Will the launch of the XF sedan breathe some much-needed new lives into the Jaguar brand?
Few manufacturers have lost more opportunities than the British marque, which has staged a series of largely disappointing product debuts under the tutelage of its U.S. parent, Ford Motor Company. Ironically, the model that could transform things for Jaguar, at least from early indications, may very well arrive just as Ford sells off the struggling Jaguar brand.
The XF is the much-needed replacement for the less-than-successful S-Type mid-size "saloon car." The outgoing car was expected to kick off a grand global expansion for Jaguar, but failed to build the anticipated momentum. The stylish XF, on the other hand, could very well be one of the hits of the Frankfurt show, by bringing back the sort of over-the-top styling that Jaguar was long known for.
"The key building blocks are in place and the XF is the next step," said Bibiana Boerio, Jaguar Cars Managing Director, after she commended the brand's high-ranked dealership network and very successful recent launch of the new XK sports cars, and introduced designer Ian Callum and the new XF sedan, shown in production form for the first time at the Frankfurt auto show.
Callum waxed poetic about the new XF, describing it as athletic and taut in appearance, yet simple in its design, with a single character line sweeping alongside the car and wrapping around, "the way a Jaguar should." Callum said that the XF sets a new direction for the next generation of Jaguar sedans. In it, Jaguar is placing a higher priority on materials and craftsmanship. According to Callum, the XF has more wood than any Jaguar since the MkII and has extensive stitched leather.
The end result is decidedly less radical than the C-XF concept shown at this year's Detroit show. But if it's any indication, Jaguar's Frankfurt stand was packed with members of the press, who overflowed the presentation area and then lingered for several hours afterward, waiting to check out the interior for themselves.
Jaguar certainly isn't playing it safe with the XF - as it did with the latest generation of its XJ flagship. The new four-door boasts a very coupe-like design that provides a blend of elegance and dynamic tension. It is a piece of jewelry in seemingly constant motion.
In many ways, the XF resembles the XK sports car, starting with the dramatic mesh grille. The windscreens on both cars are raked at the same angle. The high waistline rises to meet the coupe-like sedan's roof, a striking visual detail that also plays into the XF's efficient aerodynamics.
While classic Jaguars, such as the legendary E-Type, traditionally traded off functionality for style, designers have done a credible job of maintaining space and utility with the new XF. There's surprisingly good room for five adults, plenty of interior storage space, and the trunk holds 17.6 cubic feet of cargo. Add another 14.8 cu ft with the rear seats folded down.
Fire up the Frankfurt prototype and the JaguarDrive Selector rises to meet the driver's palm. Climate control vents automatically rotate out of their "parked" position.
In production, Jaguar intends to offer two powertrain packages, starting with a normally aspirated, 4.2-liter V-8. This 300-horsepower engine will launch from 0-60 in an estimated 6.2 seconds. The supercharged version of the V-8 will pump out 420 hp and charge to 60 in 5.1 seconds, according to Jaguar's initial estimate. Both engines have an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
The six-speed automatic uses new shift-by-wire technology that Jaguar claims will run gears faster than the brand's current speed-shifting king, the XK sports car.
Though we've yet to take the new car out onto the road, Jaguar officials claim the wide rear track will significantly enhance the new car's handling and dynamics.
Safety features will include dual front and side thorax bags for the front row and head curtains for both rows. Active safety features include Electronic Brake Assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Anti-lock Braking System, Dynamic Stability Control, Cornering Brake Control, and Engine Drag Torque Control. The new Understeer Control Logic will slow the car to help restore grip to the front wheels when needed.
A variety of audio systems all classify as audiophile quality, even the base package offering eight speakers and a subwoofer. The top-line version was designed for the XF by the British audio specialists, Bowers & Wilkins. Other standard or available electronic goodies include Bluetooth phone link, a built-in navigation system, Sirius satellite radio and built-in links for an iPod or another MP3 player.
The 14-speaker, 440-watt premium audio system was part of the draw at the Frankfurt show. The partnership between British loudspeaker manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins and Jaguar began before the XF was designed - an unusual opportunity - so engineers were able to leave space for speakers in their ideal positions for the Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system in the XF. The speakers used have unique Kevlar cones and metal-dome tweeter transducers, to eliminate standing waves and extend treble response, respectively.
The original S-Type took plenty of hits for its underwhelming interior, which has been upgraded several times since launch. The new mid-size model is decidedly more upmarket, with a much more contemporary blend of metals, woods and leather. The new JaguarSense lighting system features proximity switches that are supposed to be much easier to operate at night.
"It was time for Jaguar to be bold," declares Wayne Burgess, who oversaw the design of the XF.
Arguably, that time has come and might already be gone. Jaguar has fallen far, far short of its one-time sales and profit targets and now, as its parent struggles to raise much-needed cash, Ford has announced it is putting the British brand on the auction block - along with the other U.K. marque, Land Rover. A number of potential buyers have emerged, and intriguingly, each has found a former high-level Ford executive to help lead its due diligence efforts. That includes both one-time Ford CEO Jacques Nasser, as well as former Ford president Nick Scheele, who spent a number of years as Jaguar's CEO.
It's rare for one car to turn things around for a brand, but with the help of the XK, the new XF might be able to regain some much-needed momentum, and for whomever ultimately owns and operates Jaguar, that's going to be critical.
source: www.thecarconnection.com
