The Jaguar XF now has the S version powered by a 3.0-litre diesel. We can’t help admiring the beauty of this Jag
Doubtless, it is a stunning looking machine. The sleek headlights bejewelled with the LEDs in a J-shape do the job of lending aggression while the chrome mesh grille in the centre gives the car its amazing classic character
The demand for luxury cars is on the rise in the country. There are several German cars that are vying for high sales figures in this segment and, while they are at it, there is one car-maker that is slowly yet steadily trying to claim its share of the pie: Jaguar.
The name itself conjures up the image of a classic looking car with sleek lines, a flowing design, in short, a piece of art and craftsmanship. There is nothing wrong in it. Jaguars are beautiful and imposing. The xf s that we had for review last month was no exception.
The Jaguar xf has been around for quite some time. however, with a new 3.0-litre diesel engine being installed in the xf now, it was about time we took it out for a spin to check where it really stood. But before getting to how the engine is and how the car performs, we cannot help admiring this car for its looks. doubtless, it is a stunning looking machine, especially in the white colour that we had on test. The sleek headlights bejewelled with the leds in a J-shape do the job of lending aggression while the chrome mesh grille in the centre gives the car its amazing classic character. its swooping roof-line that gels into the boot lid seamlessly has its own charm; it makes you believe that this is a sporty machine without bothering to know what kind of performance is puts up. at the rear are the tail-lights that sharply extend on to the boot lid. fine details like a slit behind the front wheel arch topped by chrome Jaguar badging add grace to the xfs.
There is whole lot of craftsmanship inside the Jag that will make anyone go weak in the knees. The cabin has an excellent combination of aluminium finish, wood trim and leather in the right proportion and in the right places, speaking of elegance in the best manner possible. The dashboard is clean and free from clutter of buttons or controls. air-conditioner and music controls have been placed on the centre wall, which also plays host to the gear selector dial.
An interesting feature seen here are the a-c vents, which open up in a rotational movement, and the gear selector rotary dial that pops out when the keyless ignition button is pressed. The Jaguar’s wide-open mouth on the steering wheel continuously reminds you what you are driving. The instrument cluster is backlit in turquoise and so is the lighting in the cabin that offers an extremely soothing ambience.
under the hood of the xf s is a 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbocharged oil burner that produces 275 Ps of peak power at 4,000 revs and a highly exciting 600 nm of torque at just 2,000 rPm. The twin turbocharger used by Jaguar in the xf s is different from what the others use. The V6 has a variable geometry turbocharger that does the duty all the time while the smaller fixed geometry remains unused. The secondary turbo kicks in only after 2,800 rPm to give the extra punch. This way, the V6 makes its own contribution towards better fuel efficiency.
coming back to the performance of the xf s, 600 nm and 275 Ps are class-leading figures that translate into 8.03 seconds for a run from standstill to 100 km/h. furthermore, this Jaguar does a quarter mile in 15.59 seconds and goes on until 250 km/h, where its speed has been electronically limited. The V6 has been mated to a six-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox.
In the ‘D’ mode, the Jaguar XF S is a typical luxury saloon with a lightly weighted steering and a soft suspension. This, on everyday drives as well as on long highway journeys, turns out to be the comfortable way of being on wheels. However, those looking for a little more sportiness from their saloon have the option of shifting to the ‘S’ mode that offers a stiffer suspension set-up, heavier steering, quicker gearshift and more revving. In this setting, the Jag feels a lot more composed in corners. Turning in is quicker and more precise, which also allows getting on to the throttle a little earlier than what you would be comfortable with in the ‘D’ mode. However, the ride quality deteriorates a little in this case and is evident on uneven road surfaces like the cement surface of the expressway that we drove on between Pune and Mumbai.
For those who really crave for high-end performance as regards handling and cornering abilities, there is an additional Dynamics Pack available as an option on the XF S. The Adaptive Dynamics offered in this pack can be activated with a button on the centre wall near the rotary selector dial. Once the Adaptive Dynamics is working, it obtains data in terms of speed, steering and general body movement 500 times per second and accordingly does all the necessary adjustments to the suspension to bring out the most precise handling. Also, once in the ‘S’ mode with the Adaptive Dynamics working, the transmission gives you full control of the gearshifts by revving all the way till its 5,000 limiter and stays there until you shift manually with the paddles behind the steering wheel. Without the Dynamic mode activated, the auto ‘box shifts cleverly at approximately 4,000 RPM.
Thus, the Jaguar XF S looks like a good package. It has a very contemporary design that makes it stand out in a crowd. The interior is classic and plush. The performance is decent and the car does get sporty whenever asked for. There are various driving aids available too, such as cruise control and electronically adjustable speed limiter. The only issue we came across in the XF S was for the rear seat passengers, who have a little less headroom due to the coupé like roof-line and also little visibility through the windows. Apart from that, there is barely anything that you would complain about.
However, its price gives you enough reason to think twice if you would want to buy the XF S. At Rs 69 lakh (OTR, Pune), the Jaguar is ridiculously more expensive than its competitors. And though the XF S is a beautiful car with a good engine and a good drive, there is barely anything that is extraordinary as compared to the other offerings in this segment for which you would want to pay that 20-25 per cent extra.
Story: Adhish Alawani
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
