Jaguar teases arrival of new XJ sedan

With the launch date of the redesigned XJ sedan drawing closer, Jaguar is starting to prime the pump by releasing an overhead view of the new car. The teaser shot gives us a look at the car's glass panoramic roof.

The new XJ, which we expect to get a clear look at late this summer, uses a reengineered version of the current XJ's aluminum chassis. But the exterior styling will pick up coupelike styling cues from the XF sedan. The interior also will share the XF's family look but will have its own unique design and detailing.

Although the XJ starts with today's underpinnings, much of the underskin hardware is revamped. For example, additional braces support new front and rear subframes, the latter needed because of a revised differential that has a greater number of attachment points than the current car. The same arrangement has helped sharpen the handling of the XK.

The 2011 XJ remains the same size and rides on the same wheelbase as the current car, but clever packaging tricks learned during the transformation of the S-type into the XF will add more usable space, particularly in the rear seat.

Jaguar also is matching new engines to sheetmetal. The top powertrain will be the 503-hp, supercharged 5.0-liter V8 in the XJR. Other engines include a naturally aspirated 385-hp 5.0-liter V8 and possibly an entry-level 310-hp 4.2-liter V8.

By Julian Rendell