Jaguar XF Sportbrake plans canned for Australia again

Originally off the table for our market when released in 2012, Jaguar Australia reversed its position in June 2013, announcing plans to sell the XF Sportbrake on a special order basis.

Jaguar Land Rover Australia managing director David Blackhall then told CarAdvice the XF Sportbrake was “important from and image point of view … to show the developmental growth of the Jaguar brand”. Customer deliveries of 2.2-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 diesel Sportbrakes were scheduled to commence early this year.

But Jaguar has now overturned that decision, with Jaguar Australia brand manager Mark Eedle telling CarAdvice the business case for the niche wagon body style simply doesn't stack up.

“We've re-evaluated the market and volume opportunity, and given previously it was marginal due to factors such as limited volume and market-specific engineering costs, we've decided it's not commercially viable to proceed,” Eedle explained.

The refreshed 2015 model year Jaguar XF range debuted at the Geneva motor show last week, featuring updated Sportbrake variants and the new XFR-S Sportbrake performance wagon.

Jaguar also revealed the new XF R-Sport specification grade in Geneva (pictured above). The new sports line adds R-Sport badging on the side vents, steering wheel and tread plates; ‘R’-inspired front bumper, side sills and rear spoiler; gloss black 17-inch alloy wheels; and a black interior featuring suedecloth upholstery with contrast stitching and a choice of veneer trim inserts.

The Jaguar XF R-Sport is initially available exclusively with the brand’s 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine.

Eedle told CarAdvice the local division is looking at the R-Sport grade for our market.