Jaguar XFFrom the moment I drove an XF, the original launch of which was at the 2007 Frankfurt show, I was hooked. Looks, especially at the front end, were nothing special, but the performance and quality of the thing were, and though it was expensive the price did look reasonable when stacked against the German opposition.For the 2012 model year Jaguar have revised the front end with slim new headlight units; set into these are distinctive LED lighting strips sitting either side of a larger, more upright grille. A lower bonnet line complete with a pronounced, wider power bulge running down the centre lends the XF a purposeful stance emphasised by a new look to the lower bumper section complete with a trio of airdams, the outside pair of which are now intersected by twisted chrome fins.Changes to the rest of the bodywork and the interior are almost as many, though possibly not as noticeable. A restyled steering wheel joins revised switchgear for the ventilation systems, while new colour screens display navigation and entertainment software. Redesigned seats offer a new look and greater support.But it’s under the bonnet that the greatest addition is to be found; more of a subtraction really, for Jaguar now offer the XF with a 4-cylinder engine. Oh dear, I hear you say, or words to that effect, bang goes the classy sound and athletic performance. Well you’d think so, but this 2.2 engine not only whacks out 190PS, thus equipping the car with a 0-62 time of 8.5 seconds, but does it with a quality sound that’s nearer six than four cylinders. The icing on the cake is the consumption, a remarkable 52.3mpg on the combined cycle, which in simple terms is down to it being a diesel, and fitted with Stop-Start. Gearbox is a ZF auto with no less than eight speeds, and is about as good as an auto gets; it’s already proved its worth under BMW and Land Rover bonnets. The gear change, incidentally, which of course owners won’t be using with any regularity, is via a knob on the centre tunnel rather than the universal lever. Jaguar obviously feels it saves space and de-clutters the interior, but when you’re in a hurry for reverse it’s not as user-friendly as the old stick. As for the eight speeds, that’s a number that would have seemed impossible just a few short years ago.So the new XF 2.2 is quick, frugal, and at a starting price of £30,950 not too expensive. But the range does go up a long way from there. The other engines are a V6 diesel, in two states of tune, and the V8 petrol, normally aspirated or supercharged if you want to go the whole hog. This latter one – the XFR – has mind-blowing performance and is an absolute hoot to drive, but will be reserved for those with pockets of an unnatural depth. More popular, almost as much as the new 2.2 diesel, will be the 3-litre V6 diesel, which has to be tried to be believed. Wonderfully refined, powerful, and in terms of fuel economy not too distant from its smaller 2.2 brother, this motor takes some beating, and I can’t easily think of an engine that does.Interior of the new XF is, as before, distinctive. Plenty of shiny metal and plastic, which on paper sounds brash, but in reality is modern and rather elegant. Practical touches haven’t been forgotten; there are more slots and cubby holes than you could shake the proverbial stick at. You’d expect a car of this size to offer plenty of leg room for passengers, and in the XF you wouldn’t be disappointed. The boot is slightly less favourable, for despite the reasonable volume of 540 litres with rear seats in use (that’s assuming you’ve got the wee Jaguar Tyre Repair System on board rather than the space saver spare), the opening through which you fill those decilitres is small, and the sill rather high, so you’d best be travelling light. Folding down the rear seat backs is a simple process, with a release inside the boot, and volume then rises to 963 litres. Should you have the space saver these figures are reduced by 40.For most owners the boot issue will be a small minus, only rarely detracting from what seems to me the real and lasting pleasure of living with an XF.Size: 4.96m x 2.08m inc mirrorsEngines: Petrol: 5.0 litres – 385 & 510PSDiesel: 2.2 litres – 190PS 3.0 litres – 240 & 275PSGearbox: 6/8-speed auto RWDBest consumption: 2.2 Diesel – 52.3mpgPrice at Sept ’11: from £30,950Full details of the XF are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.jaguar.com/gb/enPeter Cracknell – Sept 2011
Jaguar XF
From the moment I drove an XF, the original launch of
which was at the 2007 Frankfurt show, I was hooked.
Looks, especially at the front end, were nothing
special, but the performance and quality of the thing
were, and though it was expensive the price did look
reasonable when stacked against the German
opposition.
For the 2012 model year Jaguar have revised the
front end with slim new headlight units; set into these
are distinctive LED lighting strips sitting either side of
a larger, more upright grille. A lower bonnet line
complete with a
pronounced, wider
power bulge running
down the centre lends
the XF a purposeful
stance emphasised
by a new look to the
lower bumper section
complete with a trio of
airdams, the outside
pair of which are now
intersected by twisted
chrome fins.
Changes to the rest
of the bodywork and
the interior are almost
as many, though
possibly not as
noticeable. A restyled
steering wheel joins
revised switchgear for
the ventilation systems, while new colour screens
display navigation and entertainment software.
Redesigned seats offer a new look and greater
support.
But it’s under the bonnet that the greatest addition is
to be found; more of a subtraction really, for Jaguar
now offer the XF with a 4-cylinder engine. Oh dear, I
hear you say, or words to that effect, bang goes the
classy sound and athletic performance. Well you’d
think so, but this 2.2 engine not only whacks out
190PS, thus equipping the car with a 0-62 time of 8.5
seconds, but does it with a quality sound that’s nearer
six than four cylinders. The icing on the cake is the
consumption, a remarkable 52.3mpg on the combined
cycle, which in simple terms is down to it being a
diesel, and fitted with Stop-Start. Gearbox is a ZF
auto with no less than eight speeds, and is about as
good as an auto gets; it’s already proved its worth
under BMW and Land Rover bonnets. The gear
change, incidentally, which of course owners won’t be
using with any regularity, is via a knob on the centre
tunnel rather than the universal lever. Jaguar
obviously feels it saves space and de-clutters the
interior, but when you’re in a hurry for reverse it’s not
as user-friendly as the old stick. As for the eight
speeds, that’s a number that would have seemed
impossible just a few short years ago.
So the new XF 2.2 is quick, frugal, and at a starting
price of £30,950 not too expensive. But the range
does go up a long way from there. The other engines
are a V6 diesel, in two states of tune, and the V8
petrol, normally aspirated or supercharged if you want
to go the whole hog. This latter one – the XFR – has
mind-blowing performance and is an absolute hoot to
drive, but will be reserved for those with pockets of an
unnatural depth. More popular, almost as much as the
new 2.2 diesel, will be the 3-litre V6 diesel, which has
to be tried to be believed. Wonderfully refined,
powerful, and in terms of fuel economy not too distant
from its smaller 2.2 brother, this motor takes some
beating, and I can’t easily think of an engine that does.
Interior of the new XF is, as before, distinctive. Plenty
of shiny metal and plastic, which on paper sounds
brash, but in reality is modern and rather elegant.
Practical touches haven’t been forgotten; there are
more slots and cubby
holes than you could
shake the proverbial
stick at. You’d expect a
car of this size to offer
plenty of leg room for
passengers, and in the
XF you wouldn’t be
disappointed. The boot
is slightly less
favourable, for despite
the reasonable volume
of 540 litres with rear
seats in use (that’s
assuming you’ve got the
wee Jaguar Tyre Repair
System on board rather
than the space saver
spare), the opening
through which you fill
those decilitres is small,
and the sill rather high, so you’d best be travelling light.
Folding down the rear seat backs is a simple process,
with a release inside the boot, and volume then rises
to 963 litres. Should you have the space saver these
figures are reduced by 40.
For most owners the boot issue will be a small minus,
only rarely detracting from what seems to me the real
and lasting pleasure of living with an XF.
Size:
4.96m x 2.08m inc mirrors
Engines:
Petrol: 5.0 litres – 385 & 510PS
Diesel: 2.2 litres – 190PS
3.0 litres – 240 & 275PS
Gearbox:
6/8-speed auto RWD
Best consumption:
2.2 Diesel – 52.3mpg
Price at Sept ’11:
from £30,950
Full details of the XF are available on the manufacturer’s
website: www.jaguar.com/gb/en
Peter Cracknell – Sept 2011
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