Jaguar XJ - Audi A8 // Head - Heart

Large luxury saloons rule the roads here in the Middle East. In contrast to European markets, the likes of the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class are at the top of the sales charts rather than being a luxury afforded only to the few. Historically, it’s been the latter two examples that have proved kings of the big four-door market, but the end of 2010 saw the introduction of two new pretenders eager to dethrone the established elite.

Audi’s A8 is the latest version of a car that’s been steadily growing in popularity and the German manufacturer reckons that this new, all-singing and all-dancing model will be the one to take it into the big time.

Jaguar’s new XJ however is a radical departure from previous cars wearing the badge. The XJ’s heritage dates back to 1968 and over the decades it made its name as a stately large saloon to be swanned about in. Despite various forays into motorsport the big cat was never really thought of as a bona fide performance vehicle.

Until the introduction of the new Mark IV, that is. The latest XJ is part of a concerted effort by Jaguar to reinvent itself as the world delves deeper into the 21^st century. Modern Jag wants to be gadgets, power and sophistication, not pipe and slippers.

The A8 is a relative nipper, with the first generation appearing on the scene in 1994. The new third generation model remains closer to its roots than the XJ, being more of a luxury barge than a big saloon with sporting pretensions.

But it’s still thoroughly modern, with a lightweight aluminium space frame construction and a lengthy features list. Weight-wise in fact, both cars tip the scales at less than 2,000kg – impressive, considering their size.

The XJ has immediate appeal. The striking lines and visual touches stand it out compared to the A8 and make the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class seem tame and uninteresting by comparison, especially on this, the high performance Supersport model.

The A8 doesn’t turn heads in the same way. When we took both cars to a small village on the outskirts of Dubai for the photoshoot, a small crowd gathered to gawp, but all of them were lusting after the Jaguar. No one we spoke to wanted the understated Audi.

But it’s a grower. Although colleagues labelled its looks as “like a big A4”, this reviewer regards it as rather elegant despite its more obvious bulk and weird droopy headlights. Audi’s family look is never going to be as exhuberant as Jaguar’s, but with its stretched proportions and some very tasty (and optional) 21-inch Rotor wheels it deserves appreciation when considered properly.

Jaguar’s interior is a beautiful piece of work, from the arty air vents to the use of leather, carbon fibre and wood liberally splashed around the cabin. Most definitely a place we’d be quite happy to sit stationary inside and admire for a while.

The A8’s design inside isn’t as immediately arresting, but it reeks of quality. Everything feels absolutely rock solid to the touch and it also comprises swathes of leather and wood. Our test car had the $12,000 optional Balao brown interior, which was a delight. As you’d expect for that kind of money.

Cars of this size demand technology and in this category the Audi wins by sheer volume of gizmos. The Jag might not boast the same number of gadgets as the A8, but the trinkets it does sport are very glamourous. The headline grabbers include the virtual dashboard, which replaces traditional analogue dials with a high-definition screen beneath the binnacle.

We’re also big fans of the Dual View tech. Pop a DVD into the dashboard and the front seat passenger can watch it on the eight-inch in-dash screen while the car moves. From the driver’s seat, however, the pilot sees the satellite navigation or whatever car set up he needs. All this is done through the same screen, a process that’s very clever and guaranteed to produce nods of appreciation from visitors.

Performance-wise, the comparison here is not strictly fair. At the time of writing, Audi only offered the A8 with a 4.2-litre V8 producing 372bhp, while the XJ we tested is the top-of-the-range Supersport model, powered by a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 that kicks out a massive 510bhp. Both however are top of their respective ranges at the moment, although we’re eagerly anticipating the W12-engined A8 due in the Middle East very soon. And we’re even more excited about the S8 that’s due to be revealed this year.

For now, you might expect the driving comparison to be somewhat one-sided. The Jag has almost 140 more bhp puts its power on the road through the rear wheels, while the A8 sports quattro all-wheel drive.

But the big German aquits itself very well. The experience of driving it is one that matures with time and all of us that tried the car found ourselves warming to it. It initially seems a touch devoid of performance intent, but push it on and it comes alive, feeling absolutely rock solid around the corners unlike the more lairy XJ, staying firm and flat and doing a superb job of keeping understeer at bay. The steering is meaty in weight and the 4.2-litre V8 is a beauty, delivering its power with a firm hand and plenty of instant grunt through a fantastically smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox. Concerns that the engine might struggle to shift the almost-two-tonne weight evaporate straight away. At motorway speeds a prod of the accelerator is all that’s needed for the ‘box to instantly drop down a few cogs and briskly move the Audi onwards. It’s an overall experience that always refined and well mannered with no more drama than a slightly raising of the voice through a soft but insistent exhaust note.

The XJ, in contrast, had us hooked from the start. It’s a really great drive, feeling alive and nimble despite steering that’s a bit too light for our tastes. Having said that, once you adjust to the ease with which the wheel can be spun we never felt unaware of what the front wheels were up to. Just as well too – the XJ’s very rapid in its changes of direction, with its size superbly disguised by some incredible engineering. Although it weighs 1,915kg, hustle the big XJ along some challenging roads and you could easily believe you’re in something much smaller. It stays beautifully composed, recovering from exhuberant cornering in an instant and settling ready for the next challenge. Even when the weight does become apparent when barreling into a bend, the resultant understeer can quickly be translated into oversteer with a prod of the throttle. That a car this size can feel so small around you is remarkable.

The throttle, like the rest of the car, is eager and on more than one occasion caused us to inadvertantly light up the rear tyres at low speeds. Whether you feel this friskiness adds character may depend on whether you’re the owner or a neighbour. Of course, with 510bhp it’s difficult not to be a little adventurous. Make no mistake, it might look like a limousine but the Supersport is seriously rapid and while the A8 is an impressive machine, it doesn’t feel like a driver’s car in the way of the XJ.

Power is delivered in an intoxicating fashion at any speed, accompanied by a soundtrack from the quad exhausts that’s understated but full of intent. The engine and the wheels are connected by an exceptionally quick and smooth six-speed automatic gearbox. Twist the milled dial on the tranmission tunnel from D to S and the wheel-mounted paddles will flick through the gears with similar aplomb. It’s a shame though that the paddles are made of a cheap and nasty plastic rather than the metal that the car deserves.

Both cars are the long-wheelbase versions that will make up the vast bulk of models arriving in the Middle East, and so both boast cavernous amounts of space in the back. The A8 has the edge in rear seat comfort thanks to its adjustable air suspension mode and a generally waftier demeanour, but the XJ is certainly not uncomfortable. Although it’s the sportier drive of the two and its air suspension is set up to remain flat through cornering, the ride is damped well, striking a fine balance between communication of the road surface to the driver and comfortable insulation for passengers.

Both test cars came with rear seat screens on the back of the front headrests, meaning lucky passengers can enjoy DVD performances as they’re driven along. The XJ boasts an impressively glitzy remote control stored in the rear centre armrest, complete with colour screen. It’s similar to those found in business class on aeroplanes and looks the part…

The Audi’s system looks like two regular flatscreen televisions has been installed into the car. It’s the most lounge-like of the two and while we’d be happy being ferried about in either, the back of the A8 would be our first choice – especially if the optional relaxation seat is fitted, which folds down the front passenger seat, raises a foot rest attached to the back of it and allows the back seat passenger to recline almost horizontally. Our test car featured optional power seats which will recline slightly, albeit not to the same extent. Sadly, the Jag seats don’t recline in the back at all.

Returning to entertainment, mention must go to the sound systems found in both cars. Jaguar’s Bowers and Wilkins set up has won accolades galore and rightly so – the 20-speaker system produces excellent sound wherever you sit in the car, partly thanks to some clever technology that recognises which seats are occupied and adjusts the settings accordingly. There’s full integration for iPod and other auxiliary sources.

Audi also offers iPod integration but through an OEM cable that sadly wasn’t included with our test car. When we drove the A8 on its international launch in Germany, I had a chance to experience the top-spec Bang and Olufsen system, which produced the best sound quality I’ve ever heard in a car. Suffice to say, buyers of either XJ or A8 will be spoiled when it comes to music, so dust off your old CD collection and enjoy.

Both of these cars are superb machines and we’d be happy to have either of them on our driveway or in a designated parking spot outside our corporate headquarters. But which we’d choose would depend on how we approached the purchase. Our head would say the sensible purchase is the Audi. It’s a wonderfully engineered piece of kit – great to drive, superbly comfortable and of a quality that’s a step ahead of the competition.

But it doesn’t move us emotionally in the way that the Jag does. With those looks and that feeling of being a sports car that also functions as a limousine – rather than a limousine with impressive sporting credentials…

…it’s the XJ that wins our hearts.

Photography – By Khalid the “Termite” and Phil the “Governor”