Women who have successfully broken through the glass ceiling in their places of work, and who are in a position to choose what kind of company car they want, should take a serious look at the new 2-litre version of the Jaguar X-type.

Designed to attract a specific type of customer, the car will definitely appeal to those looking for premium brands reflecting their level of achievement.

The most affordable of Jaguars, the X-Type V6, is one of two new variants of the Jaguar car launched to the Irish market just a few months ago. This 2-litre is a scaled-down version of the 2.5-litre and a 3-litre engine cars.

There’s a road tax advantage with the 2-litre over the more powerful models, and insurance premiums should also be lower.

And, according to Jaguar people here, women buyers now account for a large percentage of new 2-litre Jag sales. So the word is out.

X-Type is most definitely a sexy looking car that oozes class. Sleek and beautifully balanced. But lithe, and ready to pounce should the need arise.

Like the rest of the models in the brand, there are X-Type versions to suit all personalities, and the 2-litre Jaguar model is available in Classic, Sport or Luxury.

There’s a very definite feel-good factor for any woman getting behind the wheel. And the 157 horses up front provide ample pulling power for most situations.

The very considerable amount of equipment built into the car is proving a big attraction with buyers.

Take features like air conditioning, a car alarm with immobiliser and an intrusion-sensor which detects movement within the cabin, and a CD player. Foglights are integrated into the front bumper as standard on all models.

Want more? Optional extras include reverse park control, a sunroof and rain-sensing wipers and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) to maintain well-balanced handling in more extreme driving.

The remote central double/locking key can be used to remotely unlock the driver’s door only, all doors, the boot lid or to raise a panic alarm. Automatic door locking within seconds of driving off is another standard feature. Both help you feel more secure if you’re collecting your car in a badly lit car park.

And should an inconsiderate or boorish driver bump your tail or front end while attempting to park, there’s no need to worry unduly. Your Jag bumpers can regenerate to their original shape if the impact is less than 2.5mph.

The cars under review here are the 2-litre 157bhp Sport and Luxury spec models. While not the largest in the new range the size is very comfortable and suits me perfectly.

Both, though, were quite different to drive.

Let’s discuss the Sport first. This version at 47,865 euros tends to appeal more to the younger driver and so would sell fewer units volume-wise of the X-Types. It comes dechromed on the outside for a sportier look while the sport suspension makes the ride a little firmer than the other versions. Sports seats - with electric driver’s seat adjustment - are particularly comfortable and supportive. Great for long distance driving.

The Sport also features a darker grey stain on the wood trim in the cabin which I could take or leave. The steering wheel has a sportier look to it too. A rear spoiler and 17 inch alloys complete the style.

Out on the road, it proved a joy to drive. Cornered and handled beautifully. I particularly liked the clutch which wasn’t anything like as heavy as in the S-Type Sport which I tried recently. The manual 5-speed gearbox proved precise and nice to use.

The car achieved 4-star rating in the most recent round Euro NCAP crash safety tests and has eight airbags as standard, including side curtains for rear passengers. It comes with ABS with EBD and traction control.

The Sport can do the 0-60mph trip in just 8.9 seconds. Top speed, (not here you won’t!) is 130mph.

The Classic and Luxury versions perhaps appeal to a broader range and so are bigger sellers than the Sport.

The 2-litre Luxury automatic version, at 51,000 euros, fitted my particular bill of requirements perfectly. Sedate driving when that was my mood, but with enough power under the bonnet (same engine powers all 2-litre versions). Poetry in motion kind of driving. And the review car looked quite spectacular with its deep blue colour and all that chrome. I preferred that slightly more pushy statement than the understatement of the Sport.

Now think plush interior with deep leather seats and bird’s eye maple wood and you’ve got the Luxury spec. Driver and passenger seats can be electrically-adjusted eight ways.

The 5-speed automatic gear box is exceptionally good. But if and when it suits you, just flick the gearshift across the J gate for the manual transmission and switch between 2nd, 3rd or 4th gears. This is useful when driving along slow twisty roads.

Automatic transmission is an optional extra on the Luxury specification at 2,666 euros, but for me it always adds to driving pleasure in a car this size ... or bigger.

Road handling was superb. So was the touring suspension which is less firm than the Sport version.

Features on the review car included park assist (optional extra), and cruise control (standard).

Fuel consumption is around 28.4mpg for the combined cycle in the automatic, slightly higher at 30.7mph for the manual. The Luxury automatic version can accelerate from 0-60mph in 10.4 secs and has a top speed of 127mph.

Where the Sport version has 17 inch alloy wheels, the Luxury comes with 16 inch alloys.

Apart from its driving capabilities, the X-Type makes a great accessory for a successful woman. It WILL get noticed ... and so will you!