary scheduled maintenance and zero-cost replacement of wear-and-tear items.”

It may have been built to comfortably accommodate five, and in this regard there are no complaints, it’s a choice ride no matter where you sit, but this is a car that was designed for the driver. The 2011 Jaguar XJ owns the road; so by the transitive property when you own the XJ, the road belongs to you. The only question is when you’re going to pick up your deed.

Imperial Motors is located at 150 Skokie Highway in Lake Bluff. For more information, visit them online at imperialmotors.com.
—JAKE JARVI