Jaguar

After over 18 months of development and testing of the proprietary AWD system in Northern Sweden, the XJ appears to handle these oft-dangerous roads with ease as the ultralow-center-of-gravity beast clings to the ground, making the most of the new traction and monitored grip levels while feeling like you’re driving with a RWD system

The Transfer Case Control Module, or TCCM, is the brain behind the operation, electronically monitoring steering, throttle and traction inputs and guiding the delivery of torque from the driveshaft to the four wheels depending on slippery conditions. While the front wheel preloaded torque in Winter Mode was useful in stop-and-go conditions through salted towns, it was when we really got into the wilderness that the AWD’s 30:70 torque split setting (front/back wheels) kept us firmly on the road. We experienced a slight amount of fishtailing around some major hairpin turns, but we’d attribute that mostly to our own speed cockiness; the integrated DSC quickly put us back in line.

To really gauge the worthiness of this vehicle in the most dramatic wintertime situations, our onboard GPS—though sadly lacking the commanding, sexy British voice we were expecting—guided us further north to an off-road winter test facility complete with ice circuit that immediately brought back memories of the 007 Aston-Jaguar XKR ice show from Die Another Day.