Introduced in 2009, the current generation Jaguar XJ has been around for almost a decade now. This year, the Coventry-based carmaker will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the flagship sedan with the introduction of an all-new generation. However, with this milestone, the XJ might take a leap towards the future and go all high tech while adopting an all-electric powertrain.
The current XJ has become a little long in the tooth, especially when its direct rivals – the German trio of Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 – have moved ages ahead. All three Luxo-barges offer some kind of an electrified powertrain option as well. However, Jaguar wants to take the high road and establish the next-gen XJ as a technological tour de force.
It was a challenge to know whether the XJ will enter into a new generation at all given the growing demands of luxury SUVs and diminishing sales of luxury saloons. But, the replacement will not come as an exact conventional vehicle but as the most high-tech Jaguar ever. This doesn’t mean that the larger Jaguar SUV (J-Pace rumoured) is ruled out.
With the new electric powertrain, the next XJ can aim for the Tesla Model S. As far as development is concerned, the Jaguar I-Pace is already in works with a new 90kWh lithium-ion battery pack driving two electric motors for a total power output of 395bhp and 700Nm. It is expected to have a range of around 350 kilometres, all of which is ample enough to be scrounged in the Jaguar flagship.
According to reports, the new XJ has already crossed the design stage and might debut later this year before hitting the roads in 2019. It is developed alongside the upcoming Range Rover and adopt a five-door body style. The cabin design is already penned down, and being a reinvented XJ, we can expect an all-new design language from the British marque.
Jaguar’s first all-electric vehicle will officially debut in March this year. Following that, Jaguar will aim to establish itself as a premium electric carmaker thus bringing in an entire portfolio of EVs, spearheaded by the new XJ of course. Reinventing the XJ as an electric is the best way of keeping it relevant as the industry experiences an unprecedented level of change related to electrification, according to Jaguar.
