This is the all-new Jaguar XF, which is roomier, lighter, more frugal and far more technologically advanced than the seven-year-old model it replaces.
25 Mar 2015 | 6851 Views | By Hilton Holloway, Autocar UK
This is the all-new Jaguar XF, which is roomier, lighter, more frugal and far more technologically advanced than the seven-year-old model it replaces.
After its public unveiling at the New York Motor Show next week, the big saloon is expected to reach showrooms at the tail end of this year.
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This is the all-new Jaguar XF, which is roomier, lighter, more frugal and far more technologically advanced than the seven-year-old model it replaces.
After its public unveiling at the New York Motor Show next week, the big saloon is expected to reach showrooms at the tail end of this year.
Built around the company’s latest aluminium architecture, which it shares with the XE, the Mk2 XF is powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s all-new 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol and diesel engines, as well as a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel V6 and a supercharged 3.0-litre petrol V6.
The new XF also features the company’s new InControl Touch Pro multimedia system, which is based around a quad-core processor and uses an “ultra-fast” ethernet network.
The new car employs Jaguar’s aluminium-intensive platform, which is also used, in smaller form, under the new XE saloon.
The XF’s structure is, like the smaller XE’s, about 75% aluminium in its construction. The XF’s front-to-rear weight distribution comes in at close to 50/50, because the rear structure of the body is made mainly of steel, which places more weight at the car’s rear.
Jaguar also says the structure is nearly 30% stiffer than that of the current car. Thanks to the use of these lightweight materials, the new XF is as much as 190kg lighter than the outgoing model, contributing to much-improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures.
The XF shares its suspension set-up with the XE, which means struts with double wishbones at the front and an ‘integral link’ independent set-up at the rear.
The steering uses the same electric power-assisted set-up as the F-Type and XE. Active dampers will be on the options list. A feature called Jaguar Configurable Dynamics will allow the driver to tailor the settings of the dampers, steering, engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Jaguar is also introducing All-Surface Progress Control, which, it says, has been developed “for low-speed driving in adverse conditions”. This system automatically “manages the brakes and throttle” to maximise traction on, for example, surfaces covered with heavy snow. The driver simply steers the vehicle.
Although the new XF is 7mm shorter and 3mm lower than the current model, the wheelbase is 51mm longer. At a lengthy 2960mm, it’s only a whisker shorter than that of the BMW 5 Series. The British car maker is promising “class-leading rear seat space, with more leg room, knee room and head room”.
A feast of new technology means that the new XF range kicks off with CO2 emissions as low as 104g/km, which are delivered by the most frugal 161bhp, 280lb ft, 2.0-litre diesel Ingenium engine. Jaguar says this is the lowest CO2 figure in the class for any non-hybrid vehicle. It’s well down on today’s BMW 518d, which has an official rating of 114g/km as well as a lower-powered, 141bhp engine.
The company says there will also be a 178bhp, 317lb ft, 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel XF. Both of these engines can be combined with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. At the top of the diesel range is a tweaked version of the familiar twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6, which offers 296bhp and 516lb ft of torque.
The only petrol-engined version that Jaguar has so far released details about is the supercharged petrol V6, which develops 375bhp and 332lb ft of torque.
Inside, the XF has a completely different design language from Jaguar’s XJ flagship. Rather than the XJ’s flamboyant circular vents and much more extravagant detailing, the new XF has a rather more contemporary and sparse appearance inside.
The centre console is notably wide, with plenty of storage space, and the interior detailing — both the brightwork and wood trim — is given a very lean and taut treatment. The XF gets the familiar pop-up rotary controller for the automatic gearbox and the outer air vents roll open when the car is started.
The new XF comes with a big, 10.2-inch ‘dual-view’ smartphone-like touchscreen and JLR’s latest multimedia system, known as InControl Touch Pro. The main instruments are displayed on a 12.3-inch TFT panel, which can be reconfigured.
Q&A WITH IAN CALLUM, JAGAUR DESIGN DIRECTOR
What was your aim in designing the new XF?“I wanted to protect Jaguar’s visual DNA and I wanted to make sure that we created a genuine sports saloon. However, I also wanted the new XF to be more mature and sophisticated than the previous car. It may be slightly shorter and lower than the old XF, but I wanted the car to have more presence, which I think we’ve achieved.
“We’ve given the new car three side windows, which helps illuminate the interior, and we have this new strong line running down the side of the car.”
Why did you decide to stay with the familiar Jaguar nose design?
“The current XF is nearly eight years old and I think it has worn well. I wanted to translate the XF nose into the new family look. I wanted the front to look slightly menacing, but not aggressive or vulgar. The grille surround stands proud at the front. I like the way it looks like an air intake.”
Why is the interior design of the XF such a break from the flagship XJ saloon and quite unlike any previous Jaguar model?
“We’ve certainly gone for a very simple interior architecture, although we have carried over some design themes from the current Jaguar line-up.
“Running around the top of the dashboard and into the doors is the upright strip we call the ‘Riva hook’, and it was used on the XJ. And like the current XF, we’ve used a metallic finish on the dash, retained the pop-up controller for the automatic transmission, and the outer two air vents are powered and flip into place when the car is started.
“This time, though, we’ve put a lot more sculpture into the shaping of the seats. On the leather-trimmed interior, we’ve also used a fluted finish, which could be thought of as old-fashioned, but I wanted to bring it back to Jaguar.”