When Jaguar launched the XF in 2008 it helped re-invent the classic British brand and introduce it to a new generation of buyers. But despite its distinctive style and impressive dynamics, the XF has failed to make a real impact against its German rivals.
Mercedes-Benz and BMW still hold a significant advantage in the sales race but Jaguar is hoping that its updated 2012 model will help close the gap.
The biggest reason for hope is the addition of a four-cylinder turbo diesel that opens up a huge part of the market; Jaguar says four-cylinder's make up as much as 49 per cent globally in the class.
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Squeezing the throttle open on the autobahn heading south from Munich, the 2.2-litre oil-burner quietly builds speed.Two things immediately become obvious. The first is that the four-cylinder has adequate power for the task, but nothing more, lacking the punch of the bigger V6 turbo diesel. The second is just how quiet and refined the engine sounds.
That’s arguably the biggest surprise of the XF 2.2 because the engine is shared with the Land Rover Freelander2. In that car, the engine is a lot noisier and has a typical diesel rattle, especially when compared to its direct German rivals.
Jaguar says it invested a great deal of money in re-designing parts for improved sound-deadening, and it also had to engineer the engine to mount it the other way (compared to the Freelander2).
In terms of performance, the engine produces only 140kW but a healthy 450Nm. That’s enough to launch the XF 2.2 from 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 225km/h. Fuel consumption is a claimed 5.4L/100km on the combined cycle.
Another reason for the improved refinement and good economy is the adoption of the eight-speed automatic gearbox. It replaces the six-speed auto in the diesel models, but the old unit remains in the V8 petrol and supercharged V8 XFR.
The eight-speed transmission is also combined with a new stop-start system for further economy benefits, which Jaguar claims is the first of its kind, offering restarts up to 40 per cent faster than stop-start systems seen in competing models. It has been specially tuned to re-fire the engine is a fraction of a second if it senses the driver has changed their mind.
Unfortunately, our test drive of the car didn’t take us through much stop-start traffic, but overall the impression of the Jaguar system was good, but not significantly better than its competitors. We’ll reserve final judgement for when we drive it under local conditions.
One major unchanged element of the new cheaper XF is the chassis tuning. The XF won plenty of fans with its nice blend of composed road holding and comfortable ride and, wisely, the brand has not messed with a good thing.
What Jaguar has managed to improve is the XF’s looks. The updated model showcases the brand's new styling direction, giving it a fresher, more modern appearance than the previous version.
Everything forward of the windscreen has been redesigned, with the most notable changes being new slimmer bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights. There are also unique bumper designs to differentiate the three different model types; standard, sports pack and XFR. The bonnet also features a new lip along the base of the windscreen to reduce wind noise.
The back of the car sports new tail-lights and has ditched the ‘Jaguar’ script in favour of the famous leaping cat badge. Apparently Jaguar design boss Ian Callum didn’t like the fact that the old XF design had been copied by other brands, including the new Ford Focus.
The XFR has been given a more aggressive look with a heavily sculpted bonnet with larger vents, after the last car was criticised by some for being too subtle.
“It was a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” says Wayne Burgess, Jaguar design director. “Now it’s a wolf in wolf’s clothing.”
Interior changes include new, more supportive seats as well as changes to the switchgear; although the new white-on-black buttons are easier to read they lack the same premium feel of the silver buttons on the old model.
Despite being the entry-level model in the range, the XF 2.2 is still well equipped, with Bluetooth connectivity and audio streaming, a 7-inch colour touch-screen, 10-speaker stereo with MP3 and iPod connectivity, leather and alcantara seats, leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors and 17-inch alloy wheels.
But what impresses as much as anything is the price, $78,900 (plus dealer and on road costs). That puts the XF 2.2 in a healthy position against its main rivals - the BMW 520d and the Mercedes-Benz E220 CDI - both of which are priced at $83,300.
Now all Jaguar has to do is convince buyers away from their tried and trusted German cars to get a taste of British luxury and economy.
XF 2.2
Price: $78,900
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 140kW
Torque: 450Nm
Fuel consumption: 5.4L/100km
Emissions: 149g/km
0-100km/h: 8.5seconds
Source: The Age
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