This thing is just plain awesome....

The Jag has "Winter Mode" where the dash illuminates in a bright blue color. I have not noted any real differences in acceleration in this mode (it pretty much hooks up all the time) but the braking is significantly improved in nasty weather. The car literally inspires awe and feels highly glued to the road in any condition.

I am in Detroit and we just got hit with about a foot of snow and crazy cold temps. The car handled it beautifully and even plows through snow pretty deep. My only complaint is that it sounds like a Diesel when it is really cold. You can't hear it inside the car, but she rattles good and proper on first start up outside.

I love the heated windshield... It melts everything in just about one minute flat. Heated seats, heated steering wheel... So comfy.

Anyone else having fun in the snow???

 

sounds brilliant, are you running on winter tyres over there ?

 

According to Motor Trend, under normal conditions the wet clutch transfer case mounted to the back of your 3.0L S/C V6 sends almost all power to the rear wheels, thus retaining rear wheel drive characteristics. The Winter mode, when selected, starts the car in second gear with 30% of the power going to the front wheels, while stability and traction control are recalibrated for gentler intervention. They found the AWD XJL did 0-60 in 5.5 seconds, versus the 5.0L N/A V-8 RWD in 4.9 seconds, a small price (other than the $3,500 premium purchase price), to pay for the extra piece of mind in the snow belt. However, being a conservative old fart originally from New Hampshire USA, I would still go for honest snow tires on all four for the Winter months in you neck of the woods, even though the Continental A/S (which I put on my 5.0L N/A XJL RWD are better in inclimate conditions than the Pirelli P-Zero OE tires that came on the car). Thanks for an excellent report!

 

Nice to know Jaguar have finally supplied the "missing link" (the AWD), for all Jaguar XJ buyers in the northernmost heavy snow-prone US states. Here in the UK, the AWD is not available as we merely have "inclement" weather !!

 

Winter mode worked well for me in my SWB XJ AWD in a recent snow storm. I was able to get up a steep, unplowed driveway and the car felt very stable on the road, even with all-season tires. I definitely noticed a sluggish acceleration in winter mode that made me wish for the snow to melt quickly so I could get back to dynamic mode!

And +1 for the heated windshield. Some people have complained about the light distortion at night, but I don't find it so bad and definitely worth the benefit of having a ice-free windshield in a minute.

 

I am still using the Pirelli's that came on it! (Wow)

I was sure I was going to invest in some Blizzacks for this thing, but after playing around in the snow, I don't think I really need to.

 

Just remember, your car has only 3 15/16 inches of ground clearance, so don't push your luck.

 

Just went through the snow/ice debacle here in the northern suburbs of Atlanta this week and used "Winter Mode" for the first time, wow. It tamed my SuperSport with performance tires so that I could pick up my son at school early. The conditions went from ok snow to sheer ice in less than 20 minutes on our ride home. The Winter Mode allowed me to have full control while others behind me, even in some SUVs, were slipping andsliding around. Matter of fact I drove up a moderate hill and all those behind an older SUV behind me didn’t make it and they closed the road. Love the Jag!

 

John, the car actually starts in 2nd without pushing the winter mode. I think Jaguar used that more for marketing purposes.

Engaging Winter mode just makes the traction control much more sensitive that's all. If it catches the tire spinning to the smallest degree, instantly cuts off engine power.

 

I had a v6 XJ loaner and I already configure an XJL V6 AWD as a replacment for my XF. Defintely a wonderful engine that V6 in the XJ. Do not need more power than under 6 seconds in a stretched family limousine. The loaner showed 30+mpg on the display the whole time we had it.