THE Jaguar XJ has long been regarded as the flagship of the premium brand with its dynamic performance and distinctive styling and the new 2016 model reaffirms that status.

Priced from £58,690 the latest cars have some subtle design improvements with new front and rear bumpers along with LED lights, but it's beneath the bonnet and within the cabin that the real changes of note have been made.

One of the most important improvements is the introduction of the latest InControl Touch Pro touchscreen infotainment system which offers internet access with a very fast processor.

It links effortlessly with android or iOS media devices and the screen can be personalised with favourite sections offering access to phone numbers, music, radio stations, climate control etc.

If another driver uses the vehicle their favourites can be stored too.

The system uses all the familiar gestures such as swipe and scroll to navigate the many features and this can all link up perfectly to the 1,200-Watt Meridian digital surround sound system for pitch perfect clarity.

Rear seat occupants benefit from two 10.2-inch high definition screens which fold away when not in use. They can also connect personal devices via two USB ports, one HDMI and one MHL port.

The driver can also personalise the TFT instrument cluster to show maps and navigation directions as well as the usual data such as speed and fuel levels readouts etc.

When it comes to comfort, there is quad zone climate control and all seats offer electrical adjustment along with massage functions to deliver the total limousine package.

The traditional XJ line-up of Luxury, Premium, Portfolio and XJR has been joined by two additional grades - R-Sport and Autobiography.

Jaguar has also introduced an upgraded Euro-6 compliant 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine that delivers 300ps and has seen a reduction in carbon emissions of six per cent.

So it was the all-new R-Sport model powered by this super-efficient 3.0-litre engine that we tried on a road route that incorporated country lanes, motorways and busy town centres.

The car was priced at £70,975 (£72,495 with options) and could sprint to 60mph from a standing start in just 5.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 155mph.

According to official figures, the car which was on 20-inch wheels, could deliver combined fuel economy of 48.0mpg with emissions of 155g/km.

The first thing that impresses as you take your seat behind the R-Sport steering wheel is the luxurious surroundings that greet you.

There is a leather-clad dashboard housing the latest technology and infotainment systems, the soft-grain perforated leather sports seats are beautifully comfortable and can be adjusted every which way possible to find the perfect position and that setting can be stored in the memory facility.

Additional styling cues that help the R-Sport standout include new side sills, side power vents and a rear spoiler. In addition, the grille mesh has a gloss black finish and the wheels are 20-inch.

Manufacturers often claim to have invented the premium infotainment system and then when you get to try them out in the real world they can be clunky, slow to react, difficult to operate or totally impractical.

That's certainly not the case with the latest system fitted to the XJ. It was fast, accurate, easy to adjust, the swipe feature worked well and the connectivity and sat nav system work very efficiently.

And that meant we could sit back and concentrate on the driving and once again the XJ was the winner. It moved effortlessly through the eight-speed automatic transmission and the level of power on tap was certainly not for the faint-hearted.

The acceleration was beautifully smooth and as rapid as you wanted it to be. At times the car actually seemed to glide across the Tarmac with next-to-no engine, road or wind noise to be heard within the well-insulated cabin.

Then when the coast was clear and the opportunity arose to push the car a little harder it was easily up to the challenge.

The new electric power-steering system was nicely precise and the road-holding was very assured which meant tight bends were easily conquered at pace.

All in all, the new R-Sport is a very welcome addition to the luxurious XJ range.

We also had the opportunity to try out the mighty XJR 5.0-litre V8 550ps model with its 0-60 sprint time of 4.4 seconds and top speed of 174mph. This thunderous model can deliver combined fuel economy of 25.5mpg with carbon emissions of 264g/km.

Admittedly, it's not the most fuel efficient car on the XJ fleet, but for sheer enjoyment, driving dynamics and exhilaration, it gains top marks.

The handling is sublime and the acceleration through the automatic gearbox is blisteringly fast. Yet the car has a calmer side too and can be driven at a gentler pace.

Once again all the luxurious surroundings and technology were first class and once again the car was difficult to find fault with.

I would say the visibility through the small sloping rear screen is a little limited and the economy will mean regular stops to top up with petrol.

But this is a car that costs £91,755 (£95,885 with options) so running costs are hardly going to factor into the car-buying decision that much.

The XJ line-up boasts a comprehensive array of safety specifications and driver assistance systems such as lane keep-assist, adaptive cruise control with queue-assist, reverse traffic detection, closing vehicle sensing (similar to blind spot monitoring it warns of vehicles approaching quickly from behind), plus semi-automatic bay and parallel parking.

To sum up, the new XJ has built on its already established reputation as a luxurious flagship model and now offers more refinement, state-of-the-art technology plus improved driving dynamics and economy along the way.