
Ready to pounce, ready
to play...

Note the new JaguarDrive Selector
on the center console
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IT'S HERE !
Well, almost... it's coming to a showroom
near you in the spring of 2008 as a 2009 model but Jaguar just unveiled
it's all new XF saloon which will premiere at the upcoming Frankfurt
International Auto show.
And this is really an all new car... it's not
a makeover of an existing model, it's not a redesign, it is truly
an all new Jaguar which hopefully will give the brand a shot in
the arm and regain the ground it lost over the past few years.
Jaguar gave us a good idea of the
things to come when it unveiled the C-XF concept earlier this year
and it became clear that Jaguar designers had been given the all
clear to design an attractive and exciting all new saloon to replace
the nice but not so exciting S-type. Jaguar Design Director Ian
Callum calls the XF "a personal journey" for him, and
"a career goal to return Jaguar to its rightful place as leader
in automotive design".
Like the concept, the new XF is sporty and muscular;
it looks like it's ready to pounce on it's prey like a good Jaguar!
Despite its aggressive look, the XF styling remains clean and fresh,
without resorting to crease and clashing lines like so often seen
on the competition... Despite having coupe like lines the interior
space is impressive and offering a spacious cabin to its five passengers
and a 17.6 cu.ft. of boot space; to increase flexibility the rear
seats can fold down as well. Compared to its direct competitors
(Audi A6, Mercedes E Class and BMW 5 series) the XF is slightly
longer and wider.
In the US, the XF will be available with either
a 4.2 liter normally aspirated V8 (300hp/310lb/ft) or its 420hp
/ 408 lbft supercharged sibling; both engines are well know and
proven in the XJ, XK and S-type. Like current Jaguars the transmission
will be the automatic ZF 6 speed with adaptive gear changing although
the XF will be the first car to feature Jaguar's new JaguarDrive
Selector which will provide full control of the transmission standard
or sport shifting modes as well as manual shifting with sequential
paddle shifters. In European markets the XF will be available with
a 240hp 3.0 litre V6 as well as a sophisticated twin turboed V6
Diesel which offers more torque than the normally aspirated V8 engine.
Like the XJ and XK, the XF uses the latest technology
yet without invading the driver with over the top and distracting
systems. Jaguar electronic push button parking brake, extensive
air bag system, Adaptive Cruise Control, two stage Dynamic Stability
Control and a new Understeer Control Logic.
Jaguar engineers spent a lot of time refining
the XF shape in the wind tunnel adjusting the roof line and boot
shape to optimize its stability and efficiency resulting in a drag
coefficient of only 0.29.
Performance will be similar to the current Jaguars
with 0-60 times of 6.2 seconds for the normally aspirated version
and 5.1 for the "R" version. European models will reach
60mph in very honorable 7.7 seconds with the diesel engine and 7.9
for the petrol V6.

Above : C-XF Concept
which gave us clues to the newly
unveiled production XF (below)

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Brakes and suspension are identical on all "non
R" models, with 17 or 18" wheels, 326mmx20mm discs and
unequal length wishbone front / multi link rear. The R model will
have 20" wheels, Jaguar's Computer Adaptive Technology Suspension
with electronically controlled dampers and 355mm front discs to
keep the extra power under control .
Detailed interior specs have not been announced
yet but you can expect the new cat to sport a luxuriously crafted
interior featuring more real wood than in any Jaguar since the
the Mark II including Satin American Walnut, Burr Walnut and a
very modern, straight-grained Rich Oak, all blended with aluminum
trim giving a modern touch.
Prices for the new XF will announced in November
and expected to be in the same range as the current S-type it
will replace. While no announcement has been made, 2008 is expected
to be the final year for the S-Type which was Jaguar's first medium
sized saloon in 30 years when launched in 1999. And don't be surprised
if Jaguar pulls the plug on the moribund X-type as well, focusing
entirely on the triple X lineup : XF, XJ and XK.
To learn more about the new Jaguar XF, visit www.jaguarXF.com

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