Following Jaguar’s plan to become a solid opponent to the German trio, XF’s second generation arrives intended to take advantage of being a bigger brother to XE. After all, before the company landed a strong entry-level sedan, XF had to work at two segments, but this only meant it was too expensive for the smaller and not as fancy as expected for the bigger one. Now, the sedan was designed to compete exclusively with the likes of A6, 5-Series and E-Class, starting in the next few months. As it was mentioned before, one of the tools selected by Jaguar to pursue such goal was to invest in excellence, rather than innovation. However, if you remember what has Jaguar done in the past few years, just relying on that is still completely opposed to calling XF old-fashioned.
Since the original XF was released in 2008, there was a lot to catch up with… and it’s exactly what it did. The new XF uses a completely new project, starting with the platform: you’ll have Jaguar’s brand new modular architecture, the same one which underpins XE and the future F-Pace crossover. Making 75% of the structure in aluminum led to the loss of 190 kg, and to 28% more torsional rigidity. When it comes to dimensions, length and height shrunk by 7 and 3 mm, but the wheelbase stretched by 51 mm. Such changes account for a sedan that looks nimbler and sportier on the outside, while being even more comfortable on the inside. Jaguar claims it has more room for your head, legs and knees all at once. But there much to say before actually experiencing that.
The new saloon’s styling is a mélange of XE, the previous XF, and, to spice things up, F-Type. Jaguar made a point to stick to clean lines, as opposed to the German fondness for strong creases. This way, XF combines well-defined volumes with very smooth transitions, creating that kind of looks which will take many years to look old. The front fascia features sleek headlights, big upper grille and a lower section that varies according to the trim level – sporty S uses bigger air intakes with exclusive mesh. The sides feature long hood, rearward cabin, and a regular third box; four-door coupés aren’t well accepted at this segment. Last, but not least, the rear fascia pairs a quite conventional design to a set ot LED lights beautifully inspired in F-Type’s.
Along with the aformentioned extra space, XF’s cabin presents a very conservative style. Instead of futuristic lines and/or lots of chrome inserts, you’ll have discreet elements, tasteful combinations of colors, materials and textures, and a dashboard which takes the attention to the 10.2” touchscreen at the center: it controls the brand new InControl Touch Pro, an infotainment system packed with high-definition graphics, several applications, and a typical function among Jaguar and Land Rover cars: the split screen, which shows two different things depending on the angle from which you’re staring. This way, the front passenger can watch TV or a DVD, while the driver sees information such as sat-nav. There are also a Meridian audio system with 17 speakers and a highly customizable digital instrument cluster.
Luxury sedans are also known for awesome driving, regardless of their size, and Jaguar’s couldn’t be different. The new XF’s weight is almost evenly distributed between the axles, and there’s an array of technical improvements for the handling part: the suspension has double-wishbone layout, the optional adaptive dampers continuously adjust to the driving parameters, and despite the steering uses electric assistance, Jaguar claims to have tuned it to retain the previous feel. Speaking of how will you feel the sedan, the Configurable Dynamics system will allow you to tweak dampers, engine, gearbox and steering using many modes. Whether with rear or all-wheel-drive, all XFs come with All-Surface Progress Control, which controls brakes and throttle to defeat slippery grounds.
XF’s engine lineup starts with the 2.0 Ingenium diesel, which can be paired to a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. Its weakest version delivers 161 hp and 280 lb-ft and, when paired to the manual, reaches 70 combined mpg and emits 104 g/km of CO2. The same engine also offers 178 hp and 317 lb-ft. Stronger options only use the second gearbox, and are two 3.0 V6s: the diesel uses two turbos to give 296 hp and 516 lb-ft, while the gasoline one is supercharged, is shared with F-Type, and takes those figures to 375 hp and 332 lb-ft. For now, XF’s second generation will be offered in Prestige, R-Sport, Portfolio and S trims, with the British prices ranging from £32,300 to £49,950.