As an an automobile journalist I'm often asked to name my favorite car. To avoid a pointless discussion I often reply by saying "any Ferrari." Yes, I like Ferraris (who doesn't?) but I confess that my all-time favorite marque is Jaguar. It's the car that first made me aware of sports car design and performance and made me an admirer of the company's LeMans victories. So when the company launches a new model I sit up and pay attention. Especially when said new model is the new XJ, Jaguar's luxury sedan.

The new car was launched at London's Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, with Jay Leno as host. I was amused at how Jay managed to explain his preference for traditional Jag styling while paying homage to the new XJ, which has few hints of the past. Too few for some of us but one can argue that the XJ is easily the most advanced sedan in its class. "It is the most emphatic statement yet of Jaguar's new design direction," design director Ian Callum pointed out, mentioning "the elongated teardrop shape of the car's side windows, the powerful stance and wide track. The new XJ is a thoroughly modern interpretation of the quintessential Jaguar. "

The XJ boasts a panoramic glass roof, aerospace-inspired aluminum body technology to keep the weight of the new XJ down, plus new Generation III gasoline and diesel engines including a 3.0-liter V-6 diesel, 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V-8 and 5.0-litre supercharged V-8, joined by a 470HP version of the supercharged unit. Note: Not all options will be available in North America. My affections remain with the traditional XJ but then I'm an old guy who, as Jay Leno categorised us, will happily drive a young guy's car. The opposite, unfortunately, is not the case.