Wheels

FIRST DRIVE

Redesigned bumper
and headlights

Large alloys for an

immersive driving

experience

Tucked on the centre

console for a truly

minimal dashboard feel

passengers without any issues, the two
in the rear would surely enjoy maximum
comfort with the chair’s ‘sunken in’
design (‘deeply scalloped’ according
to Director of Design, Ian Callum) that
hugs both passengers individually and
at the same time, providing a good
amount of legroom. Reading light comes
standard as well, together with ISOFIX,
child-safety lock and curtain airbags.
The XF is powered by a four-cylinder,
2.0-litre turbocharged powerplant,
similar to the Jaguar Land Rover unit
seen in the Evoque, Discovery Sport,
XF and XJ and is mated to a ZF-sourced
8-speed automatic ‘box. Figure-wise
though, the XF has been given a slight
bump; power output is 237bhp (@
5,500rpm) while maximum torque of
340Nm is readily available from as low
as 1,750rpm (XE: 200bhp, 280Nm). It
sprints from standstill to 100km/h in
seven seconds flat and will pull away
to a maximum speed of 248km/h.
With clever use of aluminium
and steel in its construction, Jaguar
managed to keep the car’s kerb weight
below 1.6-tonnes; 1,590kg to be
precise. Mind you, that is significantly
lighter than the 528i’s 1,645kg.
That contributes a lot to the
display of the XF’s liveliness. For
added exhilaration, switch to the

Prestigious, sporty

and definitely

snappy, truly a

cat on the prowl

22 // March 2016