2007 Jaguar XJ-Series Vanden Plas Trim Overview

The Vanden Plas is the third tier in the XJ lineup, offered at about $10,000 above the XJ8.  This model provides a more luxurious ambiance, marked by the addition of a heated steering wheel trimmed in wood and leather, lambs wool carpeting, an upgraded audio system, navigation, and those handy rear seat picnic tables reminiscent of even more upscale British luxury cars.  To round out the Vanden Plas standard features list, add those items on top of full power accessories, leather seats, plentiful walnut trim, and xenon headlights.
The Vanden Plas shares the same engine setup as the two regular XJ8 models: a 4.2 liter DOHC V-8 with aluminum block and heads.  The naturally aspirated version of the V-8 generates 300 horsepower and 310 pound-fet of torque, and is teamed with a six speed automatic transmission.
Jaguar's performance numbers are strong selling points for this full size upscale sedan.  The XJ is the largest Jaguar, and the XJ8, Vanden Plas, and Super V-8 models  are all five inches longer than the others.  The Vanden Plas stretches just over 205 inches and weighs about 3800 pounds.  However, the 0 to 60 mph mark is a surprisingly brisk 6.3 seconds, and the 18/27 mpg fuel economy is also impressive for a car with such size and power.