Jaguar showed off its mildly redesigned 2008 XJ on Thursday in advance of the Geneva auto show, which starts next week. Highlights include a more "assertive and sporting" exterior with a revised front-end design that includes a new mesh grille with chrome details, new side power vents, rear aero spoiler and a new rear bumper.
The top-of-the-line XJR now comes with aluminum-finish power vents and black-painted brake calipers. Jaguar said it also added six new exterior paint colors: Emerald Fire, Pearl Grey, Crystal Blue, Botanical Green, Vapour Grey and Azure Blue. The XJ also gets new 19-inch alloy wheels, including the Carelia, a 10-spoke alloy first seen on the XK-Series.
The 2008 XJ includes heated seats as standard across the line, with optional cooled seats available. Cabin improvements include a new seat design that gives rear-seat passengers more legroom, thanks to redesigned front-seat backs. Bluetooth connectivity is standard and allows up to five phones to be paired to the in-car telephone system.
The XJ continues to offer a range of powertrains, including a 204-horsepower 2.7-liter diesel V6 and a 400-hp 4.2-liter supercharged V8. The engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
What this means to you: The XJ gets tweaked and looks a little more masculine, but not so much as to turn off sybaritic Jag purists.