There’s good news. Jaguar Land Rover has started delivering the Jaguar XJ in India. No no, not the hybrids. The Jaguar XJ and XF hybrids are still on their way. For now, the XJ that was showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo 2010 is being delivered. Great news, right? The lustrous, the sporting, the classy Jaguar XJ has begun adorning the car porches of many a homes.

“We notice a very intense aspiration in India to own an XJ. We are encouraged by the number of customers who have expressed a desire to own this iconic car,” Mr S Krishnan, Tata Motors’ Senior Vice President (Commercial), Passenger Car Business Unit, said. Tata Motors, which now owns JLR, says that the all-new Jaguar XJ offers a “seductive mix of striking design, breathtaking performance and engineering.” Very true indeed!

The elongated teardrop shape of the side windows portrays the car’s unique profile. And, the aerodynamic character is not revealed just in the looks, the XJ’s drag coefficient of 0.29 makes it the most aerodynamic Jaguar ever, along with the Jaguar XF of course. The beautiful car is also the lightest in its class.

The XJ’s unique lightweight vehicle architecture that comprises of primarily aluminium, with magnesium and composite alloys too, gives the Jaguar its significantly lighter and stiffer body. The quality materials used in the construction have given the XJ enhanced strength, greater refinement and advanced safety performance. The structure features aerospace-based riveting and bonding processes.

A coupé profile wraps a cabin that offers the space of a sedan. There is generous room for five occupants. A powerful sporting character can be noticed throughout the interiors of this new car. The panoramic glass roof only accentuates the sense of light and space in the cabin.

A new generation of interior technologies have been revealed through the XJ; technologies like the innovative Virtual Instrument dials, 8-inch full-colour Dual View technology with Touch Screen display and 1200 W Bowers & Wilkins premium surround sound system.

The new XJ is available in India in the long wheelbase version and this allows the rear seat passengers enjoy a lavish and refined environment with an additional 125mm of legroom. The all new XJ cabin blends elegant, contemporary design with the comfort, luxury and unmistakable sporting style of a Jaguar. It is powered by 5-litre 379 bhp AJ-V8 Gen III naturally aspirated direct-injection V8 petrol engine. We had earlier mentioned that the car would also come with a choice of a 3-litre V6 diesel motor. Well, let’s hope it comes soon.

The engine has been mated to a shift-by-wire six-speed automatic transmission that also allows the driver to shift gears manually without using a clutch by means of steering wheel-mounted paddles. And of course, the car comes with a long list of high-tech bits like air suspension, Adaptive Dynamics (continuously variable damping), Active Differential Control, LED taillights and a host of others.