In my opinion, the XF blows away the CX-F; hands down. The front end is flawless in design-the CX-F was to dramatic; almost fiction- straight out of a 2050 Transformers movie directed by Michael Bay. This is coming from a consumer-not a guru or someone who keeps track of these vehicles from concept to production.

My hats off to Jaguar for developing a vehicle that challenges every other sports sedan in it’s class, and at least for now is the clear winner.

It’s unfortounate that the company is going through some major setbacks and on the verge of being sold or discontinued, because this could be the turning point for Jaguar if they can continue to carry this vision into the XJ.

Opportunity always comes in disguise as a major setback and maybe, just maybe they seize it and make things right for the Jaguar brand.

My 2 cents-

Well yes and no. Ford has whored the Jaguar brand so bad that it is getting to be the Kia of luxury brands, the cache has gone. However, this is the best attempt at style that Jag has done in years. It is not perfect, with front and back looking like different cars, but it does have class. So does one look to see who in the gym is getting into the XF. Probably, I doubt anyone would have cared with anything after the E-type. It has Panache, it is does not reek boy toy, it shouts stlye. For me it would be a home run, pity about that badge at the front though.

The XF uses the same V8 powertrains as the S-type? Excellent.
The platform is the same as the S-type? Good.
The suspension is from the XK ? Excellent.

I don’t mind if Jaguar – due to the financial straight jacket it’s in now – re-skinned the S-type into the XF. I also do not care if the design is different from the concept – it’s clearly a trade-off based on the limited amount of resources the company could put into the development and production of the headlights, the door handles etc. Still, it’s pretty good when compared with the competition. And it looks like it’s a better value as well – there are two versions of the V8’s one at $49200 MRSP, the other at about $55000. The supercharged is about $62000. No wonder there were 10000 deposits worldwide last time I read about it (mid-February), being 3000 in the US.

As for the style, it is subjective, but I do not see the point of endlessly comparing the car with its concept. Rarely do design cues from concepts make it into actual production. It’s a beauty as it is. Now, as James May would say, if you are a Beverly Hills retired dentist that thinks this is not a proper Jaguar, so be it.

In a few years, I intend on selling my A6 C6 4.2 and getting one of these (the supercharged version).

You make a really good case about the competition. When compared to the likely competition, this really isn’t bad at all.

It’s a shame. While I would expect nicer metal from Jaguar, I am even more disappointed by the German crop that can’t muster anything other than the A6 that is even close to the expected level of aesthetics.

I still don’t know about it’s success though. I really believe the Jag brand is more cliche’ than cachet.

Land Rover is heading in the same direction. Who wants to see a copy of their 80k vehicle being driven by a kid with a white stocking cap pulled down over their brow, big gold chains, and a pressed T-shirt?

Jaguar seems to be the car men won’t ultimately consider for themselves, but want their wives to buy so they can offer to drive her car more often. Problem is women looking in this price range have already been convinced that reliability=Lexus and safety=SUV. Jag resale value finishes the deal. Jaguar needed to stay true to the concept here. Spot on review.

I’d like to see the XF in British Racing Green with a tan interior, though, just to see if it can successfully pull off the quintessential British look.

glad you enjoyed the supercharged version so much. I loved driving it too. Look for my review of it here in the near future.

Jag you need to be a leader, push the envelope and get respect for doing so. Create your market.

In saying that, their new XKR-S is a testament to their capabilities. Time will tell on Jags future.

Mike
Tazite com

Nonetheless, I would look at the car…drive the car, but would I buy the car? Not so sure about that given the history of depreciation of the marque. It may be less expensive than my Bimmer now, what is it going to be worth in 3 years? That’s a problem that Jaguar needs to solve.

Of course if you want to you could just turn of that e-nanny if you feel like it in the bimmer…

And yes, it will spin the wheels if you do. Except in the M models, that have limited slip differentials, unlike, for instance, Mercedes AMGs…

I am so happy to see someone finally take Ian Callum to task for his samey-same designs. I understand that designers have influences. I also understand that European auto regulations are dictating to a degree the way new cars look in front (in the name of pedestrian safety for crying out loud!).

But the new XK’s side profile view screams, “Aston Martin”. And the XF, when viewed from the side yells at the top of its lungs, “I wanna be a BMW!”. And the XF’s execrable front end just makes me want to scream. (It also makes me want to kick Ian’s ass all the way from Coventry back to Scotland.)

While we’re at it, let’s lose the rotating vents and the missile-coming-out-of-its-silo trans selector. Seriously, how long do you think it’ll be before one of those items becomes a repair issue?

This car really pisses me off. I’ve always loved Jaguars, since I was a kid. Now that I’m getting to the point where I could maybe afford one, they give us this??? Even if it’s a great drive, styling sells cars. And this car’s styling doesn’t sell me. They could have done so much better. . .

300 HP is plenty for a sedan, especially for a well balanced one.

Callum gives them wanton sex and they tone it down to a bland 59 year old in Contempo Casuals.

Why oh why does Ford relentlessly persist in being so RPG-to-Ass stupid; like hammer+hand-grenade stupid!??

(btw, Callum did not design the V8 Vantage)