Quiet Time
If you’re driving, getting around Miami’s South Beach area is miserable any time of day. Between the thick traffic and the tourist mobs, progress down Ocean Avenue or the adjoining Collins Ave is incremental at best. Despite having to navigate the tight streets and frustrating conditions, the XJL performed remarkably well, leaping into tight spaces between creeping cars with unexpected agility and responding to every flick of the wheel and touch on the accelerator. Braking was immediate as well, meaning there was no kissing bumpers, which was great because it’d be a tragedy to scratch the dive-into-it deep paint.

If the low-speed, stop-and-start experience of being trapped in traffic was good—and it was fine, truth be told—it’s also because the interior of the car is such a pleasant place in which to pass the time. The leather used on the seats and trim is “sumptuous,” to use an apt word from the Jaguar brochure, and the fit and finish impeccable, to use one of my own. The 11-way adjustable heated/cooled leather seats also offer a massage, and the steering wheel can be heated, though we didn’t need that in Miami. Rear-seat passengers enjoy a level of comfort usually reserved for royalty or the private jet set, with 44 inches of legroom in the XJL and even fold-down tray tables, which are finished in the same beautiful materials as the rest of the interior. Matched-wood veneers arc broadly across the cabin, giving it a cockpit feel of sorts, while chrome and leather accents impress and sparkle at every turn.

The view of Miami out the formidable amount of glass was lovely, and it was nice leaning back and watching palms shift and clouds roll by out the vast dual sunroofs while sitting, not moving, in sight of the Interstate. Things were kept cool thanks to the powerful climate control system, which features vents I found to be particularly operational. The system is adjustable via a high-definition, centrally located touch-screen that handles navigation and audio control duties as well, among other things. While I enjoyed studying the virtual gauges and information panels on the dash (which are as useful and straightforward as they are cutting-edge) and playing with the numerous steering-wheel controls, one of the best parts about being stuck in traffic was the music. I’m rather particular about my audio, and the stunning clarity from the Bowers & Wilkins audio system, with its 20 speakers and 1,200 watts, was simply fantastic. Coupled with the 30gig hard drive, which holds both music and the immediately available navigation data, or a DVD system, the audio system is a must-have as far as I’m concerned.

In Motion
As nice as all of this was, you don’t buy a high-performance car to sit in it all day (unless you’re Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who collects cars but doesn’t have a driver’s license). And as much as I was enjoying the fine work of Jaguar’s interior design team, I couldn’t wait to get moving. It seemed the car itself was feeling frustrated as well, because when we finally did escape the Miami gridlock and find some open road the XJL purred, growled, and then positively roared—and I swear it needed no urging from me.

Getting pushed back in your seat under hard acceleration is great fun. When the seats are as nice as those in the XJL it’s doubly so because, while I’d marvelled at their sumptuousness in traffic (see above) I was now impressed by their support—not rock-hard, but comfortably race-inspired you might say. Pushing me back for the 4.9 seconds it takes to get from 0 to 60 was a 470hp 5.0-liter Supercharged V8 that produces 424 pound-feet of torque and has a tremendous engine note. It’s a fantastic power plant, effortlessly driving the roughly 4,300-lb (curb weight) car forward via a 6-speed sequential shift transmission that, whether left to its own decision-making or manually controlled via the paddle shifters, is quick and seamless throughout the range. The low weight (hundreds of pounds lighter than the competition) and high performance are due in part to a stiff and lightweight aerospace-inspired aluminium body structure, which means dramatic power delivery to the 19-inch wheels and whip-smart handling that belies the vehicle’s dimensions. Pedal response was brilliant and braking from speed sincerely effective, if not a bit dramatic. Choosing “Dynamic” mode, via a quick turn of the JaguarDrive Selector wheel on the center console, makes the car downright angry, reflected in the red hue assumed by the virtual gauges on the dash. In this mode, sophisticated electronics put most driving dynamics on alert, increasing reaction from the already responsive accelerator, quickening shifts and tightening handling and overall feel, which makes you appreciate the seats even more. With the new Adaptive Dynamics System (standard in all XJ models), which makes continuous adjustments to suspension dampening, and an effective but not intrusive Dynamic Stability Control system, which can save the hide of overly enthusiastic drivers, the XJL must be evaluated as the performance car that it is, not just as a super luxury sedan—which it also is. It excels at both roles.

Final Thoughts
I have to report that I’m blown away by what the engineers at Jaguar have done. At no point did I feel like I was driving a large car—much less one that’s five inches longer than the standard model. My daily driver is a sporty two-door, and making the transition could not have been easier. Even parking, which seemed daunting at first, was easily accomplished thanks to tight steering and readily available information in the form of proximity sensors and a rear camera, which automatically kicks in when the car is in reverse. All the expected bells and whistles are there—cooling box for beverages, passenger climate controls, elegant lighting, and so on—along with adequate storage and practical electronics, and there are a few surprises as well. But what sets the XJL apart is its dual personality. If you’re looking for an elegant and supremely appointed super luxury sedan to drive—or in which to be driven—this is your car. Likewise, if you’re after a commanding presence and crazy power with racetrack handling, here you go. Base models start under $70,000, while a top of the line 510hp version will set you back just over $100,000; for this kind of power and luxury that’s incredibly reasonable—and certainly better than anything remotely near the class. Considering the performance, luxury and price point, I don’t know how they’ve done it, but the 2011 XJL Supercharged leaves us with just one thing to say: Job well done.

Find out more about the 2011 Jaguar XJ and XJL at jaguar.com

2011 Jaguar XJL Supercharged
Engine: Supercharged 5.0 Liter V8
Horsepower: 470
0-60: 4.9 seconds
Top Speed: 155mph (limited)
Mileage: 15 city/21 hwy
Curb weight: 4,323 lb
Approx. Price: $90,500