Slimmed-down Jaguar XF impresses

The new Jaguar XF is the latest stage in the iconic British marque’s return to the days of true sports sedans. John Oxley reports.

You know when a car is right. It doesn’t take long at the wheel, and it doesn’t take a race track, or a test circuit. All it takes is a series of empty tight and twisting roads, and before very long you just know. The Jaguar XF 25t R-sport is one of those cars. From its styling, through to its fit and finish, but most important, the way it rides and handles, the flexibility of the engine, the speed of the gearshifts – the sheer pleasure it gives a discerning driver – it’s right. Although the previous XF looked a lot like this new model, well in reality, bar some engine and gearbox carryovers, they are chalk and cheese. The reason is that the latest models get a brand-new platform, finally retiring the Lincoln LS/JAG S-type platform which first saw the light of day in 1999 under Ford ownership of Jaguar. That it’s lasted so long is testimony to the work the Jaguar engineers must have put into it, but it had to go, and in its place is Jaguar’s new lightweight aluminium architecture, coupled with new suspension which, again, makes good use of aluminium. In fact, the XF has lost no less than 190kg in total, and that’s what makes it so lithe and willing on the road. One Ford standout that lives on in the XF, however, is the 2-litre Ecoboost engine found in the 25t. Coupled to an eight-speed auto gearbox, it gives the big Jag quite reasonable performance, while its light weight and short block assures fantastic handling and super-crisp steering. Jaguar has also done an amazing job on the interiors, too, and although the latest XF is actually slightly smaller than the car it replaces, it’s got an extra 51mm in the wheelbase, which has been used to give more legroom, particularly in the back. At the same TIME Jaguar has ticked the right boxes when it comes to tech, although, to be honest, I think the gear selector dial which rises out of the centre console is a bit gimmicky, as well as adding an extra level of complexity that really isn’t necessary. Getting from drive into reverse and back, for instance, means you have to look down at the dial – it’s just not instinctive, as it should be. In our road report on the Jaguar XE 20d we expressed some disappointment in terms of what was on offer for a high price tag. However, we have no such reservations with the XF. The 25t only comes in R-sport trim, and it’s bang on the mark, with bi-xenon headlights and LED DRLS, the aggressive-looking R-sport body styling as well as sports suspension and leather upholstery, reversing camera, Jaguar Drive Control with different modes and torque vectoring by braking, and cruise control with All Surface Progress Control function. This latter is a low-speed function that assists traction in low-traction conditions, such as snow or mud, and is activated by a push-button on the lower console. Standard wheels on the 25t R-sport are 19-inch 10-spoke alloys, but our test vehicle was fitted with optional Blade five-spoke gloss black items, an $1,100 option. On the safety front there’s autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and trailer stability assistance, while interior features include 10-way electrically-adjusted driver’s seat with driver memory, front and rear parking aids, rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights, a 4020-40 split folding rear seats, electricallyadjusted steering column with memory, a rear centre armrest, and a dual zone aircon. On the information front we see a 380W Meridian sound system with no fewer than 11 speakers, and eight-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, analogue dials with a five-inch TFT display, Ipod integration, Bluetooth, and voice control. The leather-rimmed steering wheel has satellite controls. An excellent driver’s car, the XF benefits from having excellent mechanical grip, with 50-50 weight distribution that enables the driver to know exactly what’s going to happen in any given situation. Disappointments? Adaptive cruise control is a $2,700 option, while proximity key entry costs a whopping $1,600! Good news: although our test car came with the standard brushed alloy dash trim, traditional Jaguar burr walnut veneer is available for only $800 extra!