8 February 2011
Although Jaguar's recent buyout by Indian company Tata was completed long after the new XF's production green light, the smart sedan seems to epitomise Jaguar's new direction perfectly. It's a Jag but not as you know it.
According to Jaguar, styling cues are taken from the classic XJ6, but it'd take a keen eye to spot them. The most obvious family resemblances are the chrome mesh grill and vertical vents behind the front wheels.
There's a cool Aston Martin look from the rear thanks to some stylish tail lamps, and the steeply raked windscreens offer a coupe-like profile. Each to their own but it's arguably one of the prettiest Jag's on offer, though the less elegant front-end styling may divide opinions.
Jaguar New Zealand have introduced a transparent "no haggle" pricing strategy, considering the new car's advancements however, the new pricing won't be doing it's current XJ sibling (due for replacement 2010) any favours.
Four models make up the XF range, the entry levels are priced identically ($114,990) and share spec levels aside from the choice of V6 diesel or petrol engines. Moving up the range there's a 4.2 litre V8 ($139,990) and the top spec 4.2 litre supercharged SV8 ($169,990).
Where past Jag's interior have offered a focus on opulence, leaving the hi-tech gadgetry to BMW and Audi, the XF's cabin - while still decidedly plush - proudly displays more technology than any comparatively priced rival.
Ok, so the start button that flashes like a heartbeat when it wirelessly detects the key fob is a bit of a gimmick, as is the rising gear selector and the air vents that rotate to face you on start-up, but it makes what could be deemed a pretty mundane activity - starting the car - quite a cool event.
Even if the novelty wears off after a few months, it will forever bemuse and impress your passengers.
Despite the technology overload, the XF is far from confusing. The layout is fuss free and most controls are easily located in the central touchscreen.
Fit and finish is impeccable and attention to detail is evident on every variant, from the stitching used on the leather clad dash, to the embossed branding in the ventilation levers. The base level car feels almost every bit as special as the SV8.
Standard equipment includes a ZF six-speed transmission, 18" "Venus" alloy wheels, Dynamic Stability Control, rain sensing wipers, heated exterior mirrors, rear parking aids with visual touch screen indicator, electric seats and steering column with memory, dual zone climate control with air filtration, satin walnut veneer trim, MP3 compatible 6 disc CD player with 3.5mm auxiliary jack, 6 airbags and a pedestrian contact sensing/deployable bonnet system.
In addition to the additional grunt, the 4.2 V8 picks up 19" "Auriga" alloys, Bi-Xenon headlamps with cornering lights, auto dimming exterior mirrors, front parking aids and rear parking camera, Burr walnut veneer trim and a premium 320 watt audio system with sub woofer.
At SV8 level the upgraded equipment level leans toward dynamic enhancements to best accompany the supercharged engine. It adds Computer Active Technology System (CATS) adaptive suspension, "Volans" 20" alloys, a tyre pressure monitor system and JaguarDrive control which offers more sporty stability control protocols.
Inside there's a television tuner, 440 watt, 13 speaker Bowers & Wilkens surround sound system and voice activation for key controls.
The XF surprises on the road, one could even argue it's a preferable drive to the Jag's XK Grand Tourer, regardless of engine option. With less weight over the front axle it's the petrol base model that proves the most responsive to direction changes, though all versions demonstrate a commendable ability to shift their imposing mass with relative ease. Not quite BMW 5 series levels of nimbleness, but more adept in its ride quality, which is superb.
Despite offering the trick CATS suspension, the SV8 didn't offer a huge handling advantage during our brief, damp launch drive.
At entry-level the diesel engine is a 152kW PSA Peugeot-developed twin turbo V6 that develops 425Nm of torque at just 1900 rpm. It's smooth and outperforms the equivalently priced petrol V6, albeit slightly. Given there's no premium over the petrol V6's purchase price however, the diesel demonstrates improved operating costs.
We suspect the petrol V6 may be made redundant as the sales mix is defined over time.
The naturally aspirated V8 will offer performance aplenty for most buyers; it accelerates from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds, howling sonorously all the way. Developing a relatively modest 219kW @ 6000 rpm and 411Nm @ 4100 rpm, on paper the V8 doesn't sound nearly as fun as it is in the real world.
But you can't go past the SV8 for absolute performance. It hits 100km/h in just 5.4 seconds, world's fastest Indian indeed.
Claimed consumption for the 306kW supercharged engine is (just) 12.6 L/100km. Expect this figure to go through the ceiling if driven with even a modicum of verve.
Regardless of model, the XF is an exciting car, and one that hopefully heralds a sea change for Jaguar. Hopefully under Tata's control the design and technology muscle-flexing is encouraged for future product, it's a winning combination in this car.