2009 Jaguar XF – First Steer
June 22, 2009 by Anthony Crawford
Jaguar XFR and XF Diesel S – First Steer
Let’s deal with those nasty, out of date rumour mills before we move onto the really good stuff concerning these two new Jaguar XF variants.
Super smooth, super quiet and wickedly quick, Jaguar has pulled ahead of the German brands with these new XF cars.
Looks are always subjective, what looks good to some can be downright hideous to others, but I’m betting very few of you have a problem with the styling of the Jaguar XF.
Should you have such an issue, I can probably assist you with the proper medication.
For those in the know, Jaguar builds very reliable cars these days; in fact, more reliable than both Audi and Mercedes-Benz according to the massive 2009 Vehicle Dependability Study by the US based JD Power.
More importantly, they are dead even with Lexus across a range of ratings factors including, Overall, Powertrain, Body and Interior and Features and Accessories Dependability.
It’s a comprehensive study, involving thousands of vehicle owners, conducted in the United States each year, and one that you can pretty much bank on if you were shopping for a new ride.
Jaguar was also number one when it came to Sales Satisfaction, and that’s ahead of Lexus and Mercedes-Benz in the top five.
Try number two behind Porsche, when it came to Performance and Design and overall Service Satisfaction behind Lexus.
Jaguar is one brand on the up and up with more good stuff to follow.
So there, no need to worry about Jaguar dependability any more, the Americans have already put that to rest for you and you know what a critical mob they can be.
I could start with the exceptional XF Diesel S, but tradition seems always to give preference to the hero car in a model line up and that would be Jaguar’s hard charging, but impeccably mannered, XFR.
If you think you might require more grunt than 375kW and 625Nm of weapons grade torque in a luxury daily driver, then I can probably get my hands on more of that special medication I was on about earlier.
It’s a good thing that the Jaguar PR department had assigned specific cars to the collection of motoring journalists on this Australian launch, or I might have been trampled in the rush for the heavy hitter although, funnily enough, the XFR doesn’t look all that different to any other XF.
Its subtle, no really loud bit’s although there are some purposeful looking vents in the bonnet that help cool the beast within when you decide you’ve had enough of following an Audi A6.
There are a few other hints too, like the hardly noticeable lip on the boot lid and the nicely engraved supercharged on each of the 20-inch alloys. But you won’t have any trouble picking the quad exhaust tips or the distinctive red and green background letter “R” on the right hand side of the boot lid.
Inside, it’s more of that lavishly supple leather interior that we saw on the XF SV8. Contemporary English private club with minimal clutter, but with a few very cool XF features such as the alloy drive selector, which automatically rises out of the console in sync with the rotating air-conditioning vents when you hit the start/stop button.
I’d forgotten how comfortable the seats are in the XF but these are even better, more bolster and more comfortable than my overpriced leather lounge, and infinitely more entertaining.
At one point as we were performing some high speed surgery on a few very twisty sections in country New South Wales, I thought there could have been a tad more lateral support for the driver at least, but a quick left-right-left at full tilt in the XFR, and that issue was sorted, no need for more bolster.
Given that most of the time you’ll be sitting in peak hour traffic moving at less than 45km/h, it makes perfect sense to skew seat design more towards comfort, than a Recaro-style race shell.
Is it straight line quick? It’s the XF model flagship, so yes its quick, 4.9 seconds quick and speed limited to 250km/h.
But with a few aerodynamic additions, it will do so much, much, more than that.
Late last year, US driver Paul Gentilozzi from Rocketsport Racing, drove a prototype XFR across the Bonneville Salt Flats at speeds in excess of 362km/h and became the fastest Jaguar since the XJ220.
Jaguar appears to have benchmarked the XFR against BMW’s brilliant V-10 powered M5, itself a four-door tarmac stormer, but whereas the BMW has more aural satisfaction, the Jaguar is super smooth and arguably quicker through the bends.
Its also a more comfortable ride when you are charging along those patched up, truck trodden roads, which are all too common in this great wide country of ours.
You can’t hear the whine of the Roots-type twin vortex supercharger even when you bury the throttle and leave it there, that’s been effectively all but dialled out of the equation and frankly, I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.
But never mind that, I’m pushing the XFR relentlessly through some very fast bends via the quick shifting paddles, and it’s not moving a centimetre off line.
I’m thinking I could go even harder was it not for the dampness and poor quality of the road surface on which we were travelling.
I’ve got the Dynamic Mode lit up too (that’s the one with the chequered flag picture), which remaps the throttle response, alters the stability and transmission mapping and is essential for punting along this kind of terrain at these rather enthusiastic speeds.
What I’m most impressed with though, is the near perfect steering set up, it’s superbly weighted, particularly accurate and quick to respond. The XFR is fitted with a “fast ratio” steering rack, which is assisted by more aerodynamic balance through the deeper front bumper and boot lid spoiler.
If you take a peek behind those big 20-inch wheels, you won’t find any bright red, six-piston calipers with the word Brembo inscribed – this very British, public school boy doesn’t subscribe to such brashness.
What you get though are some of the best brakes in the business with perfectly balanced pedal feel and sure-footed stopping power.
On a dry road, the XFR will come to a dead stop from 100km/h in just three seconds or 38 metres and for a luxury car weighing in at 1891 kilograms, that is a remarkable result.
It might be big, it might be fast, and it might be heavy, but one thing the XFR isn’t is emissions heavy. Just 292 grams per kilometre is its combined CO2 output and that is less than many smaller vehicles, as well as satisfying Euro Five emission requirements.
After 200 kilometres in the XFR its time to swap into one of the most talked about cars of the moment, the Jaguar XF Diesel S.
Powered by a 3.0-litre, V6 diesel, jointly developed with PSA Peugeot Citroen, that produces a class leading 202kW and a whopping 600Nm of torque, I can’t wait to get behind the wheel.
I immediately punch it and frankly, I can’t feel a lot of difference between the two cars, I mean there is absolutely no lag, not even a millisecond, it’s jet like and effortless.
That’s the parallel, sequential turbochargers taking care of business in the proper manner; try 0-100km/h in a rapid 6.4 seconds. Impressed? Then what about from idle to 500Nm of torque in a mind blowing 500 milliseconds? That should grab your attention.
Its so petrol like in behaviour, that one of the journalists on the previous drive rotation stepped out of the car the day before, and proclaimed to the XF Chief Programme Engineer that he thought it was a brilliant V8!
Yes, it’s that quiet, I might just have to forgive this person for others will make the same mistake too, that’s a certainty.
Let’s hope that under the fuel filler lid that there is a great big flourescent “Diesel” sticker otherwise a catastrophe might occur.
Even more rewarding is the constant and smooth delivery of power (that’s both the XFR and XF Diesel S) there’s no power band or surge to speak of, just a relentless shove in the back as the car devours tarmac unlike any diesel powered vehicle I have ever driven.
More deserted twisty roads ahead, and I’m driving the Diesel S with the same voracity through the corners as I did the XFR. Again, there’s not a whole lot of difference when it comes to handling dynamics, but that’s not surprising, as the XFS is near enough to 70 kilograms lighter than the supercharged car.
Just don’t think of this car as a diesel and you’ll be fine. Like when you indicate and pull out to overtake, the response will be immediate and fast, try 80km/h to 113km/h in just 3.2 seconds fast.
And if we had German roads and German road rules here in Australia, the XF Diesel would blast on through to its top speed of 250km/h – if only!
Steering might be a tad less responsive but you’ll be hard pressed to call it.
All this and I still haven’t yet got to the best part, fuel economy and emissions.
Here at CarAdvice we think we can drive from Sydney to Brisbane and get 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres, so we’ll attempt that as soon as we can get hold of a car.
It shouldn’t be that hard, as the factory data for the XF Diesel S quotes combined fuel economy of 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres with CO2 emissions at a ridiculously low 179 grams per kilometre.
Normally, I would put my hand up and claim the hero car as my pick, but I am so blown away by the XF Diesel S package, that it may well become the hero car of the XF line up in double quick time.
The new Jaguar’s will be in showrooms from July and deliveries to customers are expected to begin in August, with the XFR costing $208,450 and the Diesel S $116,250.
Print it: 
Reminds me too much of a Ford Falcon. Good for the Falcon, not so much for the Jad.
*****PRIMO!*****
NOT a nice model name for AUS “XF” lol
Its a nice car, be interesting to see if luxo buyers will take a chance with Jag or stick to the usual suspects?
Nice sideways action shot, of course on a race-track or private road!
Cheers
F-0
PS Who is claiming this vehicle, FoMoCo or Tata?
PSS X Type is just a Mondeo!
That is one beautiful looking car! I would just love to own one. However financial reality rules! Interesting to see how reliable that Jags have become. I just wonder is Ford have done the right thing selling it right now.
Im sorry but a Diesel sports car??? no thanks…and truck always sounds like a truck no matter how much dampening you put in it. If i wanted my luxury car to sound like a truck, i would just buy a truck…i HATE diesels…
Top write-up. The price difference between the two seems to make the diesel version a relative screaming bargain and the XFR pricing OTT.
600nm of torque through the world class ZF six speed gearbox and XF Jaguar style and 6.8 litres per 100km..crikey, where do I sign ?
Just blown away by the numbers on the 3.0l diesel. 202kW and 600nm @ 6.8 l/100k. Here I’m getting all excited over Volvo’s new twin-turbo diesel (2.4l 151kW/420nm @ 7.5-8.0l/100km for similar sized cars), and this comes along. Its interesting to note that this engine is also slated for the Citroen C5/C6, but in their case, the power is limited to about 175kW and 500nm.
Wow, I’d be surprised if Mercedes all BMW ever sells another E63 or M5 respectively.
I like to see it you can get close to those economy figures CA. Sounds unbelievable to me!
Wow, I’d be surprised if Mercedes or BMW ever seel another E63 or M5. This is a great car. I’d put a deposit on the diesel today if I wasn’t still at Uni =[.
Diesel… sure 99% people probably wont care. In fact most of them probably wont even give you a 2nd look. But one day you’ll be stopped at the lights and some little kid with his mates will walk past and their smirks will tell you that you’ve bought the wrong type of car.
Wow. Impressive stuff. I never thought I would look at a 116k car and think what great value it is! A diesel to boot. Bravo Jaguar.
AS., no, the kids will be laughing at you for not being better informed.
Marcoz, your opinion is also not informed and borders on flaming. Is it only that you find the note of performance diesel disagreeable, or that you dislike the staggering torque, relative fuel consumption, reliability, engineering to higher tolerances etc?
Is it just me or does any body else find that ” *****PRIMO!***** ” comment after nearly every review really annoying?
lol D, i dunno.. that primo thingy doesnt phase me so much haha..
as far as a few people being “anti-desiel” here, has anyone really driven one of these before? well i guess that is a pretty stupid question..
i’ve driven a peugeot 407 SV (which is pretty much the same engine, except it being 2.7L) and jag taking in their tech is actually a smart idea.. if u just like the XFR because its petrol V8, you’re kidding yourself.
PSA (peugeot citroen) have broken records with their fuel economy.. and isnt that the way the world is going anyway? just because you have diesel doesnt mean its a truck! if anything, if its built with quality, it can actually be quieter than some petrol engines..
and as far as take off and power, you’d be silly to even consider taking the XFR!!!!
give me common-rail desiel anyday! less fuelling up.. and more eco-friendly yay!!! low carbon emissions here we come mr rudd!! haha
Marcoz, take your stereotypes somewhere else. Diesel is just another fuel. It has always been used in trucks because of the extra torque so why wouldn’t you want the same principal used in your car? If it wasn’t actually a smooth engine then I would agree but I have driven the Diesel S, it’s one of the most wonderful engines out there and that includes petrol ones. As far as I’m concerned, it even beats BMW’s 35d engine. They don’t sound like trucks anyway. They just sound powerful. And they’re very smooth.
Why don’t you actually go and drive one before you leave such silly comments. If you don’t find it to be a fantastic engine then you’re just being reluctant and stubborn.
Great cars. I am in the camp that loves the looks of the XF and I have driven both of these cars and they’re both wonderful. This is currently class leader as far as I’m concerned. I’m sure that will change when the next 5 Series comes out, but I’d still rather one of these. I just want them to bring an estate version out.
Mark, this is a completely new engine, not just a build on to the 2.7. I believe PSA are getting this one too.
Remember the Top Gear episode where they did economy runs in a diesel and Clarkson tried to run out of fuel just near his house? (Heh, probably not shown in Aus yet!) He failed because he was in the Diesel Jag and ended up getting some ridiculous mileage in it – far better than the car said he would! And he did everything to run out of gas – high speeds, every in-car appliance on, poor driving style, the car just kept on going.
Now, me, I’d never buy a diesel, but every review and every serious commenter I’ve read has said the diesel is a great car and the one to get if you can’t afford the “R”.
What Jaguar has done with the Diesel S is to make it possible for a man to have a bloody fun and enjoyable brisk car to drive and have a family or relationship at the same time. It’s even cheaper than a M3. Drinks only a drop more fuel than the Holden Cruze diesel (on spec sheets comparo’s). A truly amazing car!
Rongway, that one has been shown in Australia. And this is not necessarily the one to buy if you can’t afford the R, it may well be the one to buy anyway. Depends on your needs, but as an everyday proposition, the S is far better.
sorry alex, but thanking you for the correction.
still desiel is the way to go.. if anything.. more and more people are buying desiel.. why buy a 6 cyl or 8 to tow a boat when a desiel will still do the job!
still waiting for PSA to bring out there diesel hybrid out.. it will decimate all!!!
Oh, forgot to mention, this vehicle looks “weird” [OK, lets call it fugly!]
The front and back where designed by 2 teams that never communicated.
The front large mouth grill is plain silly and does not match the class look of the lights or bonnet
The rear deck lights are all over the place, looks like a butchered job, the centre lights in line with different height outer tail lights.
Where the designers on drugs?
Side on is ok, as in the interior.
I doubt the Germans and Lexus have anything to fear with this, will sell in tiny numbers v’s ‘the others’
Pity, missed the mark, close but no cigar!
Cheers
F-0
PS I agree DIEsel suxs, rather have Lexus LS460 Hybrid drive, smooooooooth and quiet like a DIEsel can NEVER be!
Needs PininFarina finishing school.
Frugal One,
Please do us all a favour and urgently get some glasses and some of that medication mentioned in the article.
You must be absolutly blind.
I agree with Buck. FrugalOne, come on! The fact that you’d rather have a Lexus says it all. You think the front and back were designed by two different teams and then you think that the Lexus looks better? The generally strange looking Lexus? This thing is very well designed and matched. You don’t have to like it but the reasons that you wrote on why you don’t like it are silly and incorrect.
And there is no such thing as an LS460 hybrid drive. I think you mean the LS600hl which is not even in competition with this. That’s a limousine, this is an ES competitor.
All round flawed comment.
I hear ya D.
Is jaguar still around??? Thought they now make tractors in india. Please, just kill it off. No one buys em and the british are no longer players in the car industry.
^^^^^BenRichards:
P.O.T.D [Post Of The Day!], GOLD!
Prezactly, if FoMoCo could not get it to work, how the hell can a tractor maker from India? ["Press 1, your call is important to us"....lol]
Have no idea who sells Jags in Melbourne, do they sell them here, who/where is the dealers…..have not seen a new Jag on the road in yonks.
They *where* strong in UK, once its all moved to India i think its game-over, protest vote, slowed/stop sales.
FoMoCo are most likely still giggling over finding a sucker to take it over….
Cheers
F-0
i can honestly say i’d rather have a diesel 3.0 jaguar than a bmw 530i or a merc e350 or whatever the diesel equivalent is
i didn’t really like the styling of the XF at first but it’s sorta grown on me… like crabs
the only thing i don’t like is the headlight bumps and the fake side vents
but besides that… look how horrible the bmw 5 and merc e-class is
i know you’re probably gonna be on first name basis with your jag service manager but that’s par for the course
Why all the hate for Jaguar?
Ben Richards, you read that they are making wonderful cars that are as good as if not ahead of the competition and from that you deduce that the company should be killed off? And what do you mean nobody buys them? The XF has been getting sold in very high numbers and the X Type (for some reason, that isn’t one of the better ones) is even selling well. They have stated that they don’t want to sell in really high numbers anyway as they want to keep some exclusivity that BMW and Mercedes just don’t have anymore. I think I read that their world wide targets are only about 100,000 a year and that’s as it should be.
They are owned by an Indian car company, this doesn’t mean that they are building tractors in India. They make cars in Britain as they always have.
FrugalOne, a link for you http://www.jaguar.com.au/au/en.....r_target_3
And what exactly do you mean the British are no longer players in the car industry? In the last ten years, Land Rover have brought us class leading four-by-fours that are well built and as of late, reliable.
Jaguar have brought back cars that are as rewarding to drive as they are to look at (assuming that you think they look excellent).
Aston Martin have brought what most people agree are the first completely perfect looking cars that are also wonderful to drive.
The Mini has been completely re-invented and is by far the best supermini on the market.
Bentley have brought the Continental which is one of the finest GTs in the world.
And of course, Rolls Royce has come very far of late as well. The Phantom and the Ghost are and are promising to be some of the best Rolls Royce’s in history.
All these cars are built in Britain and had mostly British input in the design and engineering process. Many of them are owned by other companies but they are still part of the British industry just like Holden, although owned by Americans, is part of the Australian industry.
We even dropped Rover for goodness sake!
So I ask again, how is Britain no longer a player in the car industry?
Great article guys! Great car too Jaguar! If you haven’t seen one in real life yet go and check it out at your local dealer. They look much better in real life. Better still, go drive one.
Ever since “that indian company” took over Jaguar, it’s been on the up and up. I don’t understand the hate either, unless if it has to do with styling which is always subjective. When Jaguar was in British and American hands Jaguar was looking a joke. They’re doing very well at the moment in terms of improving the Brand Image too and also the exclusivity. Land Rover is going noticeably improving it’s reputation and reliability.
Dorrrifffttoooo
Sam-R totally agree with you. Ive seen one and its gorgeous. Oh btw Alex RR is designed and engineered by BMW and built by RR in England. This is a spectacular car to look at and drive and sit in.
The XF was created before Tata owned it.
And anyway it doesn’t matter that Tata owns Jaguar and LR. The Indians are smart enough to allow the English to run things as they see fit to maintain that “Jaguar” look and feel.
Dear oh dear, there is either a lot of fishing for a bite, or a lot of ignorant, what do you Assies call them? bevans, or bogans,or ignorant knob-heads out there down under .
A Jaguar is a fine piece of engineering ,not to mention one of the besr drives on the road.
Some of you Aussies dont even know what a decent road is, let alone what constitutes a great drive.
Alex makes some factual points , the British are manufacturers of wonderful automobiles .
In fact , they will probably be exporting to you guys down under when your car industry colapses in the not too distant future.
^^^^^^^Hehe, I’m sorry but I would not think that the real Jeremy Clarskson would make spelling mistakes like you. :-)
Jeremy Clarkson – Can you go it to a trance and call up charles from your mind,and who ever else is in there and tell all of them to go away.
just keep believeing that jaguar is great and ‘british’…..I guess the more you lie to yourself the more the lie becomes real.
So Ben Richards, you say Jaguar aren’t good, despite the article above and many others if you look on other reputable car websites, and that they build tractors in India and I’m the one “believing a lie”? OK then.
Just a question, have you driven these cars? One of them? Any of the XF range? Any of Jaguar’s range at all? Or are you basing your hate for Jaguar on something unreasonable and baseless that mainly comes from not liking how they look and possibly a dislike for the entire British car industry? Have you had an experience that’s left a bad taste in your mouth?
I won’t argue with you, mainly because you’re being unreasonable and trivial, but with opinions like yours, all I can say is that your missing out.
Just to add, perhaps your OK with missing out, but it is a bit unfortunate that somebody who likes cars enough to bother looking them up on the internet won’t give what is one of the top marques in the world right now a chance.
To my dear Mumble Duck, I AM the real Jeremy Clarkson, let me tell you my boy that I may not be a fantastic speller when I have knocked back a few too many red wines and half a bottle of the finest malt ( that’s whiskey my lad, not milk )
but my facts are true.
Also, I would like to say that you, Duckey boy, are one of the more enjoyable contributors to this site, so thanks for that.
Alex, dont get too shirty with that Ben chap, it is my belief that he is ( or she, sorry )about 12-14 years old.
That person is not worth replying to anymore.
Let him buzz around a while like your annoying mozzies, eventually CA will ban the rude wretch.
Was the spelling KO this time MD ?
Regards,Jeremy,( The real one )
Abscess, how many have you had ?
What the heck are you actually on about. Realise this, not everyone is on your wavelength, in fact the last time I had acid…………………………………..
Jeremy and all,
there is no doubt that the Jag have moved forward and are clearly making a very loud statement with this car. And I should say that I have not had the pleasure of sampling one of these machines. However, I have to say that its pedestrian design leaves me a little cold…no not cold….just indifferent. Although it does look rather tasty in the silver. Hmmmmm
Will the real Jeremy please stand up!
Good night chaps, Pip Pip and tally hooooooooooooooooooooo
Tony, I am so drunk right now I can’t possibly stand up, hicc.
I am real though.
Does anyone else here think that the front of these new Jags resemble a Hyundai. I mean it, every time I see one it reminds me of a Hyundai, AAAAArrrrrghhhhhh !
It’s OK, I just fell over ! hic
Regardless. Jezza. ( The real one )Toodle Pip,hic
What difference is there to warrant the 80k price gap?
I saw one the other day at the petrol station and i couldn’t help but walk around it for a closer look. It looked great. Sexy and svelte. A large car too. Intimidatingly large wheels and high boot lid and shoulder. I loved it.
frugal one…. u ignorant racist son of a b*t*h, get the stick out of ur ass and then luk at jags, im sure u’ll be pleasently surprised.
cheers
luis figo
Nice article with great pics. I liked it. :-)
Beautiful car, interesting write up to.