Wednesday 25th March 2015

New Jaguar XF - official

Plenty of new tech to get excited by, plus the obligatory launch shenanigans too

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There wasn't a great deal given away by Jaguar on first look at the second-gen XF last week. There was an updated interior (hurrah!) and the car's roof. Now the car has been shown in full and the "dramatic high-wire journey" went without hitch. See here for that, it's rather an odd one to explain...

New XF wants to feel XE too it'd seem

So then, the XF Mk2. The important stats so far are CO2 from 104g/km, a drag coefficient of 0.26 Cd, 70mpg from the 163hp diesel and a weight saving of 'up to 190kg' over the outgoing model. Given JLR are (in)famously optimistic about kerbweight improvement, we'll wait to see those claims verified before getting too excited. An impressive claim though.

There's another big number to discuss too. 10.2 inches. It's the touchscreen you filthy scoundrels. Following some recent criticisms of Jag infotainment, the InControl Touch Pro system really needs to perform. Jaguar says a solid-state drive and quad-core processor deliver "incredible graphics, fast response times and truly exceptional performance." There's a new 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster too, technology as used in the XJ and Range Rover.

Typically underplayed launch for new Jag...

To engineering matters. The new XF architecture is 75 per cent aluminium, contributing to a 28 per cent improvement in torsional stiffness. The XF is 7mm shorter and 3mm lower than previously, but with a wheelbase 51mm longer at 2,960mm. Jaguar claims the manual 163hp diesel is 80kg lighter than "its closest competitor." For reference a 520d manual has a 1,695kg kerbweight.

The XF will borrow much of the XE's tech, with both the 163hp and 180hp Ingenium diesels featuring at range entry. Jag's new electric power steering is standard too. With the optional Adaptive Dynamics dampers the F-Type's Configurable Dynamics allows the steering, engine, auto 'box and dampers to be tailored.

As well as those diesels, the XF will be offered with the existing 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel (further tweaked to 300hp and 516lb ft) and the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 with 380hp and 332lb ft. The pair of 2.0-litre diesels will be available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed auto, with the others auto-only. No news on an XFR for the moment...

Significant weight loss claims? Check!

The new XF will make its debut at the New York show on April 1, where full tech and range specifications will be announced. With no further stunts planned. Yet.

 

 

 

 

High-wire crossing vid thing here.

 

[MrTappets]

Wow, when they showed the XE I thought I couldn't tell it apart from the XF, and now they're restyled the XF to be more like the XE? It looks very smart, but I was rather enjoying the boldness Jag had been showing over the past few years.

[HeMightBeBanned]

I'm sure it's super and everything, but at first glance it really does look identical to the XE. Especially the rear three-quarter. I can't imagine how many powerfully built executives would want people to mistakenly think they're driving Jaguar's lesser model.

[MJ85]

The base diesel was already much slower than the BMW equivalent in the XE, let alone in this, heavier, XF. Not too impressive.

[j90gta]

That is a very handsome looking thing; much better looking than any bland German identikit eurobox! Sure it will do very well. Any sign of an estate?

[Agoogy]

They're simply following Audi/BMW model line ups.

Take big/small car reduce/enlarge to make smaller/bigger car.

In the flesh/on the road I doubt much confusion will remain.
Original XF was ok even with devisive headlights.
The facelift improved things greatly.
Mk2 has not moved the game on, just moved it laterally to fall into line.
Smart then, but not great.

The tech/engineering stuff sounds promising though...

Edited by Agoogy on Wednesday 25th March 11:33

[cerb4.5lee]

At first glance it does look pretty much identical to the XE.

[Triple7]

Error, just as other manufactuers are moving away from styling all their vehicles alike (Audi!) Jaguar then go for one style in so far two sizes (new XJ next next anyone).

It looks fine, as with the XE very BMW-esque. But I know the current XF is an S-Type underneath and before that a Lincoln, but it still looks sexier than this Gen2.

Not sure what that wire drive was all about either. Seems they have a huge pot of money to blow. Might be better getting the product perfect first.

[Krikkit]

I imagine they'll be much easier to tell apart in the metal and in a better colour than white!

[RyCliff]

Looks a lot like the Mondeo from the outside to me...

[anonymous-user]

So, a car, that was effectively solidly fixed to it's guide wires, drove over a bit of water. er, and the point? i mean, why not just use the bridge? Seems like a load of modern "faux dangeur" to me?

[soad]

Very nice subtle redesign.

Now, make Ian Callum walk to the other side on the wire.

[Muddle238]

The rear three-quarter view definately has something 10 year-old Honda Accord about it

[monamimate]

The Lexusification of Jaguar continues... great car probably, well-built, clean styling, but where's the passion, the warmth, the identity (no, I'm not asking for a retro model)... it's all so bland.

[Repent]

Surprised at all the negative comments. As a car and an object, I think that looks absolutely incredible. More dramatic than an Audi, more svelte than a BMW, fresher than a Merc and less contrived than a Lexus/Infiniti.

[DanielSan]

Original XF is a gorgeous looking car, this is a gorgeous looking evolution of the model. I like it a lot.

[BorkFactor]

I think that is a very good looking car, looks a lot better than the current XF which I was never really a fan of.

Not sure I would pick one over an F10 given the choice, but a nice car none the less.

[GTEYE]

Hmm Russian doll styling, just like the Germans.

It seems to be what the marketing department demands, to keep the image "on trend", but do the customers actually want this repetition?

Not so sure on that one.

[filski666]

MrTappets said:

Wow, when they showed the XE I thought I couldn't tell it apart from the XF, and now they're restyled the XF to be more like the XE? It looks very smart, but I was rather enjoying the boldness Jag had been showing over the past few years.

[sarcasm]How can you possibly not see the difference? - the rear door splits on the div bar on the XF, but runs down the back of the 6th light/DLO on the XE - they are COMPLETELY different!! [/sarcasm]

[dantournay]

What a wasted opportunity

[silentbrown]

Looks good, but am I the only one that thinks in-car touchscreens are a fundamentally broken concept? I find them *totally* impossible to operate while driving.