Body language: it may not look revolutionary, but the Jaguar XJ's bodyshell is a radical departure. (News).

Engineer, The, September, 2002 by David Fowler

THE MILDLY evolutionary shape of the new seventh-generation XJ saloon disguises Jaguar's most advanced body structure ever. The car uses an advanced all-aluminium bodyshell, a first for Jaguar.

The launch, at the Paris Motor Show yesterday, comes 34 years to the day after the original XJ6, and coincides with the unveiling of Audi's second-generation A8, also all-aluminium.

But Jaguar is claiming an industry first for its use of rivet-bonding joining technology for the whole body structure. The firm decided on the radical move to counteract the inexorable increase in bulk affecting cars in the luxury sector, as levels of equipment continue to grow.

The bodyshell is estimated to be 40 per cent lighter than the equivalent steel structure, which makes...