The current trend of downsizing engines kills two birds with one stone. It reduces emissions and improves fuel economy at the same time. Jaguar too took the bait and dropped a Ford sourced 2.0-litre EcoBoost unit into the engine bay of the XJ saloon for the international markets. And after the launch of the F-type a few days ago, the company is looking to surprise by introducing the 2.0-litre petrol XJ in its India line-up as well.

On paper a 2.0 litre petrol looks like a diminutive motor for such a big car. And it is. It will be the smallest petrol motor in this class of cars in India when it goes on sale. The power output of 237bhp from the turbocharged direct-injection unit is nearly a hundred down on the 3.0-litre V6, but this apparent lack of power isn’t going to be an issue for owners as most of them are likely to be chauffer driven. At Rs 1.16 crore (ex-showroom Delhi) for the base spec, it will sit at the bottom of the XJ range, offering a substantial saving over around Rs 14 lakh over the similar specced 3.0-litre V6 which is priced at Rs 1.30 crores. The bookings for the car began a week back with deliveries scheduled for September.

What the base XJ will continue to offer however is the same plane of luxury and opulence as the higher XJ variants, which includes the plus ‘Ilumination Pack’ trim. Hence, the same interior packaging, features and the beautifully crafted cabin will be carried over. The XJ which comes fully imported has always been pricier than the Audi A8, BMW 7-series and Mercedes S-class but with this new model, Jaguar has closed the price gap and is hoping to snatch some sales from its German rivals.