Jaguar, which has earned a reputation for its classic, luxurious interior styling, is now seeking supremacy in the all-wheel-drive category.

The absence of an all-wheel-drive system had put Jaguar at a competitive disadvantage to its rivals such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

But now the carmaker pledges to become a game-changer in the luxury car market.

“Equipped with Jaguar’s own all-wheel-drive system, our sedans now offer the superior grip of luxury SUVs on any road surfaces as well as the driving performance of rear-wheel models,” said David McIntyre, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Korea.

After years of research work, Jaguar last year adopted its first AWD system, called Instinctive All Wheel Drive, for its XJ and XF models with the 3.0-liter V6 supercharged engine.

According to the company, the system employs an active power transfer control technology that enhances traction, while retaining the sporty agility and steering feel Jaguar vehicles are known for.

Jaguar engineers conducted significant testing and fine-tuning to ensure that the AWD system offers a driving experience on par with Jaguar rear-wheel-drive models.

Torque split can range from most of the torque to the rear wheels to as much as 50 percent to the front if the rear axle has very low grip, optimizing traction as well as sporty handling and agility.

Development included testing on snow, ice and wet conditions; high-speed tests; and limit handling trials conducted for 18 months at the carmaker’s testing centers in Minnesota, the United States and Sweden.

In addition, significant suspension tuning was also conducted to retain signature Jaguar performance.

The system incorporates a choice of three driving modes ― Normal, Winter and Dynamic ― to fit road conditions and the driver’s desired driving experience.

Jaguar Land Rover Korea is also pinning high hopes on the all-wheel-drive models in Korea where the company is hoping to be the “next step up” for current owners of German luxury cars.

These all-wheel-drive models currently make up more than 20 percent of the XJ and XF car sales, the Korean unit said.

Jaguar Land Rover is currently one of the fastest-growing carmakers in Korea. Its two brands Jaguar and Land Rover sold 1,910 and 3,103 vehicles last year respectively, up 62.9 percent and 61.7 percent from 2012.

Korea is the fourth-largest market for the XJ limousine.

By Lee Ji-yoon
(jylee@heraldcorp.com)