By: Denis Droppa
Gauteng - The first-generation XF was a game changer for Jaguar.
In one big-bang reinvention the car with which it replaced the S-Type brought the brand out of the stiff-upper-lip gentlemen’s club and into the scope of younger, more tech-savvy customers. Yet it still retained a very different vibe to German rivals such as the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6.
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It was in the very progressive coupe-like styling, and the way traditional Jaguar craftsmanship blended with new-age gadgets such as the rotary gearshift controller raising itself from its hiding place and the air vents that rotated into the open position when you started the car.
Gone in an instant was the musty, old-school Jaguar character and this was carried forward in the models that followed: the F-Type, the XJ and the recently-launched XE, the baby of Jaguar’s range.
Now that the big reinvention has taken place, the second-generation XF launched in South Africa this week fortifies Jag’s new ethos rather than going for another big-bang effect.
It’s very much an evolutionary reworking, sporting a longer wheelbase, more interior space, better aerodynamics, and nimbler handling thanks to aluminium replacing steel in its construction.
With three quarters of its body made of aluminum the new XF is up to 190kg lighter than the outgoing model. At the same time torsional stiffness has been improved by 28 percent, which makes the car feel more solid and also handle better.
That lighter new body looks more like a facelift than an all-new car. You’ll notice the tail lights are pointier than the old XF’s, the slightly reshaped headlights are now available as full LED units if you pay extra (the all-new XF is also the first Jaguar to offer adaptive full-LED headlights), and a tape measure will reveal the car’s slightly shorter but has a longer wheelbase; otherwise it’s all very familiar.
FEEL RIGHT AT HOME
Things have taken a more noticeable restyling in the cabin but current XF owners will still feel right at home with the rotary gearshift knob that glides up when you start the car.
Though 7mm shorter and 3mm lower than the original XF, the stretched wheelbase has increased space in the rear seats. The body’s also been aerodynamically honed so that the drag coefficient has dropped from 0.29 to just 0.26.
Jag’s new business sedan gets some optional high-tech such as active cruise control, lane assist, a head-up display, and semi-automated parking, but these are features that rival cars have had for some time and the XF is playing technological catch-up rather than innovating.
For a car that made such a big splash in its first incarnation, it’s a little disappointing to see version two taking relatively baby steps into the future, especially since the competition certainly isn’t standing still. Indeed, the new-generation Mercedes E-Class blows the XF out of the water, technologically speaking.
Clearly Jaguar is counting on its ‘differentness’ to attract buyers, rather than trying to outdo its German rivals on technology and price.
Ah yes, the pricing. With the rand taking a hammering against the pound there’s been a huge hike. Where the old model range retailed from R638 000 to R919 000, getting a new-generation XF into your garage will cost you anything from R715 000 to R1 187 000, and in most cases a similarly powered and specced Audi A6, BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E-Class will cost less.
EIGHT-SPEED AUTO
Mechanically there have been some changes to Jag’s executive sedan too. All XF derivatives now have an eight-speed automatic transmission (previously six), but as before the power’s fed rearwards after being filtered through stability control and brake-based torque vectoring. Jaguar Drive Control offers Standard, Eco, Dynamic and Winter modes, each subtly altering the steering and throttle responses.
At the bottom of the range the old 147kW/450Nm 2.2 turbodiesel engine’s made way for a two-litre turbodiesel with reduced outputs of 132kW/430Nm. A factory-quoted 0-100km/h acceleration of 8.1 seconds, along with a claimed 4.3 litres per 100km, make it the best all-rounder of the range but for perkier performance there are also two petrol choices.
These, as before, are a 177kW/340Nm two-litre turbo (which carries a 25t badge) and a three-litre supercharged V6. The latter is now available in two outputs: the XF 35t R-Sport sends 250kW and 450Nm to the rear wheels, while the top-of-the-range XF S gets a full 280kW and 450Nm for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.3 seconds (a tenth better than the R-Sport). Each supercharged V6 model has a 250km/h governed top speed.
All versions come standard with dual zone climate control, a cooled glovebox, cruise control, a Bluetooth/USB audio system, a capacitive touchscreen infotainment system, and parking aids. Range-wide safety is supplied by a full stash of airbags (front, side and curtain), stability control, torque vectoring, and ABS brakes.
However, you’ll have to go to the Portfolio or S model to get items such as electrically adjustable front seats, navigation, a fancier Meridian sound system, and a rear-view camera.
ACTIVE SAFETY
Active safety features such as lane keeping assist and active cruise control are all extra-cost options, as is the semi-automated parking aid (it steers itself and you only control the throttle and brakes).
Adaptive Dynamics, which varies the suspension stiffness according to driving conditions, is standard on the flagship XF S, and optional on all other derivatives.
I drove three versions of the XF for relatively short stretches at last week’s Gauteng-based media launch. I fould the diesel smooth but a tad languid, and couldn’t really feel that the car has actually been lightened.
The supercharged V6 was far more responsive and accelerated like a sports sedan, while the two-litre petrol turbo felt brisk but didn’t make a particularly nice noise, just a banal four-cylinder sound.
The ride quality of all versions was good and the lengthened wheelbase prevented any choppiness, even on bumpy tar. There wasn’t much chance to test the handling on the mostly straight Gauteng roads, but the electrically-powered steering felt sharp and responsive, without feeling too light.
Watch this space for a full Jaguar XF road test soon.
JAGUAR XF PRICES:
20d Prestige - R714 800
20d R-Sport - R782 700
25t Prestige - R755 153
25t R-Sport - R822 953
25t Portfolio - R856 253
35t R-Sport - R1 045 503
XF S - R1 186 803