Jaguar XF History
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The Jaguar XF is the replacement for the former Jaguar S-Type, a sedan developed along with the Lincoln LS under Jaguar's former owners, Ford Motor Company. The XF is a heavily reworked version of that older car, but with an amazing newfound sense of style--not to mention stunning new levels of performance.With a base price from the high $40,000s lurching into the $80,000 range, the Jaguar XF finds competition in the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the new Infiniti M56.
As a Concept C-XF, first shown at the 2007 Detroit auto show, the Jaguar XF broke from Jaguar heritage with clean, modern lines and a reinvented cabin with glitzy touches of chrome and aluminum--and a rotary shift dial replacing the J-gate shifter found in classic Jaguars. Most of the details made it into the production version, which bowed at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show.
In its radical transformation, the XF gained a svelte new shape that’s as modern and cutting-edge as any sedan in its
class--and it sports an interior worthy of a Virgin Airlines cabin,
with aluminum and wood trim and a techno-groovy shifter knob. If possible, the XF's cabin delights drivers even more than the
exterior. It seems to have been lifted from the front desk at a chic
London hotel.
In its first year, the XF offered a choice of normally aspirated or supercharged 4.2-liter V-8 engines, with 300 horsepower and 420 hp, respectively. In other markets, diesel engines were made available.
In the 2010 model year, Jaguar upgraded the engine lineup for the XF to include 5.0-liter V-8 engines. The 300-horsepower, 4.2-liter V-8 carried over from the first-year sedan was joined a 385-hp 5.0-liter V-8, and in the XFR by a 510-hp supercharged 5.0-liter V-8. A sole
six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters works with all
three. Apart from its German competitors, the XF's performance ranges from blinding to lurid--a performance-perfect difference from the old S-Type. Steering is light but direct and full of feel, and the XF feels planted and well-controlled in most circumstances.
The big criticisms than can be leveled against the two-year-old XF are its rear seat space and its lack of the all-wheel-drive option found on most of its direct competition. It's truly tiny in back, with cramped leg space and no head room to spare for adults. Balanced handling makes up for the AWD option, but the XFR's huge power demands expert attention, even with its stability control systems.
