Jaguar XJ (2010) – more teaser videos

 I agree - I'm sorry I keep harping on about this, but having recently read Car's Setright Decides issue I really have to wonder what has happened to big saloons in the past decade. In 1987 one was spoiled for choice: Jaguar Sovereign V12, BMW E32 750iL, Mercedes W126 560SEL and Bentley Turbo R - three very different cars, all more or less attractive, some gobsmackingly gorgeous. Each one of them has its own distinct character, yet they're all immensely covetable (though I was never a big fan of the Fritz Feller-penned Rollers/Bentleys). Today we have the dull and ungainly X350 XJ (soon to die, fortunately), the clumsy W221 S-Class (selling despite its odd styling), the overstyled F01 Seven Series (see S-Class) and the completely charmless Lexus LS (yawn!). The only modern cars in this cars I find appealing are the pretty old Audi A8 and the Quattroporte, and those are, by and large, niche offerings. 

What went wrong? When did the car companies start to lose the plot? Why do luxury and elegance seem to be so hard to combine these days? 

 Suspected spoiler from BMW found in Google land......The 2010 / Series 730d and their claim:-

"average fuel consumption of the BMW 730d determined in the EU test cycle to 6.8 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 41.5 mpg imp), with the CO2 emission rating moving down to 178 grams per kilometre. As a result the BMW 730d is further expanding its leading position as the most efficient saloon in the luxury segment."

who'll be right?  BMW for another 8 days or is someone in Castle Bromwich quickly re-writing the press pack as we speak?  It's going to be an interesting few weeks!

 Chris, I am and was perfectly happy with the XF - though the C-XF concept wasn't such a smart idea, as Jaguar obviously acknowledged since. And yes, those headlights are the car's weakest link. But on the whole I really like it, just as I really like the current XK - if I were in the market for an upper class saloon or a grand tourer, I'd put my money where my mouth is and buy Jag.