DAMASCUS, Md. (Marketwatch) Jaguar's new XF coupe looks nothing like Jags of old, and yet there are touches of Aston Martin and other brands in its styling. Others see Lexus clues here and there.
While tastes can vary from viewer to viewer, we saw a very striking design that we think brings Jaguar solidly into the modern era.
There are two engine combinations offered. The base model comes with a 4.2-liter, 90-degree V8, that produces 300 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Maximum torque is 310 lb.-ft. at 4,100 rpm. The upscale model adds supercharging to the same engine and that boosts horsepower to 420 and torque to 413 lb.-ft. at 4,000 rpm. Our test car had the latter combination.
Virtually silent out on the road until your right foot gets itchy, the XF takes off with a refined roar from under the hood and a zero to 60 time of 5.1 seconds, according to Jaguar. The 6-speed automatic does a good job on its own, but drivers might be even happier with the lightning fast paddle shifters.
While we do not think gas mileage is a big deal in this price range, you should know the EPA rates the combination at 15-23 miles per gallon of premium. Top speed is 155, best accomplished at your nearby track.
We would give the XF high marks for ride quality. It absorbed the bumps and bruises of Washington, D.C. streets with nary a quiver. Some testers have reported squeaks and rattles in their vehicles, but that was not the case in ours. The test car seemed very solid and slamming the doors resulted in a satisfying thunk.
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Right at home on interstates, the Jag could also take on twisty back roads, but, in our opinion, never seemed happy doing it. We felt the suspension, with upper and lower A-arms and coil springs up front and multilinks to the rear was on the soft side. While body lean was well controlled, steering feel was on the numb side in our test car. In reality, the XF handled better than you might think judging from the feedback we were getting from the steering wheel and suspension.
Out on the road the car was generally quiet, but strangely, not quite as quiet at the Hyundai Genesis that we recently had out for a test drive. While the Genesis goes for roughly half the cost, you don't get the leaping Jaguar on the rear deck.
Posh and sophisticated were the terms that best described the interior of the XF. It was beautifully finished off with leather and wood that certainly would make the owner feel that his $60,000 was well spent.
The instrument cluster was easy to read in all lighting conditions, and the Jag's touch panel for navigation, audio and other functions was easy to use. In addition, there were controls on the steering wheel and below the touch panel for sound and air.
Jazzy touches included interior lighting that senses your finger and switches on. The same is supposed to work with the glove box but sometimes did not. A giant knob that you use to shift gears rises out of the center console when you start the engine. And a pretty blue lighting scheme baths the interior after dark. Very nice!
Our biggest complaints inside were a silver panel on the left side of the center console that sent bad sun reflections into the driver's eyes. The seats lacked side support and were too flat for most riders to achieve anything beyond about an 80 percent comfort level, despite an abundance of controls.
A 6-foot-tall passenger can sit behind a 6-foot-tall driver, but only for short distances, unless the driver is willing to move his seat forward.
The Bowers and Wilkins audio system was one of the best we have ever heard, delivering deep bass and crisp midrange and high notes. Jag says it comes with Kevlar speakers so it must be bulletproof, too.
The bottom line for our supercharged cat came to $66,675, including $2,200 for a truly silly Adaptive Cruise Control that will automatically maintain your speed and distance from the car in front of you. However, Jag warns in its owner's manual "it is the driver's responsibility to stay alert, drive safely, and be in control of the vehicle at all times." That part we agree with so why not save twenty-two-hundred bucks?
Of more interest, was the "TracDSC" that should make it easier for owners in the Snow Belt to get around this winter.
Bottom line on the new Jag? It's a gentleman's sporty car with slick styling and lots of luxury inside. We would like to see new owner, Tata Motors, up the sports-car factor by about 50 percent in the new XF. That would be a car we would like to say "Ta-ta" in.
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