Jaguar 1998 V8 4 Door Looks Unchanged . . . But Wait, There's More
23 October 1997
Fleet Technical Manager. Malcom Oliver and General Sales Manager Dennis Lassiter, both of Jaguar Cars North America, presented the company's new V8 powered sedan series to the automotive press at the California Speedway. The intro allowed the scribes a chance to stand on the gas in the four-door hot rods.
The XJR super-charged model, XJS and the plush Vanden Plas looked unchanged--exterior styling-wise they remain the same car Jag has offered for the past several years. On close inspection, however, a lot has been changed: new interiors, traction control, new/stronger understructure, softer shapes, new colors, new wheels, upgraded emission controls, 2 trip computers, new instrument cluster, bigger glove box, improved side impact protection, new audio system, side airbags, new (tricky) hands-free telephone, ABS,and beefed up springs and front cross member.
The engine in the new Jag is the 4 liter V8 at 290 h.p., and the super-charged version with 370 h.p. These big sedans with the hot motor will out-drag a Ford Mustang Cobra and do 0 to 60 in 5.4 secs vs the Ford's 5.7 secs. Would you believe the cars sports a Mercedes automatic five-speed trans? The new cars employ multiplex electronics, which means fewer connectors, fewer wires and reduced battery drain, and, because of all the new "spell that F-o-r-d" tech improvements, the servicing cost of a Jaguar has been reduced by one-third. The spark plugs last 100,000 miles, as do the all the belts in the engine.
Performance-wise the car has a lot of pep, and though the top speed is regulated to not go beyond 150 mph, Jag has had one, sans restrictors, up to 170 mph on the Autobahn.
The sales and customer satisfaction picture looks very rosy for Jag. Currently the highest CSI rating goes to Lexus with a score of 172, but the cars from Coventry are gaining with a 154 rating.
The company expects to sell 20,000 new cars and 20,000 used cars in 1998.
Used cars are important: in March, 1995 they sold but six used cars nationwide while during the same period this year, they peddled 1,500.
Driving the cars on a short test track--as opposed to a full blown road test--gives us an initial impression that they are quite nimble for a 4,044 lb sedan, but there is a nagging lagging when you tromp the loud pedal looking for a passing gear. Not so, however, in the XJR supercharged model. This baby just keeps winding up to the redline.
The EPA is 17 and 24 for the XJ8, and the tank holds 21.4 gals.
According to Sales Manager Lassiter, since the cars were shipped to his dealers coast to coast, his phone has been ringing off the hook with re-orders.
It's about Time!
Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel
