new XJ design- Ian Callum

[Acct1941]

Callum seems to take a less soulful and natural approach than Lawson or Lyons did. For Callum, it is an obsession over logic and correctness, and he seems to underappreciate the X308's great styling. Geoff Lawson designed beautiful Jags, and Callum's Jag designs may not mature like Lyons' and Lawson's have. I love the new ones, but he is a major departure from the history of the brand.

[medium95]

@Acct1941 Wow, well said!! I completely agree with you. Geoff Lawson's styling is ever- beautiful.

[hokman1]

i like the old side profile better

[freedom33100]

this x 358 2007-2008-2009 is full of defect,rack and pinions,steering column etc...

[freedom33100]

see the thread "my last experince with jaguar's warranty" on the jaguar enthusiasts forum,see by yoruslef the poverty from the warranty and the run around they are giving me,you guys at jaguar are very poor.

[karaloca]

What a load of 'artwank'

[n1ckotene]

Very interesting to hear the great man, thanks for uploading.

I think that the series 3 XJ is the best looking car Jaguar ever made.

[medium95]

You're welcome. My favorite XJ is X308( 98~2003). Series 3 is very elegant and I like its design, too.

[negvar]

Ian Callum is the greatest car designer ever. His Jaguars and Aston Martins are simply stunning and epitomize understated elegance

[s54bmw]

Well spoken. I could not have said it better.

[yaroukh]

The most beautiful Jag limo ever. (The facelift kinda ruined it later.) I am quite afraid about how the new generation will look.

[geniusabc]

I've always loved the styling of the XJ8. Just recently purchased an XJ8L and now love it even more! The newer styling is still undoubtedly Jaguar, but the small changes are just what times called for.

[JAGXJ401]

TATA Owns Jaguar Now Are They Still Being Built In England If Anyone Knows Please Let Me Know ASAP.

[djez122]

jagx401-

offcourse they are still built in england,

with british technology and engineering.

it wouldnt be a jaguar otherwise,india couldnt replicate a jag!

but tata , has alot of british ties and money etc so it should be in good hands

money wise.

[JAGXJ401]

phew ill buy a jag still then tanks alot.

[americanrajput]

I am looking forward to getting an XJ8 next month. However, I cannot decide between black or silver in exterior color. Any suggestions?

[cpoetic]

silver of course!

[Marcoshary]

Black of Course!

[alfajam]

This design is totally uninspired. Practicality has never been what the public clamoured for in a Jag. If this was badged Rover, fine...but without sex its not a jag.

The XJ series III is the last...all else can be burnt.  Detailing of forthcoming XF is very poor and looks too much like Lexus/Infinity. Very disappointed in Callum. Hopefully with Aston out of the fold, some creativity can start to show, without treading on toes.

[777edward]

No, I prefer the series II. Because that was Sir William Lyons´last design. The series III was designed by Pininfarina and looks a little too slim.

[alfajam]

SWB of series I-II is delightful and lithe. Ungainly proportions of LWB bug me. Series III was a successsful update given the dimensional and budgetary constraints, but does look a bit staid, beside either of the former.

[salt48v]

In my order of preference:

Sr. 2

X300

Current Shape

Sr. 1

Sr. 3

XJ40

I've re-ordered my list a few times, it's such a hard decision!

I feel what Mr. C has not accentuated enough IMHO is the low boot that the mkX and 420 had & the XJ hinted at, I'm sure he was aware of its beauty, but had in mind the practicality of a boot at least 1 foot high as well as 5 feet deep.

The more I look at the new XJ the more I see a series 2 line - Fair play it's a bloody pretty car, good effort, Mr. Callum!

[2pintsplease]

I agree. The XJC was undoubtedly the best looking XJ ever made. But the X350 is fantastic as a reliable modern car with a bit of panache, lacking in the BMW and Mercedes rivals. And like every XJ ever made it has this amazing ability to go around corners a lot faster than the passengers are led to believe.

[LondonItalian]

The X350 is a technically outstanding car in the best Jaguar traditions, not least of which thanks to use of aluminium WOULD have made Sir Lyons proud.

However, as an XJ owner & enthusiast of many years I feel alienated by the X350s design. Its not ugly at all & I understand the reasons why,but in my opinion, theres too much sacrificed visually for practicality.

For me the X308 is the pinnacle.

[brunosilvershadow]

Callum shows us excatly what he wrong in this new design! he explains us why the new XJ isn' t a Jaguar any longer! It has become a fat Limousine what replaced the legendary four dour Coupé! Then Mercedes showed us, how a four door Coupé looks like... The failed success of the XJ says that my comment is right!!!

[medium95]

Honestly, I miss the late Geoff Lawson.

New XJ was Geoff Lawson's last work, it is said that Ian Callum completed Geoff Lawson's work, but more often than not, small difference becomes 'big' difference.

The new XJ is beautiful, but too conservative.

Previous Jaguars were more elegant and sexy.

I think if Geoff Lawon were alive, the new XJ must have been successful.

I'm disappointed by the XF( production car) design.

[brunosilvershadow]

i promise you that the XF will definitifly be the end of Jaguar!!! perhaps they agree now, that they miss the four door coupé in the new XJ range, but also in the actual S-type, which has so many details, which NEVER can be Jaguar: as the huge and heavy doors for example... the round grille but the bulky, square edged front window, the horrible dashboard of the first series... in every angle we're missing the subtleness of Sir William Lyon's design period!!!

[medium95]

Good point, but I partly agree with you.

Jaguar was not so slim except the E-type, just take a look at the Mark X, the Mark 2,or the S-type( classic), you should realize that Jaguar is just beautiful.

The S-type is one of pure Jaguar, but as you pointed out, the first dashboard was horrible!

Take a look at the X-type, it is just a pure Jag, but Mondeo-stuffs deteriorate the fame of Jaguar.

Sharing the parts was no problem in making car, but will give much profit to customers.

[brunosilvershadow]

in question of X-type, i agree with you! that's really a nice jag! except the break! why didn't they take the hip-swing-line of the saloon as well? from rear it look like the volvo 40series break, doesn't it?

[medium95]

Further more, X-type's chassis was drived from Mondeo's, it is not sharing in fact.

I really love the X-type, it is just great car that I have expected.

Design, steering and ride feel, versatile AWD, cozy interior, etc.... in many aspects I love that car.

Sir Willam Lion knew how to balance the ART and the business, that's philosophy!

Glad to chat with you, brunoshilvershadow.

[brunosilvershadow]

but the actual S-type stay's for me a bulky, heavy looking car... really look at the heavy doors... the car is too high... too fat... compare to the X308 XJ line! for me that will stay the last real beautiful JAGUAR! in the purest sense of sir williams philosophy! he himself baptised the design of the XJ40, from which the X308 was the last and most beautiful evolution!!!

[lewis72]

I worked at Whitley for 4 years and helped sort out a diff whine problem we had on the X350. For me, the best saloon was the 6 cylinder XJR with those stunning polished alloy wheels.

[brunosilvershadow]

how lucky you are to have worked for jaguar! (smile!) most interesting: you would prefer the X300 XJR to the X308 XJR???why then? X300 XJR's are very favorably priced on the second hand market in switzerland today...!

[lewis72]

I know they are quite cheap nowadays.

I prefer the styling of th X300 over the X308. The square front folamps, th smoked rear lamps and the alloys on the XJR & XJ Sport. Furthermore, Jaguar's racing heritage in Le Mans used the straight 6 engine and not the V8.

[brunosilvershadow]

ok... most interesting to know the opinion of someone who worked at jaguar's! what i like more on the X308 is simply the dashboard! but i'm driving my XJ sovereign from 1983 in the rare colour of grosvenor brown! like you see it on the video of a symphony des alpes on my channel here on youtube! smile!

[lewis72]

Just viewing your vids...

[LukeXgamer]

You put too many exclamation marks, dickhead.

[TheSaintST1]

I remember seeing the seats for the pre-production XJR when I was working at Browns Lane - Black and lip-stick red.. looked really tacky... Did it make it to production models in the end??

[TheSaintST1]

I love the fantastic drive dynamics of this car, but as a designer myself, I feel that they should have pushed the boundaries a bit further. The styling is looking very dated against the competition. What we need is something as radical as the C-XF to take it's place.

[napolean34]

im listening....hahahahahaa

[Explosion000]

Absolutely beautiful car..... gonna buy a 99 XJL Vanden Plas Eventually......

[volnick1986]

Beautiful car! Ian Callum is a genius for designing this!

[JAGXJ401]

i was looking for this thank you so much medium95 for posting this!

[medium95]

You're welcome!

[maukrvp]

Man, I want one in a bad way. I recently sold my 90' XJS. Problems and all I miss it. I hope to soon buy a newer X Type. Thanks for posting.