The 2005 Vanden Plas is five inches longer than the 2004 model. It also has different wheels. It can be ordered with the same wheels as the new Super V8.
The 2005 Vanden Plas features the following in addition to the new XJ8 L:
- Twin-stitched trimmed dashtop
- Hand-inlaid burl walnut veneers with Peruvian boxwood inlay
- Soft-grain ruched leather seating with contrast piping
- Lambswool footwell rugs
- 16-way power front seats
- Rear fold-down picnic trays
- Power-fold exterior mirrors with chrome caps
- Electric rear sunblind
- 18 x 8-inch 'Rapier' alloy wheels fitted with all-season tires
- Three-stage heated front and rear seats and heated steering wheel
- Alpine Premium 320-watt sound system with AM/FM stereo and six-disc CD changer
All 2006 XJs have more powerful brakes than 2004-2005 XJs. Supercharged XJs no longer use Brembo brakes, but the calipers are floating.
2006 normally-aspirated XJs:
Front: 12.83 x 1.18 in. ventilated discs, floating cast iron calipers
Rear: 12.83 x 0.79 in. ventilated discs, floating aluminum calipers with integral park brake caliper
2004-05 normally-aspirated XJs:
Front: Ventilated discs, 12.6 in x 1.18 in., sliding aluminum calipers
Rear: Ventilated discs, 11.3 in. x .79 in., aluminum calipers
2006 supercharged XJs:
Front: 13.98 in. x 1.26 in. ventilated discs, floating composite aluminum and cast iron four calipers
Rear: 12.83 in. x 0.79 in. ventilated discs, floating aluminum calipers with integral park brake caliper
2004-05 supercharged XJs:
Front: Brembo ventilated R Performance discs, 14.4 in. x 1.26 in., fixed aluminum four piston calipers
Rear: Brembo solid R Performance discs, 13.0 in. x .59 in., fixed aluminum four piston calipers
2006 supercharged XJs have 400 hp (new SAE [Society of Automotive Engineers] ratings) and 413 lb-ft of torque.
The addition of an acoustic laminate to the windshield and side glass of the 2006 XJ helps to reduce interior noise, while simultaneously increasing occupant safety by making "smash and grab" theft particularly difficult.
2006 normally-aspirated XJs have 300 hp and get 27 mpg on the highway.