Jaguar is on a mission. No longer content with complacency, the British automaker owned by the Indians (a magnificent irony to cynics) has rolled out a pair of potent, brand new powertrains for its still-fresh XF flagship sedan to create the 2010 XF Premium and XFR.
Hold your comments: We know that the XF isn’t actually Jaguar’s flagship, at least as far as product positioning is concerned – that’s the XJ. But the XJ is out of production for a few months as Jaguar retools its assembly plants for an all-new, XF-inspired model, due to be shown this summer and set to arrive in dealers at the end of 2009.
The XF, introduced in 2008, embodies more flagship-like characteristics than the outgoing XJ ever did, especially now that Jaguar has shoehorned a pair of new engines under its svelte hood. Gone is the supercharged 4.2-liter V8 that powered the $63,000 range-topper at the XF’s launch just over a year ago. In its place is a pair of all-new 5.0-liter V8s that carry over just two parts from the old supercharged 4.2, a cylinder head bolt and a valvetrain tappet.
At the top, the new-for-2010 XFR features a 510-horse, 461 lb-ft. supercharged 5.0. Not surprisingly, it features a few sporty interior and exterior upgrades, as well as a revised suspension. The XF Premium, the mid-level model, comes with a naturally-aspirated, 385-horse, 380 lb-ft. version of that 5.0. The entry-level model carries over the 300-horse 4.2 from the 2008 and 2009.
This reshuffling has made Jaguar more competitive – at least on paper – with its German and Japanese rivals, most notably the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, Lexus GS and Infiniti M.
Fortunately, Jaguar chose not to significantly alter the XF’s style or underpinnings, for as we discovered on an early drive of the 2008, this svelte cat excels in both departments. Styled by Jaguar’s Ian Callum, a sensational designer who has been passionate about the brand since he wrote a letter to Jaguar requesting that, at 14, he be employed as a designer at the Coventry, England-based firm. It took a while for his dream to come true, but Callum is now in charge of Jaguar design and his long-term devotion to the products shows.
The XF is understated and elegant, but unlike the stately – fine, dated – XJ and the unsuccessful X-Type, it embodies no traditional design cues. That might put off some of Jaguar’s buyers, and though the automaker won’t admit it, that’s probably a good thing. Jaguar’s demographic prior to the XF’s arrival is best known for asking about the senior discount. The XF changed that quite a bit.
Styling is subjective, of course, but we can only nitpick two elements of the XF, the chrome wire-imitating grille, which seems a little too blingy, and the Lexus GS-esque C-pillars, which are a bit heavy and derivative to our eyes. The XF and XF Premium are visually identical; the XFR gains a subtle but unique bodykit and quad tailpipes, not to mention a few “R” badges.
Echoing the forward-thinking exterior design is a simple, fuss-free and, dare we say it, elegant interior. There’s not a single material that will make you question your decision to invest north of $60,000 into a luxury sedan; the XF is covered from head-to-toe in sumptuous leather and rich wood trim. This isn’t Jaguar luxury and elegance of yore, no, but it doesn’t take long to get used to the new Jaguar as envisioned by Callum.
The JaguarDrive Selector – a pop-up knob that you rotate to select a transmission gear – is an entertaining novelty, though like any new feature, it requires some acclimation. On the other hand, the touch-screen navigation, audio and climate control interface is simple and effective thanks in part to a “back” button to cycle through the menus. Why hasn’t anyone else thought of this? Though we tire of seeing more automakers integrate every interior control into a one screen system, we wouldn’t have much reason to complain if they all worked as well as Jaguar’s setup.
The optional Bowers and Wilkins audio system cranks out a reasonable 525 watts for 2010, a decent 85 watt bump over the 440 watt ‘09. You’d think Sony was working behind the scenes at Jaguar given the excessive wattage, but the system produces clear sound and tight bass – not ideal for hip-hop, but great for pretty much anything else. If it seems like just yesterday that 85 watts alone was impressive in a car, you’re not alone.
Inside, the XF and XFR are pretty much identical aside from trim colors and a pair of comfy sports seats on the high-zoot model. The XFR has unique wrapping on the steering wheel that looks good but doesn’t work quite as well; rotate the wheel and you’ll be brushed by the harsh stitching of the bottom spoke and integral “R” badge. It’s like nobody took it for a test drive.
That small caveat aside, the XF interior is about as good as it gets in this segment, so we were glad to see it has been mostly left alone for 2009.
Underhood motivation
We had the opportunity to sample both the 5.0-liter XF and the XFR in Provence, France, an area known for some of the most wonderful roads for those who actually enjoy driving. Sadly, most of the region’s smooth, winding roads are wasted on slow-moving, blue smoke-belching Peugeot 205 and Renault Clio hatchbacks. There’s another irony for you.
Surprisingly, we grew to appreciate the mid-level naturally-aspirated V8 more than the XFR. Though the extra power of the supercharged XFR didn’t go unnoticed – smoky burnouts are possible, even if they don’t seem like something we should be doing in such a car – we grew to prefer the flexibility of the naturally-aspirated V8 because it seemed so well matched to the capable and stiff chassis.
The midlevel, naturally aspirated V8 features an engaging, brilliantly engineered engine soundtrack that could have come from the house of Lucas – THX’s George, not the Lord of Darkness who kept the electronics from working properly in every Jaguar until the Ford takeover. Fortunately, there was more to the XF than its soundtrack; Jaguar designed the engine to make its power accessible at lower engine speeds, meaning that passing power was available with just a light tip of the throttle, rather than waiting for a downshift.
Noise-reduction tuning has all-but eliminated the XFR’s supercharger whine, which Jaguar deemed inappropriate for a luxury sedan, but in its place is a vague, unidentifiable mechanical clatter. Five years ago, it would have gone unnoticed, but in this ever-evolving class, the XFR’s engine experience didn’t quite feel as special to us as the BMW M5 or the Audi S6. Certainly, power wasn’t the problem; it was a lack of involvement with the powertrain. Moreover, the XFR’s power seemed to overcome the chassis that seemed so compliant yet tossable in the XF; firm things up a bit and Jaguar could have a winner here. Still, these are minor caveats in one of the most dynamically-impressive sedans ever created.
Truthfully, the difference in handling between the two cars was minimal. Both possess firm, beautifully weighted steering that’s just a bit soft on feel at turn in. Neither car was disturbed by the rare patch of bad pavement we encountered, though we actually preferred the 19-inch wheels to the optional 20s because they give up nothing in terms of handling prowess but they make the ride ever so much more supple.
The XFR’s performance is impressive, though it’s more akin to the torquey and refined Mercedes-Benz E63 than the four-door supercar BMW M5 and Audi S6. We wish Jaguar would make its reflexes a bit more harder-edged to best compete with its high-performance rivals.
That the midlevel XF offers as much performance as it does for a mere $5,000 investment over the base model is astounding; it is both more engaging and more refined than any of its rivals, though we haven’t had the opportunity to sample the all-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan. As the market stands, however, the 2010 XF is not just a must-see in its segment, it is a must-purchase for its nearly faultless interpretation of luxury performance. It’s a car that forces its rivals to make excuses for their weaknesses – and it left us wanting more and more opportunity to drive it.
2010 Jaguar XF Premium base price, $57,000. 2010 Jaguar XFR base price, $80,000.
Source : Leftlanenews
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