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The “cat” is sporting a new face for 1995.

Not that there was anything particularly wrong with the old one, but Britain’s Jaguar Cars has created a new sedan with a new look that’s different without being too much different.

The 1995 XJ is easy to identify. It features four round headlights and new or revised body panels in what can best be described as a major face lift.

While the new car resembles its predecessor, it’s not the same automobile from the standpoint of fine points of styling.

“Our customers who had the 1987 model with round headlights wouldn’t sell them,” said Terry Lee, president of Tom Wood, Inc. “Now they’re calling us up about this new one, saying they’re ready to trade.”

In addition to the restyled face and new body paneling, other exterior changes include diamond- turned and chrome alloy wheels, a redesigned trunk with hidden spare and battery, body-colored bumpers with side marker lamps, heated door mirrors, six new exterior colors and a return to Jaguar’s past with the famous leaping- cat hood ornament as an option.

After Ford Motor Co. took over Jaguar Cars in late 1989, the revamp of the 1995 XJ line got under way under the code name of X300. Due to budget constraints, a complete makeover of the interior was put on hold. But numerous changes enhanced functionality, comfort and convenience.

Significant upgrades went into a leather- swathed and wood-trimmed cabin, with the leather abounding in all directions.

This rich-looking interior has repositioned and recontoured seats that add a half-inch of head room throughout the passenger compartment. And there’s 20 percent more front leg room.

One thing I especially like about this new Jag is its electronically controlled telescoping steering wheel, which also tilts, in conjunction with dual air bags. Some automakers discontinued the telescoping-wheel feature when they incorporated air bags.

The driver compartment on the XJ is tidier for 1995, with improved instrumentation and better visibility. Controls are more user-friendly and easier to reach.

Everything is clearly marked, and even for first- encounter XJ drivers it will take only a few minutes for all controls to fall easily to hand.

A strong suit with Jaguar is the ride and superb handling offered in a sedan. What was good in the past is even better for 1995 via a redesign of the rear-drive, four-wheel independent suspension system.

The new cat, whether in six-cylinder or V12 form, has more power and the ability to keep all four wheels firmly on the pavement.

I don’t know how many Jaguar owners are pedal-to-the-metal types, but the all-new XJR sedan powered by a supercharged version of Jaguar’s in-line 6 turns 0-60 miles an hour in 6.7 seconds. That’s quicker than with Jag’s 6.0-liter (360 cubic inch) V12.

That’s the good news. The bad news is it isn’t here yet.

“They’re just beginning production,” Lee said. “I would expect to get the first one about the middle of next month. It’s going to be a car for the enthusiast who wants lots of power.”

Lots of power is what the enthusiast is going to get, something on the order of 322 horsepower from Jaguar’s 4.0-liter (237 cubic inch) dual overhead cam, 24-valve in-line 6.

Called the AJ16cq Supercharged, it’s the first supercharged engine ever offered by Jaguar, and its engineers dropped the hammer on this one.

Jaguar has a long history of dual-cam, in-line six-cylinder engines that date back to the XK-120 two-seater roadster of 1948. With the addition of a supercharger and four valves per cylinder in modern engine configuration, the 4.0-liter 6 puts out nine more horsepower than the big, normally aspirated (non-supercharged) XJ12.

Actually, however, all the Jaguar engines have been given more power for 1995. The AJ16 normally aspirated motor, at 245 horsepower, is up 10 percent over its predecessor. The V12’s 313 horsepoweris up from 301 horses.

Jaguar isn’t a maker of econobox motor cars, as amply il lustrated by base p rices that range from $53,450 for an XJ6 to $77,250 for the XJ12 sedan. The most expensive model is the V12 convertible at $82,550.

“Some of our customers tells us a six is not enough. They need a V12,” Lee said. “Actually, when you compare the cost of our V12 competitors, the Jaguar is a bargain.

“The V12s of competitor cars run from 90 to over $100,000.”

1995 Jaguar XJ6 Base price: $53,450Type: Front engine, rear-drive, five-passenger luxury sedanEngine: 4.0 liters, DOHC in-line 6, 24 valves, fuel-injected, 245 horsepower, 289 foot-pounds of torqueTransmission: Four-speed automaticAcceleration: 0-60 mph in 8.0 secondsMileage: 17 mpg city/23 mpg highwayWheelbase: 113.0 inchesLength: 197.8 inchesWidth: 70.8 inchesHeight: 53.1 inchesCurb weight: 4,080 poundsOptions: Harmon Kardon stereo system, driver seat and mirrors memory system, traction control, electric tilt and telescope wheel, power sun roof, wood/leather steering wheel, chrome leaper hood ornament, integrated garage opener, all-weather package, chrome-plated wheels, engine-block heater, full-size spare tire.