The Jaguar name has become increasingly prestigious in recent years, with a succession of impressive models coming out of this famed British marquee factories.

The 2012 Jaguar XJ Ultimate takes this to the next level, and lives up to its name by being the ultimate incarnation of a car that is already an icon around the world.

Performance

Jaguars have always been about refined performance, and that’s certainly the case with the XJ Ultimate. You have two engine choices – either a 5.0-liter V8 gasoline-powered unit or a 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel. A third option, a supercharged 3.0-liter gas unit, will be made available soon.

The largest engine gives incredible levels of performance, with over 500 horse power on tap. Despite this, however, fuel consumption of close to 40 mpg is possible in mixed driving, making any type of journey a pleasure rather than a chore.

Exterior

The Jaguar XJ has quickly become highly regarded for its looks, which update the traditional Jaguar style to suit the 21st century, yet without losing the up-market, classy feel for which the brand is so popular.

The distinctive all-aluminum body-shell sets the car apart from its rivals in this market sector, while the Ultimate also benefits from exclusive features such as 20-inch Maroa wheels and the ability for its customers to specify any color scheme they wish.

Interior

Jaguar customers have come to expect high-quality wood veneer trim throughout a car’s cabin, and so it is with the XJ Ultimate. In this case, straight ebony is used, with a herringbone pattern running right around the base of the windshield – just like the design of a classic powerboat.

A very generous amount of leather is used in the car, and this can be specified in any of three colors. 2012 Jaguar XJ Ultimate customers are also offered the exclusive chance to personalize the embroidery pattern on the seats’ head rests.

Specifications