Harrods Travel Supplement - April

New classics The latest luxury saloons update time-honoured classic models, combining a rich heritage with highly innovative design

Credits TK Images

BY GUS CHADWICK/ PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD MORRIS

FROM LEFT The

original 1968 Jaguar XJ6 and the new XJ model

Harrods Magazine • harrods.com

105

LIFESTYLE aguar: close your eyes and you can hear the bustle of activity at the old Browns Lane factory – company co-founder Sir William Lyons at the drawing board; engineers inspecting components; test drivers sipping tea between test sessions; bespectacled management types calmly studying data; a loyal workforce at the assembly lines. The buyers of luxury saloons – captains of industry, government officials and even royalty – tend to be conservative in their tastes; yet this market is intensely competitive, demanding constant development and innovation. Since the 1970s the market leaders have adopted a deceptively simple solution to this: evolving highly innovative cars over the decades, but calling them by the same name.

Sitting in the original 1968 Jaguar XJ6 (once Sir William’s personal transport) is a deeply nostalgic indulgence for the senses. Its leather, walnut and chrome interior is more in keeping with the elegance of a gentleman’s club than a mere means of transport. This car is an icon of the innovative British engineering of the ’60s, reflecting that decade’s excitement and optimism for the future.

At its launch, it was a phenomenon. New cars were resold at a substantial premium over list price and owners couldn’t park their cars without being approached by strangers offering generous cash deals for an immediate sale. Jaguar even had to run full-page ads in the press apologising to loyal customers for not being able to supply cars fast enough after a group of Swiss buyers came to London to protest.

The iconic silhouette formed the basis for the XJ models as they developed over the next 40 years. But by 2010, even Jaguar had to acknowledge the need for a brand new model, developed under the direction of Ian Callum, formerly of Aston Martin, with engineering and technology to take on its state-of-the-art competitors. A perfect example of Jaguar’s sporting-luxury identity, the model features elegant, flowing lines and details such as cat’s “claws” embossed on the rear lights.

Inside, the cabin is full of high-end finishes – much as in 1968, wood, soft hide and chrome abound – and there’s plenty of space for five adults. All of the seats are heated, and the front ones even have a massage function. Gone are the analogue Smiths dials; now there’s an impressive “virtual” backlit instrument display – a highdefinition screen projecting computer-generated gauges that the driver can change at the press of a button. This device perfectly sums up Jaguar’s approach: innovative design in products that look traditional.

On the road, the XJ feels far smaller than it is, partly due to clever weight saving, a sporting but comfortable ride, and direct steering that lets drivers attack corners with precision. Despite its size, the new XJ can, like its ancestor, be described as a “sports saloon”. There are three engine choices, including a 275bhp 3-litre diesel and a 510bhp 5-litre supercharged petrol engine, each fed through a six-speed automatic

104

Harrods Magazine • harrods.com

Credits TK Images

J

LIFESTYLE transmission with steering wheel shift paddles.

The long-wheelbase diesel model delivers a 0–60 time of just 6.0 seconds and a combined cycle fuel consumption of 39.2mpg. Given these figures, it’s hard to know why anyone would need the more costly and less economic petrol versions.

Another classic, the first Maserati Quattroporte derivative, was launched way back in 1963 – some years before the original Jaguar XJ6. An extremely stylish saloon, it was the first car specifically designed to comfortably reach 200km/h (124mph) on the new motorways of Europe – making it, at that point, the fastest four-door saloon in the world. In many ways, this first Quattroporte set the tone for the Italian approach to luxury saloon motoring: great style, but with an emphasis on performance.

As with Jaguar, the 1970s and 1980s were a difficult time for Maserati, with uncertain finances and parentage, and questionable quality control.

During Citroën’s ownership, the Quattroporte II was developed. The model featured a host of innovative designs but only 13 cars were ever built.

Yet the model name was kept alive until, in the late ’90s, Ferrari eventually took over the ownership of Maserati from Fiat, launching the all-new Quattroporte in 2003 – an impressive competitor in the modern luxury sports saloon market that is fast earning a reputation as a viable alternative to the mainstream players.

Following in the tradition of its 1960s forebear, the new Quattroporte somehow manages to be both a luxurious grand tourer and a charismatic sports car, with an even weight distribution allowing this large saloon to deliver extraordinarily nimble handling.

But perhaps the most important feature of this elegant four-door four-seater is under the bonnet: a Ferrari-derived V8 engine, which makes this car both very fast and gloriously noisy.

The latest Sport GT S is the most extreme driveroriented derivative, with stiffened and lowered suspension, a mild power hike, paddle-shift auto gearbox and launch control to help deliver a 0–60mph time of just 5.1 seconds. Inside, the Maserati is comfortable and stylish, with the addition of Alcantara material for the steering wheel, gear selector and the centres of the large sports seats.

The Quattroporte brings style and flair to the luxury saloon market, but what if international business moguls would rather be seen in something a little more subtle?

Mercedes adopted the S-Class designation in the early 1970s, derived from the German word sonderklasse, which loosely translates as “in a class of its own”. From the outset, Mercedes steered a different course to its rivals, with an emphasis on innovative engineering and safety. Crumple zones, anti-lock braking systems, electronic stability control and the airbag all made their debut in an S-Class – and went on to become safety standards for the whole automotive industry. The latest range continues to showcase ground-breaking safety features, offering advancements such as crosswind stabilisation, driver drowsiness detection, adaptive high-beam lighting and an infrared night view system.

As with the Jaguar and Maserati models, the years have not been kind to all of the derivatives of these range-topping vehicles. In the ’90s, the S-Class began to gain a reputation as being rather

106

Harrods Magazine • harrods.com

Quattroporte 19 63

S-Class 1972

Mercedes epitomises quality and comfort, with everything seemingly engineered to last forever

FROM TOP The new Maseratui Quattroporte; the new Mercedes S-Class

characterless, but these days the model is once again a strong contender for the “best car in the world” claim. Mercedes epitomises quality and comfort, with everything seemingly engineered to last forever. Close the driver’s door and it seals with the thunk of a highsecurity vault. All of the controls have a similarly high-quality feel, with steering and suspension that are perfect for unhurried lane changes, and acceleration and braking with just enough power not to disturb the serenity of the passengers.

Although the S-Class is a big car (with the option of some very big engines), Mercedes is keen to emphasise its environmental credentials. Weight saving, aerodynamic improvements, low-resistance tyres and intelligent energy management all help to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. In addition, the range now includes one of the world’s cleanest diesels: the new S 350 BlueTEC. A hybrid version is currently the ultimate environmentally conscious derivative, giving an impressive combined fuel consumption of 35.8mpg, carbon emissions of 186g/km and a top speed of 155mph – an achievement that Mercedes claims will make this version a pioneering step towards the electrification of the automobile. Pioneering it may be, but unfortunately this version isn’t available in the UK because adapting the hybrid to a right-hand drive is currently too complex and costly.

Over 40 years ago, the XJ, Quattroporte and S-Class models were respectively created to exemplify the best of British innovation, Italian style and German engineering, and today’s derivatives continue to do so. HMN