12th February 2008
The new XF is a milestone for Jaguar. In every respect it signals the future of the marque – and yet it remains true to the essence of what has always made great Jaguars the cars they are.
Launched today at The Village at Lyons Demesne, Celbridge, Co Kildare, the new Jaguar XF is now on sale.
The new XF is more than just a strikingly beautiful Jaguar. It also appeals from a rational perspective to buyers of all ages who expect value for money, even from a luxury marque. XF pricing is extremely competitive throughout the range, in spite of rich standard feature specifications and extensive use of advanced technologies.
As one of the most visually striking, technically sophisticated and driver-oriented saloon cars that the company has ever produced, the XF clearly demonstrates the forward-looking focus that now defines the Jaguar brand. Its design language is entirely new, its performance supports its sporting looks and intelligent use of technology and innovative control interfaces set the XF far apart from any other premium sports saloon.
Jaguar’s achievement in producing such an exciting car has already been recognised by the winning of awards such as What Car? 2008 Car of the Year, What Car? Best Executive Car, The Sun newspaper Car of the Year, Limo of the Year from Top Gear magazine, Interior of the Year from CAR magazine and the Design Award from Autocar magazine.
Despite its coupe-like lines the XF has room for five adults and interior space and levels of comfort that challenge for best-in-class honours. At 4961mm long and 1877mm wide, on a lengthy 2909mm wheelbase, the XF is considerably longer and wider than its competitors.
The XF is sporty, muscular and dynamic – with a sweeping silhouette inspired by the XK sports car, a powerful grille, dramatic side window graphics and, of course, strong Jaguar ‘shoulders’. The look, however, does not come at the expense of efficient packaging. The XF’s waistline rises to meet the roof rather than the roof coming down to meet the waist, which improves interior space. This rising waistline gives the XF a higher tail than any previous Jaguar, providing the twin benefits of much improved aerodynamic performance, together with substantially increased luggage volume. At a maximum of 540 litres, the XF’s boot is the equal of anything in the class and betters most rivals, plus the opportunity to fold the rear seats and add a further 420 litres.
Just as the XF’s exterior shows a new design direction, its interior moves from traditional themes to contemporary, sporting luxury - with ‘surprise and delight’ features such as the JaguarDrive SelectorTM and the rotating vents; through the use of sophisticated new materials; and by all-new graphics and interior lighting systems.
The interior says luxury but with a very modern flavour - from soft-grained leathers to real wood veneers with a bold, contemporary look. Even the phosphor blue interior lighting has its own mood.
One feature that maximises space efficiency is the JaguarDrive SelectorTM, an unobtrusive yet completely practical solution to selecting an automatic gear mode. But the Selector does much more than this thanks to a start-up sequence that is a strong driver 'handshake' and a real statement of the XF’s individuality.
Get into an XF and the start button in front of the JaguarDrive SelectorTM pulses red, like a heartbeat. Press this button to start the engine and the cast alloy JaguarDrive SelectorTM rises into the palm of your hand. Simultaneously, the navigation system activates and the rotating vents turn from their flush, 'parked' position to their functional open position.
With the JaguarDrive SelectorTM, automatic transmission functions are selected simply by turning the control with the fingertips. As an example, Drive to Drive Sport selection is accomplished with a simple push and turn action. Returning from S to D, the rotary control operates with spring-assistance, which eliminates the need to pull the Selector. It couldn’t be simpler.
Phosphor blue mood or ‘halo’ lighting echoes the ambience you might find in a favourite contemporary bar or restaurant. This same lighting technology is also used in MP3 players and mobile ’phone handsets to illuminate keypads and controls. On the XF, halo illumination around the switch panels and JaguarDrive SelectorTM console, the start-stop button and Electric Parking Brake gives a soft glow that indicates their positions without distracting the driver.
The new XF is available with a choice of four engines - 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel, 3.0-litre V6 petrol, 4.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 petrol, and 4.2-litre supercharged V8 petrol. All have that classic blend of power and refinement that makes Jaguar stand out from its rivals.
The six-speed automatic transmission is the best Jaguar has ever had. The Jaguar Sequential ShiftTM manual gearchange adds a whole new level of functionality. This combination – already proven in the XK – produces excellent powertrains for a very sporting Jaguar.
The Euro IV compliant twin-turbocharged 2.7-litre 24-valve V6 diesel delivers high efficiency, high performance and class-leading refinement – its headline figures including 207PS (EEC) and 435Nm (EEC) of torque. With its Compacted Graphite Iron (CGI) cylinder block and aluminium cylinder heads it is the lightest diesel engine of its type and size - making a significant contribution to the new XF’s power-to-weight ratio, performance and Fuel Economy.
The 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine is another compact, lightweight, all-aluminium design with four overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. It produces 240bhp (SAE)/238PS (EEC) and 221lb ft (SAE)/293Nm (EEC) peak torque - with more than 80 percent of peak torque from below 1500rpm to maximum engine speed at 6800rpm.
The 4.2-litre V8 comes in naturally aspirated or supercharged versions. With a ribbed aluminium block and cylinder heads it is very light but extremely strong, and its superb structural stiffness minimises radiated engine noise and increases mechanical reliability. The V8’s exhaust system has also been completely retuned to remain quiet at cruising speeds but deliver a substantially more purposeful V8 roar under hard acceleration.
In naturally aspirated form it develops 300bhp (SAE)/298PS (EEC), and 310lb ft (SAE)/411Nm (EEC) of torque. The supercharged version uses a highly efficient rotor-type supercharger, belt-driven from the crankshaft. It develops 420bhp (SAE)/416PS (EEC), and 413lb ft (SAE)/560Nm (EEC) of torque from low engine speeds. Just as important as the supercharged engine’s peak torque is the way the usable torque is spread across a wide rev range - with at least 86 percent of the peak from 2000rpm to maximum engine speed.
A superior six-speed automatic transmission – renowned as one of the best in the world and already proven in other Jaguars - is used on all versions of the new XF. There is no manual gearbox option. The transmission is a key element in the XF's sporting character, its adaptive gear-changing strategies responding both to road conditions and the way the car is being driven, giving the smoothest shifts and optimum performance. Adding another layer of driver focus, the transmission is controlled by the new JaguarDrive SelectorTM with the option of manual selection through Jaguar Sequential ShiftTM. The JaguarDrive SelectorTM is also used to access the XF’s Sport mode which uses shift-by-wire technology pioneered on the XK.
These high-tech, modern powertrains give every XF model outstanding performance. The 2.7-litre V6 diesel reaches 60mph in just 7.7 seconds (0-100kph in 8.2 seconds) and has a top speed of 143mph (229kph). The 3.0-litre V6 petrol version sprints to 60mph in 7.9 seconds (0-100kph in 8.3 seconds) and goes on to reach 148mph (237kph). The naturally-aspirated V8 model has a superb 0-60mph time of just 6.2 seconds (0-100kph in 6.5 seconds) and has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250kph). Lastly, the SV8/ Supercharged XF storms to 60mph in just 5.1 seconds (0-100kph in 5.4 seconds) and, like the naturally aspirated V8, is limited to a maximum of 155mph (250kph).
Both petrol and diesel V6 engines are offered in Luxury and Premium Luxury models; the naturally aspirated V8 is Premium Luxury only and the SV8 or Supercharged model has its own unique specification.
Prices for the full XF model range in Ireland are:
Luxury 2.7-litre V6 diesel: €69,950
Luxury 3.0-litre V6 petrol: €69,950
Premium Luxury 2.7-litre V6 diesel: €76,750
Premium Luxury 3.0-litre V6 petrol: €76,750
Premium Luxury 4.2-litre V8 petrol (naturally aspirated): €93,850
SV8 4.2-litre V8 petrol supercharged: €113,450
These prices do not include delivery and other dealer related charges.
Luxury
The ‘Luxury’ specification is the starting point for XF ownership and is available with the 2.7-litre diesel or the 3.0-litre petrol engines. Highlights include 8-way adjustable leather trimmed seats, 7” colour Touch-screen display, Navigation system, Bluetooth® Telephone Connectivity, 6-disc in-dash CD changer, Rear parking aid, interior mood lighting, heated exterior mirrors with electric adjustment, 17” alloy wheels, Automatic Climate Control and Cruise Control with Automatic Speed Limiter.
Premium Luxury
The ‘Premium Luxury’ specification is available with the 2.7-litre diesel and the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engines and standard on the 4.2-litre V8. ‘Premium Luxury’ specification offers, in addition to the Luxury model’s standard features, highlights such as 18” alloy wheels, keyless entry, heated windscreen ,10-way heated Soft Grain Leather seats with lumbar adjust, driver's seat memory function and Soft Grain Leather stitched and tailored instrument panel and door top rolls.
SV8
The SV8 specification is available on the 4.2-litre supercharged model only and customers can enjoy additional features such as active heated and cooled front seats, 20” alloy wheels, Bi-Xenon headlamps with automatic levelling and headlamp washers and CATS (Computer Active Technology Suspension).
DRIVER AIDS
The XF’s main control module governs many key safety functions including Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Anti-lock braking system (ABS), Traction Control through engine and brake intervention, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Engine Drag Torque Control. And for the first time, the XF adds Understeer Control Logic, which has been designed to lessen understeer by intervening through the engine management and braking systems to decelerate the car and help restore grip to the front wheels.
A two-stage DSC system similar to that featured on the new XK is standard. It combines the normal on-off switchable DSC function, which reacts as soon as it detects slip, with Trac DSC, which allows more slip before intervening – better for a more sporting driving experience.
In Dynamic Mode (SV8/ Supercharged only), pressing and holding the DSC button fully disables the system, allowing an experienced driver to exploit fully the capability of the chassis, where conditions allow. Mode selection is confirmed on the instrument cluster display.
Every XF comes with two-stage driver and front passenger airbags, side and curtain airbags and seat occupant sensing systems to help ensure the airbags work precisely and only as needed in every circumstance. Front-seat occupants also have the added protection of an anti-whiplash system and ‘soft-landing’ technology in the seat-belt retractors to soften contact with the front airbags.
Second-generation Pedestrian Contact Sensing System – the acclaimed safety system introduced by Jaguar on the XK – is included on the XF. This can mitigate pedestrian injury by firing actuators that deploy the bonnet, resulting in a cushioned space between the bonnet and engine hardpoints. The system builds on the technology proven in the XK, using higher resolution sensing and an active rear-hinged bonnet.
JaguarSenseTM - an electronic control system that gives touch or proximity operation to open the glovebox lid and to control the overhead console lights – is another XF (and industry) first and removes the need to locate a small switch, especially useful in the dark. JaguarVoiceTM, an optional feature, offers the driver the choice of voice control for functions including satellite navigation, telephone and display functions.
Speaking at the launch, Jim Ryan, General Manager Jaguar Ireland, said “It was time for Jaguar to be bold and the XF fits that brief perfectly. With its dramatic styling, powerful yet beautiful flowing lines and a distinctive face, the new XF looks like no other Jaguar saloon – and yet it could only be a Jaguar. The new XF has already caught the imagination of the Irish buyers as evidenced by the amount of interest in the car and the number of orders placed before the launch today.”
The new XF, like all Jaguar cars, is covered by a three year manufacturer’s warranty and three years Emergency Assistance Programme.
Learn more about the XF.
