YEAR OF THE CAT
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Sun, Jun 1, 2008
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
© All photos by Harvey Schwartz
YEAR OF THE CAT
The all-new 2009 XF is a four-door Jaguar that fuses the style and performance
of a coupe-bodied sports car, with the refinement, space and sophistication of a
luxury sedan. The exterior styling is the first expression of Jaguar's new sedan
design language.
Resolutely true to the Jaguar philosophy of creating beautiful, fast cars, the
XF goes further, adding a new dimension to the marquee. The four-door has the
visual excitement of a coupe, but room inside for five adults to enjoy an
interior that is contemporary in style, comfortable, yet uniquely Jaguar.
The XF enters in the niche long occupied by Jaguar's S-Type. But unlike many
midsize premium sedans, the new car pushes boundaries away from the 'three box'
style and creates a four-door, five seat luxury sedan with strong coupe-like
lines.
Jaguar's new design language debuted with the XK sports car and is carried over
to the new XF, even utilizing the same windshield rake angles of the XK.
The car's visual emphasis is sporty, muscular and dynamic-a character defined by
a sweeping silhouette inspired by the XK, a powerful grille, dramatic side
window graphics, and strong shoulders. The rising waistline gives the car a much
higher tail providing twin benefits of much improved aerodynamic performance and
a larger trunk volume.
The car's Jaguar character is defined by its face-centered around a bold intake
grille that is quintessentially British. The one-piece HID clusters wrap around
the corners of the body onto the front wings. The front lower bumper includes
powerful air intakes, carrying chrome 'splitter' blades whose simple modern
lines evoke the technical, strongly engineered shape of a propeller blade.
The stance of the car is completely new for a Jaguar sedan and gives the car a
ready-to-pounce look.
The car's wide rear track not only enhances the handling and dynamic values of
the car but also reinforces the visual confidence of the new shape. The bright
signature blade, which proudly carrries the JAGUAR script, extends beyond the
trunk and into the taillamps. The LED taillamps wrap around onto the rear wings,
leading your eye out to the broad, muscular rear wheel arches. The wheels lie at
the corners with fenders sculpted to make them look like powerful, bulging
muscles. The XF is fitted with 18, 19, or the segments first 20in. alloy wheels
that have been engineered for the best combination of comfort and performance.
The exterior details have been designed as if they are finely crafted items of
jewelry. The distinctive bright aluminum finisher around the side window is
unusual in being a single-piece pressing and is an unmatched piece of
craftsmanship. The side extractor vents have the Jaguar name embossed on an
'ingot' bar across the center, while the venturi shape below the tail - which
hints at the car's sophisticated aerodynamics - is positioned about large,
stylized twin chrome tailpipes.
The car is unmistakably a Jaguar and its badging identifies it as such: a large,
growler badge is prominent on the front mesh grille, while adding the Jaguar
'leaper' to the rear boot lid is another powerful signature.
Relax inside and you are in a very special place indeed. There is space-more
than many will imagine given the XF's sports sedan design-but also the sense of
being in a perfectly-proportioned, agile car. There is comfort, but it is the
craftsmanship, materials and attention to detail that impressed me most.
New thinking on seating design-the front 14-way adjustable/cooled/heated leather
seats are deliberately sculpted and reduced in size but not comfort-liberates
space and makes access easier too.
Real wood - more than any Jaguar since the econic Mark II sedan in the 1960's -
underlines the luxurious interior. Even the car's Morzine headlining material is
a step up from conventional materials with the entire cabin roof and A-pillars
trimmed in this eye-catching finish.
Many features are invisible until needed - a different approach from carmakers
that push technology as a dominant interior theme. The rotating vents revolve
out of sight when they are not in use; the touch screen controls many features,
allowing mechanical buttons to be reduced to a discreet panel below the
navigation screen.
The center console has two large compartments with veneered lids. It has an
interface for an iPod or other MP3 player, and can take a 44-ounce cup and two
regular sized cups.
One feature that maximizes space efficiency is an industry first JaguarDrive
Rotary Gear Selector. Get into the car and the start button in front of the
Selector pulses red, like a heartbeat. Press the button to start and the cast
alloy Selector raises into the palm of your hand. Simultaneously, the navigation
system initializes to its home page and the rotating vents turn 180-degrees from
their flush, 'parked' position to their functional open position.
Phosphor blue mood or 'halo' illumination echoes the ambience you might find in
a favorite bar or restaurant. It surrounds the switch panels, console,
electronic parking brake, Rotary Gear Selector, overhead console, under the door
releases, and instrument cluster. The luxury theme continues with chrome
highlights on the column stalks.
The XF offers two levels of audio systems-a 320-watt Alpine system with nine
speakers and a subwoofer; and the extraordinary Bowers & Wilkins 440-watt
surround sound system with 14 speakers with remote subwoofer.
Standard interior features not mentioned above includes power up/down express
all-windows, central locking system, Jaguar Voice Commands, thick carpeting,
floor mats, grab handles above each door and variable-speed wipers.
The car moves with authority through its standard 300-horsepower, 4.2-liter
all-aluminum, DOHC, V8, or even quicker, with a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 making
420 horsepower. Both are mated to a smooth shifting six-speed sequential
transmission with paddle shifters on the three-spoke, leather, and power
tilt/telescoping, steering wheel. The four-wheel independent suspension is a
perfect blend of precise performance and a comfortable ride no matter the road
surface. Up front are unequal length wishbones with weight-saving aluminum
components, and the multi-link rear are both subframe mounted for maximum
control, including straight-line stability and strong anti-dive characteristics
under heavy braking.
The supercharged XF uses electronically controlled, two-stage, adaptive dampers
whose characteristics are automatically adjusted within milliseconds in response
to road conditions and your driving inputs, for the best balance between comfort
and control.
The variable ratio power-assisted steering system gives you instant response to
your inputs with great precision and feel for the road and excellent on-center
feel.
Quickly and safely slowing the XF down from speed are large, 12.83-inch vented
front and 12.83-inch vented discs, while the supercharged model gets larger
13.97-inch vented front discs.
Keeping you in control during your drive are standard ABS, Brake Assist,
Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Traction Control, Dynamic Stability
Control, Cornering Brake Control and Engine Drag Torque Control. For the first
time, the XF adds Understeer Control Logic, which mitigates understeer by
intervening through the engine management and braking systems to decelerate the
car and help restore grip to the front wheels.
During spirited driving adventures you can turn the DSC control off to achieve
more slip exiting tight turns.
Options available include rear camera parking assist, adaptive cruise control
and blind spot monitoring system.
The all-new 2009 Jaguar XF is a 'tour-de-force' in the premium, mid-size sedan
segment utilizing all-new sheet metal, a brilliantly designed and contemporary
interior with the latest in safety systems to keep you safe on your way.
© Words and pictures by Harvey Schwartz
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
It's the best thing to come out of Coventry in eons.
Find more at www.jaguarusa.com
More photos from Harvey Schwartz can be found at
www.autofotos.com
SPECIFICATIONS
Name of vehicle:
2009 Jaguar XF Premium Luxury
Price: $56,175.00
Engine:
4.2 liter, all-aluminum, DOHC V8
Horsepower:
300 at 6,000 rpm
Torque:
310 at 4,100 rpm
EPA estimated fuel consumption (city/highway):
16/25
Drive configuration:
Front engine/rear-wheel-drive
Transmission:
6-speed automatic with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters
Front suspension:
Unequal length double-wishbones, coil springs, gas-charged shock absorbers, 31
mm stabilizer bar
Rear suspension:
Independent, multi-links with gas-charged shocks absorbers, coil springs, 12.6
mm stabilizer bar
Wheels/tires:
19X8.5 aluminum alloy wheels/245/40R19in. summer high-performance tires
Brakes:
Front: 12.83 in. vented discs
Rear: 12.83 in. vented discs
ABS, Brake Assist, Electronic Brake Force Distribution
Overall length:
195.3 in.
Overall width:
80.8 in.
Overall height:
57.5 in.
Curb weight:
4,017 lbs.