A Denver dealer who carries both makes parked one of each at a fundraiser event tonight. Both black over brown leather.

The Ian Callum's design work on both vehicles is obvious when parked together. I've driven the XJ and was impressed. No test drives in the Rapide unfortunately -- just sat in the driver's seat, started the engine and enjoyed the 12 cylinder exhaust note.

To my eye, the XJ looks like a more cohesive flowing design whereas the Rapide looks like an LA chop-shop had it's way and stretched out a DB9. Not to say that I'd turn one down, but I can't see 2.5 times the cost of the XJ. Rapide's interior was killer in the brown leather on the black car. No panorama (or any kind) of moon roof is available on the Rapide, however.

An evening well-spent admiring two of England's best motor cars.

Twotone

 

I don'y like front end for Rapide however DBS , DB9 are ok . In general styling , XJ would be my choice ,interior XJ is a looser more correctly Rapide is the winner

 

If price was not considered, I would pick the Rapide as it a better looking car and probably is better at high speed driving. However, for the price of the Rapide, you could buy both the XJ8L and and XKR. I would go that route assuming I was sufficiently flush with cash to do so.

Mike

 

Performance wise, they both have 470 HP (compared to the XJ Supercharged), but the XJ is slightly faster according to a recent road test in Car and Driver (0-60 in 4.4 sec. and the quarter mile in 12.8 sec. at 113 MPH--very respectable).

I feel about the Rapide the same as I do about the Porsche Panamera--they both look like stretched versions of their smaller siblings, although I think Aston Martin did a better job. The Porsche is horrid.