*편집자주: 코리아헤럴드는 국내외 임원들의 럭셔리카 시승기 “Executive Wheel”을 시작합니다. 참가자들은 2박3일 동안 자동차 메이커들의 대표 모델들을 시승하고 이를 독자들과 공유합니다.
첫번째 주자는 다국적 식음료 패키징 기업 테트라팩 (Tetra Pak)의 크리스 케니얼리(Christopher Kenneally) 한국 지사장입니다. 운전기사를 따로 고용하고 있는 CEO로서 그는 뒷좌석과 운전석의 승차감을 비교해서 시승기를 작성한 점이 재미있습니다.
호주가 고향인 그가 이번에 시승한 자동차는 2012년형 재규어XJ Portfolio LWB입니다.
고양이는 무척 매혹적인 동물이다. 우아하고, 직관적이며, 파워플하고 때론 고집스럽다. 지금 내가 소개하고자 하는 “고양이”는 바로 재규어의 최고급 모델인 올뉴XJ이다. 나는 최근 이 럭셔리한 자동차를 3일 동안 승객과 운전자로서 시승해볼 수 있는 기회를 있었다.
우선 차를 받은 첫날에는 승객으로 이 차를 경험했다. 착 감기는 가죽시트가 편안하고 만족스러운 승차감을 주는 건 이 정도 사양의 자동차로서 어쩌면 당연하겠다. 내가 정말 놀란 것은 출근길을 편안하고 실용적으로 만들어준 넓은 실내였다. 접을 수 있는 트레이가 앞좌석 뒤에 달려 있어 랩탑을 놓고 업무를 보노라면 서울의 교통체증을 느끼지 못할 정도였다.
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Chris Kenneally, president of Tetra Pak Korea, poses behind the wheel of 2012 Jaguar XJ Porfolio LWB at a Seoul hotel last week. (Lee Sang-sub/The Korea Herald) |
Taking the big cat for a stroll
Chris Kenneally, president of Tetra Pak Korea, poses behind the wheel of 2012 Jaguar XJ Porfolio LWB at a Seoul hotel last week. (Lee Sang-sub/The Korea Herald)
The Korea Herald, in cooperation with carmakers, offers a test-driving experience to executive officials at Korean or multinational companies here. The opinion above is the author’s own. For any inquiry into this column, please contact jylee@heraldcorp.com. ― Ed.
There’s nothing like a cat. Graceful, intuitive, powerful and proud ― the cat I am describing is the new Jaguar XJ, a 5.0-liter V8 luxury car that I had the pleasure of experiencing both as a passenger and as a driver for three days.
My first day was experiencing the XJ as a passenger; it is not surprising that a vehicle of this caliber provides you with a high level of comfort with form-hugging leather seats. What I did find surprising was the spacious interior which made the drive to the office both comfortable and practical, as there is a drop down tray on the rear of the front seat which made it very convenient to set the lap top on and work as we made our way though the Seoul traffic ― and we all know what that is like!
Day two was when the fun started. Taking control of the wheel myself, and accompanied by my wife and 16-year-old daughter, we hit the road with Nami Island in Chuncheon the destination. Taking Highway 88 out of Seoul and linking up with the 60, I was able to really open the Jaguar up and run the 5.0 liter V8 gas engine though it paces. With the car’s claimed zero-to-100 kilometer per hour acceleration in 5.7 seconds (a claim confirmed), we then cruised effortlessly to Nami Island. Upon our return to Seoul I decided to get off the main highway and take the “back way” to Seoul. This extended our trip by an hour or so (in part because I got totally lost) but it meant we found ourselves driving down narrow single country lanes weaving through harvested rice fields and mountainous sharp S-curves. The light steering and superb handling was very impressive for a car of this size and power.
As for the feedback from the family; all positive, particularly my daughter who managed to put down her smartphone to engross herself in the movie choices on screen in the back; which worked independently from the 8-inch touch-screen in the front. The 1200W Bowers & Wilkins sound system is also worth a mention with 20 speakers.
The next day I put the car through the final test of making its way up Namsan, along the maze-like back streets of Itaewon before reluctantly handing back the keys. Would I recommend this to my friends? Absolutely, it’s a classic driving experience which is impossible not to enjoy.
By Chris Kenneally, President of Tetra Pak Korea
