Superbly Refined Power in the 2011 Jaguar XJR Sedan

If it’s power you’re after, but you want it wrapped in a luxurious package, the Jaguar XJL Supercharged delivers an automotive dynamo.

How powerful is it?

The XJL Supercharged features a 5.0-liter V-8 that makes a whopping 470 horsepower. That colossal engine is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission with auto-manual mode.

If it’s not quite that much power you need, you can step down a notch in the XJ sedan family to the base XJ or the XJL, which have 5.0-liter V-8s that make 385 horsepower.

Or if it’s more power you crave, you can jump on the Supersport, a 5.0-liter V-8 that cranks 510 horsepower, you lead-footed rascal.

With this much power, don’t expect stellar gas mileage. In the XJL Supercharged, EPA ratings are 15 mpg city, 21 highway, which, considering the size of the engine, isn’t too bad.

Jaguar says the aluminum body helps make the car lighter, therefore giving a little boost to fuel economy.

Jaguar’s designs have always been pretty distinctive, and after going through a makeover in 2010, the XJ’s exterior is simply gorgeous.

This sedan has some of the stylings of a coupe. Notice the blacked-out C-pillars, rear spoiler and vertical taillights.

That superb styling continues on the inside, with rich leather, a panoramic glass roof and carbon fiber on the dashboard and door inserts.

When you start up the XJ, a gear selector emerges from the center console, and the virtual gauges that appear on the screen are easy to read in analog style.

The premium sound system, a 1,200-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound model, is standard on the Supercharged, and there is plenty of audio connectivity in the hard-drive system.

Heated and ventilated seats are standard up front, and ventilated seats are optional in the rear.

This large sedan offers not only plenty of passenger room, but also generous trunk space, at 15.2 cubic feet.

Ride comfort is remarkable, thanks to the air-spring suspension, 19-inch wheels and automatically controlled shock absorbers.

XJ sedans start at around $73,000 and can go as high as $115,000. The XJR Supercharged tester can be had for $95,650.

For amazing power and sophisticated refinement, Jaguar’s XJ sedans are formidable machines.