Brand new Jaguar XF revealed

The Jaguar XF is all-new, inside and out, and that makes it lighter, quicker, and more agile. Damien O’carroll reports.

When it first appeared back in 2008, the Jaguar XF was the excitingly new face of a brand that had become trapped in design hole that was beginning to border on self-parody. But while the XF’S face was new, the platform that sat under it certainly wasn’t – the XF sat on the underpinnings of the S-type, which was the Ford-developed DEW98 platform that first appeared under the Lincoln LS in 1999. In fact, Jaguar continued on with the platform long after Ford dropped it in 2006, stretching another nine years out of the old girl. So it is just as well that the new XF is just that – all new inside and out, sitting on JLR’S new aluminium-intensive platform that also sits under the smaller XE, as well as the forthcoming F-pace SUV. As such, Jaguar has dropped an astonishing 190kg out of the XF, even claiming to have had to use steel for the doors and boot lid to ensure a 50/50 weight distribution. At launch the new XF is powered by a choice of four engines across three models. The 20d kicks off the range and is a 2-litre four-cylinder diesel turbo that produces 132kw of power and 430Nm of torque, while the 25t is a 2-litre fourcylinder petrol turbo that produces 177kw of power and 340Nm of torque. Then come the V6s, with a 3.0-litre petrol supercharged V6 pumping out either 250kw and 450Nm in 35t form or 280kw/450kw in S guise, as well as a 3.0-litre turbo diesel V6 that produces 221kw of power and a massive 700Nm of torque. As with all Jaguars, the XF can range from rather a sparse car up to one that is bristling with goodies, depending on how comfortable you are with emptying out your bank account. In an effort to keep the model range simple, Jaguar New Zealand is carrying the 20d in entry-level “Prestige” specification (which still includes leather, reversing camera, cruise control with All Surface Progress Control function, Jaguar Drive Control with different modes and torque vectoring by braking), the 25t and 35t in “R-sport” spec (with a more aggressive body kit, different trim, sports suspension and 19-inch wheels) and the S diesel and V6 petrol in the same top spec “S” specification. But you can mix and match if you so choose. If, for example, you wanted a 20d in R-sport or a 35t in Prestige trim, then, by all means, you can order that. On the outside, well quite simply, the new XF looks sensational. While it is actually smaller than the car it replaces, the new XF has more interior space and a 51mm longer wheelbase, meaning it is sleek, low, has a tough wheel-at-eachcorner stance and looks even more like an XJ than before. It is also fantastically well built and boasts a massively highquality interior. The 2-litre engines we sampled on the launch were strong, flexible and frugal. While the entry-level 20d sounded a bit ordinary, and had a tendency to get a bit coarse at higher revs, it was still a mighty impressive performer for such a relatively small capacity. The 25t was smoother and undoubtedly more powerful, but also had a tendency to get coarse at higher revs, but was a wonderfully smooth and punchy performer. It did lack the comfortable and effortless cruising power of the 430Nm diesel engine, however. In terms of ride and handling, the XF still manages to walk the line between comfortable ride and sporty handling that the last car and, let’s face it, everything else in this segment does so well. All up, the new XF is a sensationally good looking, comfortable and extremely well put together car that is another triumph for the modern incarnation of Jaguar. While the 2-litre cars are impressive in their own right, it is the V6s and the nodoubt forthcoming V8-powered R versions that the real treasures of the XF range will lie, as has previously been the case. As we mentioned earlier, Jaguar NZ has kept its price list simple, but did say that engines and models across the Prestige and R-sport ranges could easily be mixed and matched, making for a lot more choice than first appearances suggest. A 20d R-sport would be a very good choice indeed. For now, at least.