Jaguar XJ facelift (2007) first news and photos

By Jack Carfrae

First Official Pictures

28 February 2007 11:29

2008 Jaguar XJ: the lowdown

Jaguar is sprucing up its XJ luxury saloon at Geneva next week to keep it fresh until a radical new model arrives in 2009 – and these pictures show the big cat for the first time. There are numerous subtle changes to Jaguar’s flagship saloon, most of which are well within the ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ category, but they add a little more polish to the big saloon, which has always suffered criticism for its conservative design.

Most of the changes involve the bumpers, which have been given a more distinguished, deep and chunky look, and a more prominent growler on the revised grille. New, chromed side gills tucked behind the wheelarches are a bit more obvious, and there are sportier side skirts, a rear aero spoiler and Jag’s signature chrome blade across the back. Executive models now get lofty 19-inch wheels as standard and there are a further six paint schemes to choose from, too. Car spotters will also notice the indicators built into the door mirrors. Look closely at those bumpers, though: a similar design will make its way onto the front of the new XF next year, which is the long-awaited replacement for the S-type.

By Jack Carfrae