Occupant protection is one of the guiding principles for any automaker. Safety equipment such as airbags, safety belts and energy-absorbing bumpers are mandated as part of every car in America. Jaguar puts safety at the forefront, however, and what makes a Jaguar vehicle’s safety features even more effective are the unique handling benefits that try to keep a Jaguar out of an accident in the first place.*

 

Advanced Chassis Dynamics begins with a light, stiff structure beneath the vehicle’s lithe bodywork. This structure results in focused and responsive handling characteristics that combine luxurious ride quality with the sporting pedigree upon which Jaguar has built its reputation. For example, XJ vehicles feature a subframe, mounted directly to the body, that carries a double-wishbone front suspension made with components of forged aluminum for lighter weight. The rear suspension is also carried on a subframe, and it also features cast aluminum components, along with air springs that keep the XJ level regardless of the passenger or cargo load. This suspension provides remarkable agility and response, designed to provide the Jaguar driver more precise control during emergency maneuvers.

 

All XJ and XK and XF models fitted with a V8 Supercharged engines are equipped with an Adaptive Dynamics active damping system. The system tailors suspension settings to match the road conditions and the way the vehicle is being driven. It also provides driver-selectable settings engineered to allow Jaguar owners to further customize the ride and handling qualities.

 

Visibility is also a safety feature, and Jaguar vehicles are equipped with standard xenon headlamps. The headlamps are also available on the XJ with a system that automatically switches high-beams on and off when it detects oncoming vehicles. Features like Adaptive Lighting swivel the headlamps to follow the corners in the road. Radar-based blind-spot monitoring is standard on the XJ and optional on the XF, and attempts to provide an alert to Jaguar drivers when vehicles are in close proximity but potentially out of the view of the mirrors. Front and rear parking sensors with visual indicators, as well as a backup camera, are standard on XK and XJ and available on XF and indicate a commitment to the safety of passersby as well as Jaguar occupants.

 

Jaguar vehicles are also equipped with many advanced passive and active safety features. Features like Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Understeer Control, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and Electronic Traction Control (ETC) work together to help Jaguar drivers reduce the likelihood. On Jaguar vehicles equipped with optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), an Advanced Emergency Brake Assist uses the ACC’s radar system to calculate the closing distance and speed of a vehicle ahead. The system then pre-charges the pressure of the brake lines, which may help to reduce the stopping distance if an emergency brake application is imminent. An audible warning attempts to alert the driver to the situation, built to allow for additional reaction time to try and avoid an accident. If a crash does take place, all Jaguar vehicles are equipped with two-stage driver and front passenger airbags, front side or curtain side airbags, as well as anti-whiplash front seats.

 

It’s a comprehensive package of safety features that first attempts to help drivers predict and avoid an accident, then prepare for a crash before it happens, and finally, react to the forces of a crash to help protect occupants. The holistic approach designed to provide crash preparedness and collision mitigation aims to provide Jaguar owners with additional peace of mind – as well as luxury and sporting driving characteristics. Visit with us today to learn more.

 

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