Jaguar XF, sporting luxury
There’s a feeling of rupture in the air. The XF has broken with its predecessors, pointing the way towards tomorrow’s saloon. Design, technology, ambiance, it’s all there. And more as well…
Agile and charismatic, this is Jaguar’s first sports saloon to dare offer such innovative design. Clearly inspired by coupés, its silhouette hosts a spacious interior (with four doors) capable of accommodating five adults. Which certainly hasn’t prevented it from playing with the sensuality of its perfect curves. In this model, everything boils down to proportions : long, very low and wide, it conceals its muscle beneath a feline allure. Low nose, rising waist, sweeping roofline and powerful shoulders…, one nevertheless gets a glimpse of its potential. Inside one discovers luxurious materials, sophisticated instruments and optimal use of available space. Up to the minute, as trendy as one could wish, the XF embodies the concept that quality design means sober design. As exemplified by the lighting which surrounds the control panels and JaguarDrive Selector console, and lights up at night with a gentle, phosphorescent blue halo. A 7-inch touch-screen fitted into the middle of the dashboard controls most of the functions. The JaguarDrive Selector system is a new rendering of automatic transmission. The light, efficient, intuitive, rotating control allows for finger-tip manipulation. Just a simple gesture also suffices for JaguarSense to switch on the front overhead console lights and open the glove-box. Thanks to JaguarVoice and the driver’s vocal cords, several more options can be triggered. An optional blind-spot monitor system reduces risks while the rear camera parking aid simplifies manoeuvres. Also proposed as an option, the XF can benefit from the ACC automatic speed and distance regulator ; it modifies the driver’s chosen speed depending on traffic conditions with the automatic limiter obeying its prime function (it’s impossible to go over the fixed limit). Music-lovers will opt for the 440 W audio surround system signed Bowers and Wilkins ; it has Kevlar cones for medium-range tones and aluminium dome speakers for high-pitched tones (specifics familiar to fans of music, performers and sound engineers). The system includes an amplifier with Dolby Pro Logic II technology and its surround, relayed by 13 speakers and a subwoofer.
To get this sporty beauty on the move, Jaguar proposes four engine types: from the refined 2.7-litre turbodiesel to the 4.2-liter V8 petrol with 416hp, via the 3-liter V6 and 4.2-liter naturally aspirated petrol V8. Designed to ensure infallible safety for its driver and passengers, the XF offers a wide array of assets. The bodywork’s reinforced shell employs a new generation of high-resistance steel panels. The driver and front passenger airbags are two-phase and complemented by curtain and lateral airbags. A seat occupancy detection system guarantees precise functioning for these airbags under all possible circumstances. Once behind the wheel, one finds the same attention paid to top-notch safety. The systems designed and developed by Jaguar include EBA (electric braking assistance), EBD (electronic braking distribution), ABS (anti-lock braking system), electronic anti-skid, CBC (cornering brake control), engine brake control…, all devices that assist the driver without impeding his or her own reactivity. Not forgetting the second-generation pedestrian shock detector, which automatically activates deployment of the hood, also offering a sense of security to those not inside the XF. Real class !
Jaguar XF in figures:
Length : 4,96 m
Widht : 1,88 m
Wheelbase : 2,73 m
From 0 to 100 km/h : 5,4 to 8,3 s
Price : from 55,600 to 81,100 €
By Cécile Olivéro
