Jaguar isn't currently making cars, but the brand still knows how to make headlines. Fully electric Type 00 concept teases what Jaguar wants to achieve in terms of styling and technology, and yes, it's divisive.
Reliability has long been a thorn in Jaguar's side, dating back to the days of British Leyland in the 1970s. Ford tried to rectify the situation in the late 80s, but it was only when Tata took over in 2008 that the brand was given a new lease of life.
Tata's first steps included a new Jaguar XJ and a rare limited edition Supersport. Sold only in the US and Canada, fewer than 400 examples were produced, making it a seriously collectible luxury sedan.
Where luxury meets performance
Quick facts about the Jaguar XJ Supersport
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Released in 2011 as part of the XJ X351 generation.
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Powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine.
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Squeezed out more than 500 horsepower
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Rare and short-lived, discontinued after the 2012 model year.
The Jaguar XJ debuted 40 years before the Supersport. In the mid-1960s, Jaguar was in a period of transition, building on the success of the E-Type but realizing that its sedan line-up was too confusing.
In 1965 the company offered the Mk2, S-Type and 420 sedans, but they wanted something sportier and more refined to appeal to a wider audience. After a short development period, the Series I XJ was released in 1968.
The new XJ quickly became legendary, praised for its looks, performance and refined ride quality. By 1972, Jaguar had added a long wheelbase version and an all-new 5.3-litre V12 engine, cementing the XJ's reputation as “Grace, Space, Pace”.
By 1975, things had gone downhill for the XJ and Jaguar in general. It was then that British Leyland was nationalized, placing the company under government control.
The cost-cutting measures had a quick and powerful effect, and the cars paid for it. Jaguars, including the XJ, began to have serious problems with build quality.
Electrical gremlins and trim problems have become commonplace, turning brand new Jaguars into a headache for owners.
Jaguar finally split from British Leyland in 1984, when the XJ entered its third generation, Series III.
While the Series III models were still in production, Jaguar introduced the XJ40, which continued in production until 1994.
The brand went through another difficult period when Ford bought Jaguar in 1989. Ford remained in charge until 2008, during which time the XJ completed its X358 generation.
New XJ
When Tata bought Jaguar in 2008, big changes happened quickly. One of the first was the completely redesigned XJ.
Gone are the classic quad headlights, domed tops and flat fronts. In their place is a sleek, modern luxury sedan designed to compete with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.
This new X351 model will ultimately become the final generation of the Jaguar XJ.
A few years after the debut of the X351, Jaguar decided to give the model a special boost in certain markets.
The 2011 XJ came with both a naturally aspirated and a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine.
Buyers could also choose between short and long wheelbase for either engine, giving plenty of options to suit every taste.
At the top of the range was the Supersport, which featured a supercharged V8 engine and a host of exclusive features you wouldn't find on other XJ models. Buyers could choose any wheelbase, although the long version was slightly more popular.
Prices started at $110,000 for the short wheelbase model and rose to around $113,000 for the long wheelbase model.
In its first year, Jaguar built 293 Supersports, of which 265 headed to the United States. Production dropped sharply in 2012, with just 64 examples produced and only seven delivered to Canada.
Supersport Highlights: Specs and Features
Under the curvaceous bonnet of the XJ Supersport is a 5.0-litre V8 engine from the Jaguar AJ engine family. This particular mill, the AJ133S, is given the “S” for “supercharged”.
It uses an Eaton TVS1900R supercharger paired with dual water-to-air intercoolers for improved performance.
Jaguar has dropped the compression ratio from 11.5:1 in the naturally aspirated version to 9.5:1 thanks to flat-top pistons. The Supersport also gets 40 more horsepower than the standard XJ Supercharged, thanks to a hotter ECU tune.
Power from the supercharged AJ V8 is sent to the rear wheels through a ZF six-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is the only transmission option.
The suspension combines comfort and performance with adaptive air springs at the rear and traditional coil springs at the front. Drivers can switch between three JaguarDrive Control modes: Normal, Dynamic and Snow.
Stopping power comes from larger than standard brakes with a unique brake drying feature for added confidence on wet roads.
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Jaguar XJ Supersport Specifications |
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Engine |
5.0-liter supercharged V8 |
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Power |
510 hp |
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Torque |
461 lb-ft |
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0–60 mph |
4.1 seconds |
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Maximum speed |
155 mph (limited) |
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Curb weight |
4323 lbs |
*Specs courtesy of Jaguar, Car and Driver.
Grab one before they're gone
It's been almost 15 years since the 2011 Jaguar XJ Supersport hit the road. As age begins to catch up, time is definitely of the essence for anyone interested.
The good news is that super sports are now surprisingly accessible. Blue Book Kelley lists the 2011 model at about $12,746.
Think about it: a luxury sedan with over 500 horsepower and less than 400 horsepower produced worldwide can be had for the price of a decade-old Honda CR-V. In my humble opinion, this is a pretty incredible deal.
