CJ Classiche: Jaguar XJ6 4.0 Sovereign road-tested
It’s not often that we feature cars that aren’t recently introduced. Let alone classic cars. There are however a lot of interesting cars from yesteryear out there. We give it a try by reviewing this Jaguar XJ40 Sovereign, whilst trying to weave the tiniest of a history lesson into it.
Let’s first get over with the stodgy matter for your understanding. This is a Jaguar XJ6 with internal code name ‘XJ40’. It succeeded the XJ Series 3, which technically makes it the fourth generation XJ. The 6 in ‘XJ6’ represent the cylinder count, distinguishing it from the XJ12 that was internally named ‘XJ81’. Are you still with us?
Kingfisher Blue
That is the official name of this colour. To be fair, I think it tends more towards green, especially in direct sunlight. The pictures in this article taken at times of cloudy weather defend camp blue. Nevertheless, it suits it like no other colour, especially when complimented with the cream leather interior. The subtle double-striped silver coach line emphasizes its elongated profile. Short front overhang and a long, drooping, back end provide an aristocratic presence. It looks a lot more classical than it actually is. Its chromed nosecone, upright windscreen, exquisite jewellery and fat, high profile tires look as if it descents from the times of the Old Testament. In reality, it’s from 1992. Which, okay, is older than me, but it gives off a fair sniff of ancientness. Albeit from the same year as the McLaren F1 and Dodge Viper, those cars intuitively feel more recent. This ancientness is in no way artificial or faux, it wears its ancientness proudly. As if it was aware of the fact that it’s weighted with the brand’s heritage on its shoulders.
We walk up towards the XJ and open the driver’s door. The chromed handle has a nice action. And at a first glance, this interior radiates luxury and refinement on a level of the White Star Olympic-class Titanic. Before it sank, of course. Immediately after, you’re struck by its handmade feel. Admirable on the one hand, appalling on the other. From really old Jaguars we know that they were crafted, rather than assembled. But from the inside of this one, you start to doubt the skill-level of the craftsmen. The XJ40 was developed in the 1970s during tough times for British Leyland, Jaguar’s parental company. The forthcoming takeover by Ford in 1990 indicates that the ‘Sovereign’ badge on the back of this car does not refer to Jaguar’s own situation when this car was built. The delayed arrival of the XJ40 in 1986 redeemed the by then truly timeworn XJ Series 3, of which the underpinnings dated from the 1960s. The result of this turmoil during development is that the XJ40, namely early examples, were plagued by quality issues.
Now that we’re inside, our eyes drift away from the shiny wood trim and we spot increasingly more cheap switchgear and poorly fitting plastic mouldings. That does not detract from the majestic ambiance of the interior and the tremendous seating comfort. But we still don’t know anything about the car yet: all what rests for me to do is to turn the key.
Fine wine
The coming of the XJ40 also meant the introduction of the Jaguar’s AJ6 inline-six engine. By 1992, it grew to 4 litres and on the lie detector it reports a horsepower sum on the proper side of 200. Its 4 litres in displacement makes it no small engine to begin with, but once you open the front-hinging bonnet, you’d be stunned by the size of this colossal lump. From the driver’s seat, the front edge of the car seems to reach right into the next zip code. It’s in no way intimidating by the way. At the expense of your own safety, its thin pillars mean that you’re surrounded by glass. Thus, visibility from this large car is better than from most modern cars. Manoeuvring it, is no problem shall we soon find out. Without any reluctance, the half a dozen cylinders wake up. The electronically fuel injected dual cam straight six runs smooth. Select ‘Drive’ on the J-gate and the rpms drop. The muted engine tone is now hardly noticeable from inside. Release the brakes and it creeps forward. Off we go in this fourth-generation XJ Sovereign. A stroke on the throttle is enough to accelerate to B-road speed limits, while the automatic gearbox flows through the gears. With temperatures and pressures in the green you can open the taps, should you wish.
I’m a bit more hesitant than the car, to be honest. Today is not the day for a spirited spin. On the one hand because I know the guy that is cleaning it afterwards (that’s me), on the other hand because it feels improper. The ease of the controls, the thin-rimmed steering wheel and the floaty ride awaken a certain delicacy in your driver’s input. It’s not in a way that the car can’t handle the vigour, it just feels wrong to do so. Corner hard, and this weird impression springs to mind that the furniture starts to slide across the living room. As we don’t want any scratches on the herringbone floor, tranquil driving it is then. Ease it off and use your senses to take in the sophistication of the chassis control. It’s like sipping a fine wine where you put some effort in noticing the flavours and scents.
It doesn't take long before you appreciate Jaguar’s independent rear suspension, IRS for intimi. Together with the high tire walls, it takes away the necessity of trick air suspension. It knocks off the sharp edge of the overall handling which makes you feel a bit disconnected from the outside world, but you feel in control. Communication through the steering wheel is as if your secretary passes on an important message: eventually you know what’s going on, but the information will not reach you in a harsh, direct manner.
History lesson
This XJ dates from a time when life was simpler. That’s what I think at least, because I wasn’t there. What it does is, it recalibrates the principles of the luxury car that we got familiar with over the last decades. The XJ emphasizes that what we perceive as luxury is cemented by quietness and sophistication, not by flashy gizmos. It demonstrates that you don’t need a complex recipe to make a delicious dish, but merely good ingredients. We’re convinced that this is why it will age well. Partly because of the conservative design, partly because at this point in time, rapidly-outfashioned electronics were not there yet. And you know what? At no instant during this review, I wished it had a touch screen, gesture controls or multicoloured interior lightning. I’m sure that more recent XJs were far superior cars, getting better with every generation, but I do like the character of this car. So much in fact, that I co-owned this particular XJ40 for a good amount of time.
Ownership of this car is an ambivalence: the ride comfort is on a level that you will never get acquainted on a first-name basis with your osteopath, but build quality ensures that you do with your psychologist. It might not be for everyone but it teaches us that we must not forget about the great achievements from past times, which makes this car a bit of a history lesson in itself.
