The all-new Jaguar XF was revealed while performing a high-wire water crossing across London on 24 March, one week ahead of its public motor show debut in New York on 1 April 2015. The feat took place high over the Royal Dock in London’s Canary Wharf. Footage of the drive can be viewed here: All-New Jaguar XF Revealed in a High-Wire Drive
Exteriors
The next generation XF is completely new from the ground up and will be the second Jaguar model after the XE to use the brand’s advanced aluminium-intensive architecture, which, according to the brand, endows it with a class-leading weight: 80kgs lighter than the competition*. Featuring 75 per cent aluminium, the architecture enables weight savings of up to 190kg over the outgoing model and an increase in torsional stiffness of up to 28 per cent. Though 7mm shorter and 3mm lower than the car it replaces, the all-new XF’s 2,960mm wheelbase is 51mm longer, enabling extra rear seat space with more legroom, kneeroom and headroom.
The XF’s silhouette has been maintained in many ways, and the distinctive, coupe like profile continues. According to Ian Callum, Director of Design, the profile is a subtle nod to Jaguar being predominantly a sports car manufacturer. The front is evolutionary and typical Jaguar fare, while the all-new XF is also the first Jaguar to offer full-LED headlights. The rear reminds us of the XE, especially in the tail lamps.
The cabin utilizes a blend of contemporary luxury materials and finishes, all put together with traditional Jaguar craftsmanship. Infotainment and connectivity is managed by the all-new InControl Touch Pro system which features a 10.2-inch touchscreen and Dual View technology which simultaneously allows the driver to see information such as navigation, while the front seat passenger watches TV or a DVD. InControl Touch Pro features a solid-state drive and a quad-core processor, and runs on state-of-the-art, ultra-fast Ethernet – a next-generation network offering exceptional data transfer rates. Complementing InControl Touch Pro is a reconfigurable 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster.
*Ingenium four-cylinder diesel 163PS with manual transmission
Engines
The all-new XF will be driven by power-trains ranging from a 163 PS Ingenium diesel to the range-topping 380 PS V6 supercharged petrol. The 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel engines are available in 163PS/380Nm and 180PS/430Nm ratings and are offered with six-speed manual- and eight-speed automatic transmissions. In 163PS manual form, the all-new XF delivers 104g/km CO2 and is the lightest, most efficient non-hybrid diesel model in the segment, according to Jaguar.
All other engines are matched exclusively to eight-speed automatic transmissions. The 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection petrol engine develops 240PS/340Nm, while the range-topping 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol engine will be offered in both 340PS/450Nm and 380PS/450Nm ratings.
Jaguar adds that the 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel benefits from a host of advanced technologies which boost efficiency and refinement still further, and raise output to 300PS and a generous 700Nm of torque.
Suspension and Dynamics
The new XF rides on double wishbone and Integral Link suspension, and features a near-50:50 weight distribution. Suspending duties are aided by advanced passive damper technology which comes as standard, but the optional Adaptive Dynamics system determines the optimum damper settings for the driving conditions. Furthermore, there’s Jaguar Configurable Dynamics, first developed for F-TYPE, and enables the driver to individually tailor settings of the dampers, steering, engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. The Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) promises to live up to the XF’s benchmark steering feel and response.
For select markets which demand all-wheel drive (AWD), Jaguar has engineered a new torque on-demand system. The transfer case uses a chain drive instead of gears and is lighter, quieter and more efficient. Other dynamic aids include Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD), a control system first used in F-TYPE AWD, which delivers rear-drive handling with the performance and traction benefits of AWD; All-Surface Progress Control, developed for low-speed driving in adverse conditions, automatically manages the brakes and the throttle to deliver the best possible traction, enabling the car to pull away smoothly and without drama: the driver only has to steer.
The all-new aluminium-intensive Jaguar XF will be manufactured at Jaguar Land Rover’s Castle Bromwich Plant alongside the all-aluminium F-TYPE and XJ. Full technical details, images and film of the all-new XF will be available on 01 April 2015. Watch and hear Ian Callum, Director of Design at Jaguar, talk about the styling of the new XF:
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