The Jaguar XJ has won the annual Design Award 'Autonis' in the luxury category of the German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport, ahead of German competitors BMW, Mercedes and Audi.

Around 16,000 readers of Auto Motor und Sport took part in selecting the most beautiful cars from eight categories. CJ O'Donnell, Jaguar's Global Marketing Director said: "This is a great achievement for the XJ to come out on top over our German competitors. The new XJ for 2008 Model Year represents the evolution of the model's elegant styling and it's great to see the German market respond so favourably to the fresh new face of our flagship model."

Jaguar's Design Director Ian Callum continued: "I am delighted the XJ has won this award in Germany. The face-lifted car combines the beauty of the traditional with the confidence of the present and it clearly maintains the elegance for which Jaguar is renowned."

Already well known for its all-aluminium body construction, state-of-the-art technologies and outstanding craftsmanship and build quality, the new XJ is now even more confident, with a more contemporary, assertive and sporting appearance.

Set in