There aren’t many road tests that involve purring, but that’s because we haven’t done many road tests in a Jaguar. The XF, is a new generation of Jag, just the way we like them.
I’m fairly confident that there are no new cat-related gags left to use in an article about Jaguar. But, one that does come to mind is ‘What’s new pussycat?’ – after all, this is a face lift XF, equipped with a 2.2 Diesel engine and widely advertised as the most efficient Jag ever made. Great!
When XF launched a few years ago, I felt that it was a mixed bag – a contradiction to the entire Jaguar ethos and heritage. Many people – like myself – detested the XF due to its oversized plastic grille, flanked by chrome bits-and-pieces throughout the body. You either liked it or didn’t.
The XF, however, has been a success story for Jaguar. To say the least, most people find its design to be fresh and somewhat enthralling. Gone are the days of dreary Jags!
XF is the brainchild of Jag’s chief designer Ian Callum and it has already sold in droves! Callum responded to customer demand to create a car that is modern and with coupe-like lines to reflect Jaguar’s sporting past. And, you don’t have to look too hard to see this car’s beauty!
Pictures don’t do justice to the beauty of this car – you have to view it in the flesh! It has shorter overhangs at the front, a side profile similar to the Jaguar Mk2 of the sixties, and a beautifully crafted rear quarter view which harks back to the original E-Type Coupe. When viewed from the right angle, the XF is a design masterpiece.
Alas, I haven’t yet warmed up to the front end. The grille is too bling and I think that it would have look a tad better if it was made from metal. But it does redeem itself with the sleek new XENON headlight cluster with LED daytime running lights.
The interior is a marvel. Unlike Jags from the past, the XF features a contemporary dash layout with generous amount of aluminium, mixed in with a healthy dose of plastic-wood inlays and leather. It’s easy to navigate the switch gear and controls, and all the buttons fall to hand. The XF also incorporates innovative technology such as a touch screen to control the audio, navigation and climate settings as well.
But, the real delight is on the central console with a keyless starter button and the electronic gear selector that rises gracefully to await the driver’s demands. All theatre, but brilliantly delightful.
The seats are covered in hand-stitched leather and are comfortable for long distance trips. The interior is airy with ample head and legroom at the front and rear, and the boot is large enough to carry a decent amount of luggage.
Nestled under the bonnet is a 2.2L turbodiesel engine which develops 140kW and 450Nm. Jaguar claims a 0-100kph sprint in 8.5 seconds and top speed of 225kph before running out of steam.
Coupled to the engine is an all-new ZF 8-speed auto gearbox which has been designed to return class-leading fuel economy. The gearbox features remodelled characteristics hence gearchanges are completed in just 200 milliseconds – four times faster than the average human heartbeat – while driver control is enhanced by the ability to perform multiple downshifts using the paddleshift technology.
It isn’t the quickest of cars and will not get you to your destination in lightning quick times but it remains frugal. During our test period, we averaged 8.3-litres/100km (combined cycle). More impressively – during our test period – we covered 550km and the trip monitor indicated that we could travel for another 130km.
The 2.2 Diesel model is also fitted a Stop/Start system, the first time this technology has been used in a Premium Diesel saloon. This automatically shuts down the engine when the car comes to rest, in order to improve fuel economy and emissions as well.
Despite its steel body the 1,745kg XF is incredibly agile. This isn’t surprising when you consider that much of the XF’s suspension is carried over from the XK coupe. But what was most remarkable was the comfort and silence inside the car, the lack of wind noise and the incredible smoothness of the ride despite the test car’s 19” alloys and low-profile tyres.
The superbly equipped XF 2.2 Diesel Luxury is priced at R461,500 while the Luxury Premium spec is priced at R532,900. That’s really good money when one considers the fuel savings, bells-and-whistles and the addition of a 5 year/100,000km full maintenance plan.
XF marks a new direction and revolution for Jaguar. It’s an attractive car and it does turn heads. Fellow motorists will stare at you. Alas, driving a Jag at 27 years old isn’t a great idea – it’s the sort of car that will attract Cougars!
The old Fart’s overview:
No, it is not true that Jaguar are about to rename their car the Bengal Tiger, but that Cheshire Cat logo does confuse one. I know that a leaping jaguar on the bonnet has both safety issues and aerodynamic issue, but why not replace the aerial bump on the back slope with a backward leaping tiger? It will be both functional and eye catching, and definitely a talking point.
A great car, nevertheless, with shades of Aston Martin, but lose that wood veneer. Although, the wood veneer does go with “Fart, old fart” rather than “Bond, James Bond”. And please guys get the driver’s seating position up; I want to see the road ahead, particularly up close, as our potholes are just waiting to tear those big, expensive low profile tyres to shreds.
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