Advance Into The Front Row

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Advance Into The Front Row
Advance Into The Front Row

Video: Advance Into The Front Row

Video: Advance Into The Front Row
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The leap in design was only bigger with the current BMW seven series. Jaguar cuts off old braids and wants to play with the new XF in the first row of luxury sedans.

By Stefan Grundhoff

The popular S-Type with its retro charm, reminiscent of the MK - that was yesterday. Notwithstanding the tough change of ownership from Ford to Tata, Jaguar is determined to move into a modern future. Inspired by the success of the XK sports car, the new XF as the successor to the S-Type is sportier and more straightforward than ever. Its design as a mixture of Jaguar, Lexus and Aston Martin meets the ravages of time. Because four-door coupés have been trendy since the Mercedes CLS, Maserati Quattroporte and in anticipation of the VW Passat CC, Porsche Panamera or Fisker Karma.

Similarities no coincidence

The design similarities between XK and XF are no accident. The sideline, the diagonal rear view, the same inclination of the front and rear windows: technically, the four-door XF is based on the same platform as the British casual coupé from the pen of head of design Ian Callum, which celebrated its world premiere two years ago. With a length of 4.96 meters, it is one of the longest in the luxury class dominated by the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6.

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If you think of these competitors, the Jaguar XF should come to mind, especially in the volume markets in the USA, Great Britain and Germany. It is not enough for the British with the Indian adoption process to impress with sporty elegance and as the second manufacturer after Mercedes to bring the coupé idea into the class of four-door luxury sedans with the CLS.

Good driving dynamics

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When it comes to driving dynamics in particular, the new XF wants to impress. The development team around Mike Mohan succeeded in doing this. Even with the optional 19- and 20-inch wheelsets, the 1.8-tonne Brit makes a confident, comfortable and equally convincing picture of driving dynamics. The adaptive damper system CATS is reserved for the 416 HP supercharged SV8. If you are looking for sportiness and don't shy away from a stately thirst for petrol, you should opt for the magnificent XF 4.2 V8. 298 PS strong and perfectly combined with the six-speed automatic, the 19-inch version offers the best symbiosis of comfortable and sporty, cruiser and curve chaser, sedan and coupé.

In contrast to large parts of the competition, the XF is only offered with a standard six-speed automatic transmission that goes perfectly with the V8 petrol engine. The smooth steering is precise, but could give a little more feedback from the road surface at a brisk pace.

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Most customers will opt for the XF 2.7d, which is excellently dampened and is the best compromise, especially if you also have fuel consumption in mind. "We expect a diesel share of just over 70 percent in Germany," explains Jaguar Germany Managing Director Jeffrey L. Scott. 152 kW / 207 PS strong and with 435 Nm torque equally well equipped for climbs and overtaking maneuvers, Jaguar promises an economical 7.5 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers with its twin turbo. But the driving performance from 0 to 100 km / h in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of almost 230 km / h should not satisfy all customers as the only diesel variant in the high-horsepower competitive environment. The gently purring six-cylinder should therefore get a power boost with a corresponding increase in displacement next year. Jaguar fans will have to wait some time for new high-tech engines with direct injection and turbo gasoline engines.

Generous space

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The space in the Jaguar XF is generous because of the long wheelbase of 2.91 meters. At the front, the rear-wheel drive car could use a little more shoulder and knee width. Here, too, you can feel the coupé genes. In contrast to its predecessor, the Jaguar S-Type, there is now plenty of free space for the occupants in the second row. Despite the coupé-like roof line, people up to 1.85 meters don't have to worry about their hair dryer. The trunk is downright opulent and with 540 to 960 liters of storage space, it offers more space than any other Jaguar.

When it comes to the interior, Jaguar has been on the right track since the introduction of the new XK. The new XF is another step in the right direction. When the engine is started, a shiny controller drives silently out of the center tunnel, via which the individual speed levels can be selected. The rest is done via the steering wheel paddles or completely automatically. Large parts of the operation run via the touchscreen, the work processes of which often take some time. With the additional control units for air conditioning, driving aids or the steering column levers, however, one would want more value from a limousine in the 50,000 to 80,000 euro class.

The Ford dodging seems to have not been entirely driven out with the turn signal levers and air conditioning wheels. In contrast to the baroque interior of the S-Type, the XF is, apart from that, more attractive and more contemporary than ever. However, the bluish illumination of the instruments should not suit everyone's taste.

Starting price 49,370 euros

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The base price for the solidly equipped Jaguar XF 2.7d Luxury is 49,370 euros. Much more interesting for most interested parties is the complete premium luxury equipment variant. The entry-level diesel costs 54,380 euros as well as the less market-relevant 3.0 V6. The powerful eight-cylinder engines start at 62,180 (V8) and an impressive 80,820 euros (SV8). The list of standard equipment includes equipment lists such as electric leather seats, 17-inch aluminum rims, electronic parking brake, cruise control, Bluetooth interface and precious wood. Optionally there is a cruise control, overtaking assistant and voice control for navigation and car phone. The generally obligatory fog lights are not even available for an extra charge. In their place, the front apron is decorated with two chrome clips.

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