YIKES! I impulsively started slapping the top of my head alternately with both hands and cannot stop...next I'm going to gouge my eyes out.

 

When I look at the leaper on this new body style I can't help it but feel like I am looking at something like this.... It just doesn't work for me..

 

I think it depends on how you want your car to appear. I prefer it looking the way it was designed. As a sport luxury sedan. I haven't seen one in person but the leaper seems a little small for the size of the bonnet.

 

I too am from another area, your leaper looks great. The comments about it not being appropriate for the "new" designs are ridiculous. Cars from the 20's to the early 2000's all had hood ornaments; cars which had different lines, designs, and belonged to different eras. For nearly 100 years they graced the bows of many brands not because they where necessary, but because of what they represented and because they conveyed a sense of continuity with the past. Sadly, Jaguar has jumped on the trend of banishing the iconic ornament from the bonnets of their cars. At least the MB star is not going anywhere anytime soon. I doubt MB owners would put up with such progressive stupidity.

Again, good choice on adding the leaper. Looks great.

 

Well I am from this area and not to get into a debate I will have to disagree. First, the MB star is going away. It is not on most of the new cars from the S class to the C class unless you want it and definitely it is not on any of its sports car. I live in German and I see them all the time. Second, ornaments do not look right on all cars based on design which is why they are going away. Some cars like the Bentley or Rolls Royce will never get rid of them but other cars look better with them integrated in the grill and the new Jaguars are in that category. Now if a person wants to put one on its their call because its there car just like I saw a youtube video of a guy who put lights in his rims so that they light up at night. I happen to think it looks gaudy for a 7 series and something you would find on a rice burner but if it makes that guy happy to each their own.

 

First of all a quick look at the MB website clearly shows that the star is standard on the e class and s class, optional on the c class.
Second, comparing a time honored automotive tradition to tacky lights is really like saying a tie and skinny pants are the same thing. The cars "modern" design really has nothing to do with it. The leaper fit well on a Mark 2, Mark 9, Mark 10, XJ 40, X300 and X350. These where all different cars with different designs, and modern for their time (well maybe not the X350) Jaguar could have incorporated the leaper into the new XJ but instead of standing out decided to follow the trend of replacing traditions with a regime of non-stop novelty.

The leaper on the original poster's car is both fitting and tasteful, regardless of the comparissons with tacky items like bullhorns or accesory lights. As a matter of fact the car looks like a modern Mark10 with the large high bonnet:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mk10_Jaguar.jpg

 

I am mistaken in two respects. First, you are correct the S Class still has the emblem. Which is completely understandable because it looks proper on it. I wouldnt consider it remotely sporter in any sense of the word. The E-Class Sedan and Wagon has it but thats about it. The rest of the E-Class series does not. Second, not all of Bentley's cars have the hood ornement. The Continentals do not and neither does the flagship Mulsanne which wouldnt look bad with it. I am sure you can get it if you want it.

As far as a time honored tradition let's be for real. It's a hood ornament. And car designer's should be allowed to reinterpet or create within the confines of the heritage of their organization. Maybe it shouldn't have been called an XJ. But where the previous XJ's because of their stance looked proper with an hood ornment I and I emphasis "I" don't feel the new XJ does which is probably why its not on there in the first place but at is at least an option for the people that want it. Some people like the black C-pillars I personally did not so I painted them. And what I was comparing is what people like has to do with taste and not specifically on actually looks good.

As long as he is happy with his ornament thats all that matters. But as an owner of the car you will not sell me on it.

 

I may be wrong here but this is what I heard. The leaper as well as others were removed for a safety reason. Has anyone heard the same?

 

Why for safety reasons was the little jaguar biting people?

 

I thought it was those guys across the pond impaling slow pedestrians with leaper

 

yes that is what I heard. Stabbing slow peds. Has anyone else heard that?

 

I think the leaper looks kinda cool, makes one feel nostalgic if they've had an XJ before.

To those talking about the departure from hood ornaments, MB doesn't have them standard on their cars anymore, they are a cost option (where I'm from anyway) except on the S class.

WRT Jaguars, the leaping cat was dropped due to pedestrian safety regulations, namely from the EU. The head of the cat when striking a pedestrian proved to be fatal. Imagine a 1.5 ton car moving at 10-15 mph and you absorb that force through 1 sq inch!

So yeah Jag didn't have a choice

 

Where did you get the Mataiva wheels and what was the cost?

 

To each is own, but I think you've just lowered your $70k+ XJ to the status of Kia Amanti.

 

I think it looks nice! However, there are strong arguments against it. I personally enjoy the 4-headlamp design car with or without the leaper, especiallty the X308. I will say, a coupe is very weird looking with a leaper. I've seen XJS and XK8s with leapers, and I always hate it. The XJ and the XF are a little confused, but it's still a Jaguar saloon. The coupe styling doesn't interfere too much Imo.

Ian

 

I like it. It looks good and distinguishes your car from all the others without the leaper.

 

I've only been an XJL owner for two days, so I'm sure that my opinion doesn't carry any weight around here. When I was at the dealer yesterday awaiting the final detailing on my new car, I was looking at the accessories for sale and noticed the hood ornament allegedly specifically designed for XJ models. I wasn't sure what it would actually look like on an XJ or if anyone had actually put one on, so I came to the board this morning and ran a search on hood ornament and found this thread. Not to disparage the OP, but after seeing his pictures, I have to say that I think the cat looks out of place on the hood of the XJ. I'm glad that the OP and others like it, but I definitely won't be adding one to my car.

 

Congratulations on your new purchase! Colors?

 

Thank you. Claret with truffle/cashew interior.

 

Very nice combination! I almost went with that.