Door-to-door navigation, Wi-Fi, seamless smartphone connectivity and Meridian digital audio systems take the new Jaguar XJ’s infotainment to the next level
Designed and developed without compromise, the new Jaguar XJ’s InControl Touch Pro premium infotainment system is truly state-of-the art. Conceived in-house and built around a quad-core Intel processor, 60GB solid-state drive and a next-generation Ethernet network, InControl Touch Pro can handle massive amounts of data and is exceptionally powerful and responsive. At the same time, the system is simple and intuitive to use.
And just like smartphones, the touchscreen accepts ‘pinch to zoom’ gestures, for instance, or swipes to scroll between home screens. This simple, intuitive user interface helps drivers to keep their eyes on the road, minimising distraction.
The functionality of the navigation system is just as impressive. Maps stored on InControl Touch Pro’s solid-state drive can be accessed in a fraction of the time needed with conventional hard drives. Dead-reckoning functionality accurately determines the vehicle’s position even when GPS signals cannot be received – ideal for cities.
InControl Touch Pro also enables door-to-door route planning and guidance, including public transport options. A companion app allows you to plan your route offline and then load it into the system at the start of the journey.
The system also offers a Commute Mode: this learns your daily drive and can automatically offer alternative routes to avoid congestion using historical and real-time traffic information. Approach Mode displays a 360° interactive view of your destination as you get to within 200m, and can even direct you to the nearest available car parking space.
InControl Touch Pro also delivers a full-screen navigation display in the new XJ’s reconfigurable full TFT instrument cluster.
Equal attention has been paid to audio system performance. The new Jaguar XJ offers four digital systems including the outstanding 26-speaker, 1,300W Reference sound system developed with British audio experts Meridian. The 17 channels of stereo and surround sound benefit from Meridian’s Trifield technology to ensure optimum reproduction with benchmark low levels of distortion.
Gracenote images stored on the solid-state drive enrich the experience, while functions such as ‘Play more like this’ make it easier still to access all of your favourite tracks.
Rear Seat Entertainment: The full widescreen experience
To further enhance the Jaguar XJ’s luxurious row-two experience, customers will be able to specify a rear seat entertainment system. Comprising two 10.2-inch high-definition screens which fold away when not in use, these displays offer a true 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. When digital TV is also specified, a different channel can be shown on each screen and an additional 100GB of user media storage is provided.
The rear seat entertainment system will also allow passengers to connect devices using two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI and one MHL port, enabling charging and media output and from a wide range of smartphones and tablets.
All the best connections: The always-on Jaguar XJ
The new XJ is the latest Jaguar to offer InControl Apps, an innovative, intuitive technology that enables customers to seamlessly connect Apple and Android smartphones to the vehicle’s infotainment system, via a USB cable. InControl Apps provides access to compatible apps on the device using the vehicle’s touchscreen.
Remote Essentials, accessed through the InControl Remote App, enables customers to connect with the new Jaguar XJ using their smartphone, so they can check how much fuel is in the tank, whether the doors are locked and if the windows were left open.
Remote Premium, also accessed using the InControl Remote App, does even more, enabling the driver to remotely lock or unlock the car and receive alerts if the alarm goes off. Should the driver forget where the car is parked there’s a map to lead them straight to it.
Remote Premium can also enable the driver to bring the cabin to a pre-set temperature by remotely starting the engine using their smartphone: at the press of a button the climate control system can heat or cool the interior to the desired temperature.
InControl Secure provides proactive vehicle monitoring: should the new XJ be stolen, the tracking service will work with law enforcement agencies to locate and recover the car as quickly as possible.
Should the car be involved in a collision severe enough to trigger the airbags, InControl Protect will automatically notify the emergency services and provide the vehicle’s GPS location. Occupants can also trigger an emergency call manually simply by pressing a button.
The new XJ benefits from technologies that can improve traction in difficult conditions and take the effort out of stop-start traffic or parking in tight spaces, making the driving experience even more relaxing, enjoyable and safe.
Gaining traction: All-Surface Progress Control
Already proven in the XE and the XF, the new Jaguar XJ becomes the latest Jaguar to benefit from the revolutionary All-Surface Progress Control (ASPC) technology. Designed to help drivers to pull away smoothly and without drama on very low friction surfaces, ASPC is a unique system which can make it easier and safer to drive a powerful rear-wheel drive car at low speeds on slippery surfaces such as snow, ice and wet grass.
Conventional traction control systems attempt to modulate what happens once the wheels begin to slip – that’s usually too late. ASPC is fundamentally different, and leverages decades of Jaguar Land Rover’s knowledge and experience in off-road technologies.
ASPC works like a low-speed cruise control and can operate between 2.2mph and 18.6mph. The system is activated by pressing a button on the centre console and then the driver uses the cruise control switches on the steering wheel to set the maximum speed. After that, ASPC does all the hard work: the driver just has to steer.
What makes ASPC so effective is that it doesn’t just provide fine control of the throttle: it also uses the brakes in opposition to the throttle. So from a standstill, only very low engine torque is applied to the driven wheels, enabling smooth progress with little or no wheel spin. ASPC is made even more effective by the fitment of winter tyres.
Traffic Sign Recognition
The traffic sign recognition system relies on a forward-facing camera to keep the driver informed of speed limits – including temporary limits which may be in force through road works, for example, and variable limits on motorways. Camera data is compared against GPS data, enhancing accuracy and robustness.
Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist
The new queue assist function for the adaptive cruise control system has been designed to take even more of the effort and monotony out of driving in heavy traffic. Using a long-range radar sensor, the system can now maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front, all the way down to a standstill.
Closing Vehicle Sensing
Building on the safety benefits of blind spot monitoring, the closing vehicle sensing system uses radar sensors and has a far greater range. The system can alert the driver to the presence of vehicles approaching fast from behind when changing lanes by displaying a flashing icon in the door mirror.
Parking made simple
The adoption of electric power-assisted steering enables the new Jaguar XJ to offer semi-autonomous park-assist functions for both bay and parallel parking. Ultrasonic sensors measure the space first and, if it’s long enough, the system enables the car to manoeuvre itself into position – and, in the case of parallel parking, out again. The driver just controls the accelerator, brakes and transmission.
In addition, there’s a surround camera system: four cameras combine to give a 360° view of the area around the car, including a plan view, to make manoeuvring easier and safer.
Reverse Traffic Detection
The XJ’s radar sensors can also help to make reversing safer. Vehicles approaching from either side are detected and, if they present a potential hazard, the driver is given audible and visual warnings.
What we think of the interior of the Jaguar XJ
What more can we say about the Jaguar XJ which we haven’t already said in the past? It is plain and simply one of the finest motoring interiors in the world. We say this not because the owner of Luxurious Magazine drives a Jaguar XJ, simply because it oozes luxury, class and refinement through every join and seam.
When you experience the interior of a Jaguar XJ it really does change your perception of your own cars interior. Dials, trim and switches seem a little more flimsy, the creaks become more noticeable and the slight imperfections in the finish within your own car become just a little more obvious. Is the interior of the Jaguar XJ the finest in the world, the answer to this would be no, but if you asked us if it was ‘one of the best interiors’ in the world, we’d say a resounding yes.
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