Jaguar unwrapped

The Geneva Motor Show is known as the stylist's exhibition. It's the chance for high-end European brands to display their latest creations.

So it was appropriate Jaguar chose the classy Swiss city in which to unwrap its revised XJ sedan. The XJ, with many visual changes, will reach local showrooms late this year.

The engines carry over from the 2.7-litre twin-turbo TDVi V6 diesel to a 3.0-litre petrol V6 and up to the 4.2-litre supercharged and naturally aspirated V8s. For next year there is a new Jaguar Growler badge, revised front bumper and air intakes, XK-style vents in the front mudguards, lower body sills, new alloys, subtle rear bootlid spoiler and new mirrors with integrated indicators.

Inside, the leather and wood cabin gets heated front seats and rear legroom has been improved, thanks to more scalloped front seatbacks. Bluetooth connectivity pairs with up to five mobile phone choices and hands-free activation.

In Europe, the entry-level Executive (2.7 and 3.0) gets 19-inch, 10-spoke Carelia wheels from the XK and a heated windscreen.

The diesel-only XJ Sport Premium adds "R" seats with leather seat facings, aluminium veneer, satellite-navigation, black side window surrounds and 20-inch Cremona wheels.

Executive-based XJ Sovereign models (2.7, 3.0 and 4.2) add 16-way electric front seats, satellite navigation, bi-xenon headlights and five-spoke, 19-inch Polaris wheels.

The range-topping XJR has alloy-look mudguard vents, an R-badged gearshift, black brake calipers and front-seat cooling.

The XJ is something of a slow-burner on the sales charts for cars worth more than $100,000.

Last year Jaguar sold only 59 XJ sedans compared with 578 S-Classes and 293 7-Series.