The new cat is set to claw back Jaguar's leading position in the prestige car stakes.
Next year's Jaguar XF is a critical car for the brand globally. The marque, synonymous with fast and beautiful cars, had lost its way, but the XF is preparing to turn the big cat's fortunes around.
Jaguar brought chief designer Ian Callum to Sydney for the local unveiling of the XF. Mr Callum; who penned the XK Jaguar and the Aston Martin DB9; says the design team was aware of what had to be done to bring Jaguar back.
“We set out to re-create a modern brand,” he says. “We knew what Jaguar was in the past; I fondly remember the Mark II, the E-Type and the XJ. It's not about copying the old ones; it's about understanding the real value of Jaguar.”
While proportion, stance and lines have all played a part in making the XF a striking machine, there is a little bit of history in this new cat.
“The grille is a look back at the original XJ6 and it's a personal favourite,” Mr Callum says.
Although the XJ and the XK were bonded aluminium bodies, the XF has reverted to a predominantly steel construction; albeit with some aluminium and magnesium components.
“We thought long and hard about that. It was a time issue mainly. We did some studies on it,” Mr Callum says. “There were some costs involved but we're not giving up on aluminium, but it adds six to nine months to the car production program.”
Sales volumes in Australia are down 18 per cent on 2006 figures, with 601 cars sold year-to-date.
Last year, the famous leaper emblem adorned just over 1000 new cars in Australia, down on the 1700 sold five years ago.
The XF will have to be a success, says Jaguar Australia general manager Dorian Lapthorne. He describes the XF as “a re-birth of an iconic brand” and the weight of expectation on XF is considerable.
Mr Lapthorne says the XF is unlikely to massively boost sales volumes but rather return the Jaguar brand to its forte; building beautiful fast cars.
The Australian allocation is only “several hundred” cars after its mid-2008 launch; with more than 80 already spoken for.
The brand is returning to its main focus after dabbling unsuccessfully in the smaller end of the luxury market with its X-Type sedan; touted as a BMW 3 Series killer and predicted to double Jag's worldwide volumes.
“It's fair to say it's not gone to plan. It's with us for a while yet,” Mr Lapthorne says.
“We introduced a car that we hoped would appeal to the younger segment but it didn't because of the styling. It was styled like an old-fashioned car.
“It appealed to those who fell in love with Jaguar 30 years ago but couldn't afford one until now, they loved it.”
Mr Lapthorne says the Australian arm of the company has nine months to launch this car and that will keep us busy.
“This is a critical car, no question. No one has shied away from that; if we don't get this right, then we will be running out of options in many ways as a business, but if you look at the car and the 80-car order bank, I think we got it right,” he says.
Mr Callum agrees: “You have to look at it against its competition. I do believe it's the best-looking and proportioned car in its class. Put it up against an A6, a 5 Series and E-Class and you'll see what I mean.”
Within the confines of an inner-city Sydney railyard warehouse, the XF has an impact, with handsome lines and a purposeful and elegant stance.
The interior looks snug, with plenty of leather and some flashes of timber.
It has a clean dash design; with an i-Drive-like button instead of a gearshift.
The cabin is deceptive, with enough room for me (at 190cm) to sit behind my own driving position.
Time will tell if Jaguar has made the grade with a new generation of cat lovers, but at least the folks at Browns Lance, Coventry (and Whitley, where the cars are now built) aren't recycling in a bad way.
Small torque
Jaguar XF
From: $100,000
Engine: 2.7-litre turbodiesel V6; three-litre V6; 4.2-litre V8; supercharged 4.2-litre V8.
Transmission: Six-speed auto, rear-wheel drive.
Power: 152kW, 175kW, 219kW, 306kW.
Torque: 435Nm, 293Nm, 411Nm, 560Nm.
0-100km/h/top speed: 8.2 seconds/229km/h, 8.3 seconds/237km/h, 6.5seconds/250km/h (limited), 5.4seconds/250km/h (limited).
Fuel consumption: 7.5 litres/100km, 10.5/litres/100km, 11.1 litres/100km, 12.6 litres/100km, tank 70 litres.
Emissions: 199g/km, 249g/km, 269g/km 299g/km.
Dimensions: Length 4961mm, width 1877mm, height 1460mm, wheelbase 2909mm, track fr/rr 1559/1605mm, boot 500 litres.
Weight: 1679kg-1842kg.
In its class
Audi A6: from $75,900.
BMW 5 Series: from $84,900.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class: from $88,000.
