The new for 2012 M/Y Jaguar XFR...
Jaguar has taken the wraps off its facelifted XF at the New York motor show. The new model features sharpened-up styling at the nose and tail, a new 2.2 litre diesel engine option, and a raft of small but significant detail changes.
The most obvious change to the latest XF is the new nose with re-profiled High Intensity Discharge headlamp clusters and LED DRLs. With a reshaped bonnet, wings and front intakes the effect is much closer to Jaguar's original C-XF advanced concept from 2007, which also featured HID lamps that were apparently not production viable when the XF first went on sale in '08.
Returning to the strikingly original C-XF concept is no accident, says Jaguar, which acknowledges it wants to 'turn up the visual volume' of its next generation cars as they're faced with increasingly extrovert styling from key competitors.
...and original concept - the 2007 C-XF
Nose job aside, the most significant element of the XF model revamp is the introduction of the critical 2.2 litre diesel at a whisker under £31k. It comes with a silky-smooth shifting 8-speed auto gearbox (yes we've tried it) and stop-start, and will open the XF option up to what is by far the highest sales volume segment in its sector.
The 188bhp engine is a longitudinal installation of the same engine JLR is putting in the Range Rover Evoque, and with 332lb ft of torque from 2000rpm the new diesel XF combines crisp performance with great economy and impressive refinement. Jag claims 0-62mph in 8.5secs, 52.3mpg and emissions of 149g/km. (We had 20 minutes at the wheel of a prototype earlier this month, and the 2.2 diesel seemed particularly impressive for its hushed high-speed motorway cruising.)
The model's stop-start system is interesting from a technical perspective, as it features a tandem solenoid starter motor which can spin up to flywheel speed before engaging, and a system to ensure the automatic gearbox's oil pressure is maintained for those 'we're going to stop, no hang on - we're off again' moments at junctions and roundabouts.
Other upgrades for the 2012 model year include reshaped seats, and various active safety and comfort system upgrades.