Jaguar’s newest flagship model breaks the mould. Though it maintains the British automaker’s luxury aura, its head-turning styling distinguishes this aluminium bodied cat from the rest of the lineup.

Like Audi’s A8, the XJ is significantly lighter (150kg to be precise), on account that it is built chiefly from aluminium. The change from steel to aluminium body has not only equated to a lighter kerb weight, but also benefited the performance, ride, handling and fuel economy of the XJ. A supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine that sips 12.1L/100km on the combined cycle powers this beast.

The short wheelbase luxury version I tried has a price tag of about $311,000. The longer wheelbase ‘Supersport’ offers 125mm more leg room in the back. The former is loaded with bells and whistles, most notably, a brilliant 1200watt Bowers and Wilkins audio system – which let me just say, produces audible nirvana.

The luxury automaker has incorporated a touch screen control system, which is intuitive and simple (but not simplistic) even for the less tech savvy operators. The 8-inch screen is ample in size and features – it includes computerized SATNAV and video output, not to mention the unit is also a 30 gig media hub. There’s even voice control if you can’t find the time or effort to free your hands. Throw in a dual glass sunroof (also voice operable) and it makes for a pretty luxurious cabin getup. Lashes of cream-piped buttery leather, chrome accents, and a curvilinear dash layout further enhance the sumptuous interior. The only pitfalls perhaps are the plastic gear change paddles and restricted rear headroom on account of the low roof design. Taller occupants can forget their days of hats or hair gel. Though the sloping roof creates a stunning profile, it is nonetheless, impractical.

Driving the XJ is all about the cruise. Push too hard and it will refuse to play. Nonetheless, its 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine is good for business with a 346kW output and 575Nm of torque. You can change to the ‘dynamic’ mode, and the gear changes become sharper and the driver, sportier. Adaptive rear air suspension and huge 20-inch tyres improve the driving experience, but this car is still destined for refined grand touring, not race car driving. Noise is very minimal, even if you are powering along the highway at high speeds. The XJ has a great 0-100km/hr sprint rate for a heavy barge – around 5.2 seconds.

The XJ has all the right innovations/technologies with the nuts and bolts to match. The styling is sophisticated and eye-catching. The performance is on par with Jaguar quality. However, in terms of the drive, Audi’s A8 probably beats the XJ by a slight inch.