The old style of the big cat is back with a bang in the shape of the new XF - and this time it has a modern twist, writes Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor
AFTER SEVERAL years of searching, Jaguar has finally found its mojo. For several years it had fallen foul of a race to retro, driven most recently by American owners who believed they knew what made Jaguar cool. Sadly, they seemed to base this perception on Michael Caine movies and episodes of The Sweeney. It was about as authentic as Austin Powers and as trendy as damp tweed.
Ironically, after failing to make a success of its tenure at Jaguar, owners Ford are now selling up just at a time when - free from the shackles of US interference - the brand finally has a car worthy of competing against the rest of the premium brands.
In its heyday, Jaguar had a reputation for technology leadership, sporting appeal and modernity. The problem was that in the rush to retro styling; this part of its history was overlooked in favour of trying to please slipper-clad traditionalists who dreamed of Spitfires, crumpets and village fetes.
The new XF is revolutionary in that regard. It's modern, stylish and gadget-laden. The anathema of what many have come to expect from the big cat, it's a beauty.
Taking several cues from the trend towards four-door coupés, it carries forward some of the lovely styling from the XK sports car into the premium family saloon market. It's a world apart from the outgoing S-Type.
Yet, in reality, the new XF cannot be judged solely against its predecessor, as potential buyers will be looking at rivals such as the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class and Lexus GS.
While the 5-Series has the lead in driving pleasure and responsiveness, the Lexus was arguably the best looking - until now. That honour is shared with the new XF.
Aside from the glamorous exterior look which is evident to all, the cabin has been revolutionised. Gone is the aura of the old boy's club. Instead, you get the cool chic of a modern cocktail bar, all brushed chrome and phosphorous-blue backlighting. Jaguar may claim there is as much wood panelling in this car as the models of the 1960s, but it must be under the seats for the most evident hue of the cabin is smart silver.
Jaguar has pulled off a masterstroke with the gadgets and they will prove a real joy for new owners who can proudly guide their friends through features such as the pulsating starter button and unique dial-in transmission knob that lifts up from the central console when the engine is started. This could justify the €70,000 price tag to some.
In the cold light of day, you will realise there is not that many revolutionary gadgets in there, but it's just the shock of seeing such a modern take on motoring inside a Jaguar that will catch many unawares.
The reality of ownership means that you quickly tire of the thrill of watching the transmission knob lift and you start to see beyond the cool blue backlighting to the working parts. What's needed then is a car whose underlying mechanics are as entertaining and able as the magic gadgets.
The first reality check with the XF is that, beneath the sheen of modern technology, the engine range remains the same as before. A 3-litre petrol seems reserved for those who still can't get their head around diesel. By far the best-selling model will be the diesel engine that we tested. It's the same engine which features in the XJ range and it's a strong performer, if a little noisy at times.
The torque levels are good, if not outstanding, and if you use the paddles on the steering wheel you can squeeze a little more overtaking ability from the car.
It's not, however, going to wow you with its take-off, despite some very respectable official time figures. There were times when we expected more from the diesel, particularly when we kicked down during some overtaking manoeuvres. There seems to be a point close to the upper end of the rev range where the engine runs out of puff, even with Sports mode engaged.
Similarly, while the official fuel consumption is quite respectable, we only managed an average of 11.4l/100km, which is not something to boast about. Overall, the powertrain is rather ordinary, particularly compared to the awesome punch of rivals such as the Lexus GS450h.
What is new is the chassis, which is far more adept than the S-Type. The XF is a comfortable mile muncher that can cope with the vagaries of Irish roads. During our week of testing, we found the ride was a little choppy on the larger alloys fitted to our test car, so if you happen to live in areas not blessed with silky smooth asphalt then I would opt for the 17-inch alloys.
The good news is that when you push the XF along on a series of corners it tightens up nicely and weaves through the corners without calling on Jaguar's fancy stability and traction control.
On the back roads of Co Cavan, we pitted the XF against a few rain-sodden non-national roads and the car came up trumps. It might not have the same precision steering as the BMW, but it mixes sporting prowess with solid ride quality.
There is an ample boot with plenty of legroom for back-seat passengers. Similarly up front, along with several handy cubbyholes, there is a level of comfort that you would normally associate with a flagship model.
There is further good news in terms of specification, where the standard fare is remarkably well equipped and a €7,000 upgrade to premium luxury adds an impressive list of features. For a start, the leather-stitched dashboard is standard on all models, as is the impressive touchscreen controlled monitor. It's by far the best system on the market and the graphics are a vast improvement on Jaguar's previous antiquated controls.
Of course for all the technology on board, it's only as good as its build quality and for decades "British built" was not a term that instilled great confidence. That's outdated these days as Jaguar continually records strong performances in the reliability surveys, seeing off the Germans while it's at it.
It's too early to say this car will be Jaguar's salvation. However, the new design direction is the most positive news to come from the brand in decades. The recent takeover is also to be welcomed, given Tata's reputation. Next up will be the new XJ and if, as expected, it takes its cue from this car in styling and features, the future looks bright for the British brand.
In terms of its competition, the XF can't claim any price advantage over its competitors, although it is very well equipped. The engine range is still very limited and it's not going to reap much reward from the new emissions-based tax system.
Instead, the XF is competing at the upper end of the premium saloon market and it comes to the game with much to offer. In the relative niche of €70,000 180bhp premium family cars, our previous choices would have been the BMW and the Lexus hybrid. It was a bit of a no-brainer. Now we can confidently add the XF to that list of must-view test drives.
It's the closest car yet to the principles that made Jaguar so cool in the past, yet it doesn't try to cynically play upon that history. And that might just be the secret to the brand's future.
Factfile
ENGINE:2720cc V6 common-rail turbodiesel engine offering 204bhp @ 4,000rpm and 435Nm of torque @ 1,900rpm. Six-speed automatic transmission is standard.
SPECIFICATION:Driver, front, side and curtain airbags; ABS; DSC stability and traction control system; auto lights; rain-sensitive wipers; leather upholstered dashboard; rear parking aid as standard; front parking sensors and rear colour camera can be added as options; cruise control standard with active cruise control optional; leather seats; electrically adjustable front seats; Cimate control; 7" touch-screen controls most major functions; Bluetooth connectivity; 17" alloys standard with 18" on Premium luxury versions and 20" on SV8.
L/100km (mpg):urban: 10.4 (27.1); extra-urban: 5.8 (48.5); combined: 7.5 (37.6)
CO2 emissions:199 g/km
Tax bands from July 1st:VRT - 32 per cent; annual road tax - €1,000
Current price:€76,750
(€69,950 to €113,450)