Currently reading: Beijing motor show 2012: Jaguar XJ Ultimate

Most expensive Jaguar XJ ever unveiled at Beijing motor show

The new Jaguar XJ Ultimate is the most luxurious – and expensive – version of Jaguar’s big saloon ever launched. Revealed at today’s Beijing motor show, the XJ Ultimate takes inspiration from stablemate Land Rover’s Range Rover Ultimate Edition, which was a sell-out success in 2011 in spite of its £125,000 price tag.

Jaguar has yet to officially price the XJ Ultimate, but sources indicate it will cost around £128,000 when it reaches the UK in November.

Much of the changes to the Ultimate over the standard long-wheelbase car create a more opulent experience for rear passengers. Between the pair of fully adjustable rear seats sits a folding solid aluminium business table, a champagne chiller and storage for champagne flutes.

Each rear passenger also gets there own iPad and keyboard, plus a TV screen with individual wireless headphones.

There are suspensions tweaks to ensure a smoother ride quality for rear passengers, plus as series of styling tweaks to distinguish the Ultimate from its more humble siblings.

Engines include the first application of Jaguar’s new supercharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol. The existing supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol and 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel engines can also be offered.

Ralf Speth, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover said: "I expect the Jaguar XJ Ultimate to sell best in China, but it's on sale in all markets. We'll see how it does but I expect it to be very successful, as the Range Rover Ultimate was."

Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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Engelbert 23 April 2012

Re: Beijing show: Jaguar XJ Ultimate

Let's face it, the new XJ hasn't taken the world by storm. The XF is by far the preferred model of the two. I can understand JLR wanting to give the XJ brand a boost through releasing the "Ultimate" but doubt it will succeed. I'm really not sure how JLR will deal with the its XJ problem. Engelbert

Squonk61 23 April 2012

Re: Beijing show: Jaguar XJ Ultimate

Gorgeous - and compared to the Evoke WAG, superb value...

They need to think about the champagne flutes though - those don't look as though they will be easy to hold purely by the "stem", to ensure no heat transfer from the body.

/pedant mode.

mrcliodCi 23 April 2012

Re: Beijing show: Jaguar XJ Ultimate

It's funny, but I never seem to see that many here on UK roads. I hear the reason for the slow take-up is the styling, which seems to be a bit much for Jaguar drivers.

The irony is, of course, that the previous model was considered too conservatively styled.