XF embargo broken
Discussion
<b>ed Autocar (UK)</b>
Pictures
[URL=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsGallery.aspx?AR=227470&EL=-1&IM=133409]http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsGallery....EL=-1&IM=133409[/URL]
Text
[URL=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Jaguar-XF/227470/]http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Jaguar-XF/227470/[/URL]
[QUOTE]
Latest News
Jaguar's future starts here
28 August 2007
After what seems like years of waiting, Jaguar’s life-changing XF, its first truly avant-garde sports saloon for well over three decades, is finally here, although we won’t get to drive it for several months yet.
Unofficially, the team behind the XF called it “the new Mk2”, both to differentiate it from the S-type and XJ, and to associate it with the charisma, the compact shape and the fine driving qualities of that enduring '60s icon.
This new rival to the Mercedes E-class, Audi A6 and BMW 5-series certainly doesn't need a collection of outmoded styling cues. After the failure of successive retro designs, Jaguar, under the guidance of design director Ian Callum, has found a new look.
The XF ditches both the “shield” grille of the old Mk2 and recent S-type saloons, and the “mouth” grille of the XK. Instead, it uses a new “ovoid” shape, related (albeit faintly) to the grille of the first XJ6.
Its stance is low-nosed and confident, full of latent power, with the grille countersunk into the body in the manner of the original XJ, not merely stuck on.
In the cabin
The interior is a confection of simple planes, graceful lines and quality materials. But lest anyone think traditions are being chucked overboard, Jaguar designers point out that the the XF cabin nevertheless contains more wood than any Jaguar since the Mk2.
Front occupants sit low, separated by a high centre console to give the familiar Jaguar feeling that you’ve located securely in a “tub” of your own.
Get into the car, close the driver’s door and the “start” button located on the console pulses red. Press it, and two things happen. The engine starts, and a rotary knob rises out of what you thought was the flat upper surface of the centre console, to become a rotary gear selector knob.
It looks and moves like the polished alloy knob of a piece of top-quality audio equipment, because the driver’s control of the specially tuned six-speed ZF transmission is ‘by wire”. Every XF also has paddle-shift control of the 'box. There is no conventional manual.
Under the skin
Four engines are offered – a 2.7-litre, 210bhp turbodiesel V6; a 3.0-litre 240bhp petrol V6, a 4.2-litre, 300bhp petrol V8 and a 4.2-litre, 420bhp supercharged V8.
The slowest top speed is 143mph in the diesel, and the slowest 0-60 is 7.9 seconds in the 3.0-litre V6. At the other end of the spectrum the SV8 rockets from 0-60mph in 5.1sec to a limited 155mph top speed.
Unlike the latest XK and XJ, the XF doesn't have an integral body/chassis in aluminium. Instead, it uses high-strength steels, plus a wide variety of materials including aluminium, composites, plastics and magnesium alloy.
The XF shares its 2909mm wheelbase with the outgoing S-type, and the same goes for its coil-sprung, double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear, both mounted on subframes for the best possible isolation.
All but the supercharged SV8 model have ventilated 326mm disc brakes all round, but the top model has 355mm units on the front for extra retardation. It needs them not only because it is so fast, but also as its claimed kerb weight of 1842kg is 160kg above that of the lightest model, the 3.0 litre petrol V6. The 2.7 litre turbodiesel (1771kg) and normally aspirated 4.2 V8 (1749kg) fall in between.
The XF’s most important unseen component is likely to be the sophistication of its ride and handling development, carried out by a team led by Mike Cross. We look forward to finding out.
[/QUOTE]
Pictures
[URL=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsGallery.aspx?AR=227470&EL=-1&IM=133409]http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsGallery....EL=-1&IM=133409[/URL]
Text
[URL=http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Jaguar-XF/227470/]http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Jaguar-XF/227470/[/URL]
[QUOTE]
Latest News
Jaguar's future starts here
28 August 2007
After what seems like years of waiting, Jaguar’s life-changing XF, its first truly avant-garde sports saloon for well over three decades, is finally here, although we won’t get to drive it for several months yet.
Unofficially, the team behind the XF called it “the new Mk2”, both to differentiate it from the S-type and XJ, and to associate it with the charisma, the compact shape and the fine driving qualities of that enduring '60s icon.
This new rival to the Mercedes E-class, Audi A6 and BMW 5-series certainly doesn't need a collection of outmoded styling cues. After the failure of successive retro designs, Jaguar, under the guidance of design director Ian Callum, has found a new look.
The XF ditches both the “shield” grille of the old Mk2 and recent S-type saloons, and the “mouth” grille of the XK. Instead, it uses a new “ovoid” shape, related (albeit faintly) to the grille of the first XJ6.
Its stance is low-nosed and confident, full of latent power, with the grille countersunk into the body in the manner of the original XJ, not merely stuck on.
In the cabin
The interior is a confection of simple planes, graceful lines and quality materials. But lest anyone think traditions are being chucked overboard, Jaguar designers point out that the the XF cabin nevertheless contains more wood than any Jaguar since the Mk2.
Front occupants sit low, separated by a high centre console to give the familiar Jaguar feeling that you’ve located securely in a “tub” of your own.
Get into the car, close the driver’s door and the “start” button located on the console pulses red. Press it, and two things happen. The engine starts, and a rotary knob rises out of what you thought was the flat upper surface of the centre console, to become a rotary gear selector knob.
It looks and moves like the polished alloy knob of a piece of top-quality audio equipment, because the driver’s control of the specially tuned six-speed ZF transmission is ‘by wire”. Every XF also has paddle-shift control of the 'box. There is no conventional manual.
Under the skin
Four engines are offered – a 2.7-litre, 210bhp turbodiesel V6; a 3.0-litre 240bhp petrol V6, a 4.2-litre, 300bhp petrol V8 and a 4.2-litre, 420bhp supercharged V8.
The slowest top speed is 143mph in the diesel, and the slowest 0-60 is 7.9 seconds in the 3.0-litre V6. At the other end of the spectrum the SV8 rockets from 0-60mph in 5.1sec to a limited 155mph top speed.
Unlike the latest XK and XJ, the XF doesn't have an integral body/chassis in aluminium. Instead, it uses high-strength steels, plus a wide variety of materials including aluminium, composites, plastics and magnesium alloy.
The XF shares its 2909mm wheelbase with the outgoing S-type, and the same goes for its coil-sprung, double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear, both mounted on subframes for the best possible isolation.
All but the supercharged SV8 model have ventilated 326mm disc brakes all round, but the top model has 355mm units on the front for extra retardation. It needs them not only because it is so fast, but also as its claimed kerb weight of 1842kg is 160kg above that of the lightest model, the 3.0 litre petrol V6. The 2.7 litre turbodiesel (1771kg) and normally aspirated 4.2 V8 (1749kg) fall in between.
The XF’s most important unseen component is likely to be the sophistication of its ride and handling development, carried out by a team led by Mike Cross. We look forward to finding out.
[/QUOTE]
Triple7, you've missed nothing. The embargo has been broken and the photos are everywhere. If you're really stuggling to find them...look here http://www.autoblog.it/post/9811/jaguar-xf-immagin...
It's interesting. There's a big discussion around the XF on another web forum and after a few small photoshops the general concencus is that the only changes to the CXF are the headlights, door handles and the rear end.
Now, the rear end is better than the concept, so that's a good thing.
The door handles were expected, although my old Fiat Coupe has hidden handles as do Alfa 156s and the latest Seats. It would have been cool for Jaguar to keep that feature, but traditional handles were expected.
The headlights are the real surprise. It's a single detail but it completely changes your opinion of the car.
Here's the photoshop of the production XF with the concept lights and no door handles.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/DavidCane/t...
I reckon the real thing will look just fine in real life. Most of the people on these forum are a hundred times pickier about the details than the other 99.9% of the car buying public. I guess that's why we're enthusiasts
Now, the rear end is better than the concept, so that's a good thing.
The door handles were expected, although my old Fiat Coupe has hidden handles as do Alfa 156s and the latest Seats. It would have been cool for Jaguar to keep that feature, but traditional handles were expected.
The headlights are the real surprise. It's a single detail but it completely changes your opinion of the car.
Here's the photoshop of the production XF with the concept lights and no door handles.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g137/DavidCane/t...
I reckon the real thing will look just fine in real life. Most of the people on these forum are a hundred times pickier about the details than the other 99.9% of the car buying public. I guess that's why we're enthusiasts
I really want to like it... but I can't.
Unfortunately it lost most of the appeal the C-XF concept had. It lost the cool and sleek lines and the agressivness of the original concept.
And the interior just looks bland and boring. Anyone noticed the back seat upholstry? Not to mention the cheap "aluminum" switchgear (most of it looks like plastic). I feel sorry, but that's what it looks like to me.
Still I like the new XK. Now that's how a Jag is supposed to look.
BTW. There was a really nice concours d'elegance in downtown Zurich last Friday with some super nice XK120, XK150, and E-Type Roadsters and FHCs, Series II Double Six. Very nice...
Unfortunately it lost most of the appeal the C-XF concept had. It lost the cool and sleek lines and the agressivness of the original concept.
And the interior just looks bland and boring. Anyone noticed the back seat upholstry? Not to mention the cheap "aluminum" switchgear (most of it looks like plastic). I feel sorry, but that's what it looks like to me.
Still I like the new XK. Now that's how a Jag is supposed to look.
BTW. There was a really nice concours d'elegance in downtown Zurich last Friday with some super nice XK120, XK150, and E-Type Roadsters and FHCs, Series II Double Six. Very nice...
DavidCane said:
It's interesting. There's a big discussion around the XF on another web forum and after a few small photoshops the general concencus is that the only changes to the CXF are the headlights, door handles and the rear end.
Interestingly, I heard that the headlights from the C-XF are to be introduced on the new XJ in 2009, and then they will come over to the XF. It will also be the time that the new 5.0ltr V8 will arrive, so I think Jaguar is holding this stuff back for then.Florian, I wouldn't be too upset just yet, the mean-looking C-XF is pretty much what the XF-R will be like. The launch vehicle is the S-V8, a more 'sedate' saloon.
G
I have to agree with you. I worked at Jag/Land Rover when the XK was being developed. I saw the final design a few times in the year leading up to the launch and never liked it, even though I was looking at the real car.
Now, two years later I see them on the road and absolutely love'm. As either Ian Callum or Andy Wheel said, you have to see the car in it's natural environment before judging whether the design works. Time will tell.
Now, two years later I see them on the road and absolutely love'm. As either Ian Callum or Andy Wheel said, you have to see the car in it's natural environment before judging whether the design works. Time will tell.
From the pictures I have of this car, I really like it. http://www.leftlanenews.com/jaguar-xf.html
Edited by Cerbman on Monday 27th August 17:39
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff