Jaguar’s 2009 XF is widely regarded as a make-or-break car for the British brand now owned by Tata of India. The XF replaces two models, the forgettable X-Type and the decent S-Type, which never sold in any significant numbers. In terms of size, the XF competes with the heavy hitters from Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW: the E-class, the A6 and the 5-series.
To say that the XF is an important car for Jaguar is an understatement. So, we thought we would flog one for a year and find out if we can get an indication of whether the car will be up to the task.
The XFs come in three trim levels: luxury, premium luxury and supercharged SC. We ordered the top of the line, of course, with the supercharged V8, and the car came loaded. The only option we checked was the adaptive cruise control--but more about that later. The sticker price is $66,675, including destination.
Our XF’s blown 4.2-liter V8 delivers 420 hp and 408 lb-ft of torque. It is fitted with the ZF’s six-speed automatic, a terrific transmission. The XF uses the XK coupe’s basic suspension of unequal aluminum wishbones in front and rear and available with computer-controlled adaptive dampening.
Most people on staff think the car looks good, but more than once, we’ve been asked how we like our Lexus.
The XF is one hell of a good driver, though. Jump on the gas, and there is no lag. Just a bunch of forward thrust, enough for the car to hit 60 mph in 5.57 seconds when we tested one in California. The supercharged V8 produces most of its torque from 2,000 revs to its 6,200-rpm redline, with no peaks or valleys.
The XF’s variable-ratio steering is light and, for the most part, quick. Through the slalom, it can feel a bit slow, but the car goes where you point it, and the body motions are well controlled. In sport mode, the adaptive shock management eliminates squat, dive or lean, and the ride is still mostly comfortable. (Yes, you can turn the stability control all the way off.) There is plenty of grip from the sport tires, though snow tires have been fitted in anticipation of winter.
Overall impression: So far, so good. A comment from the logbook said, “This is a smooth, terrific cruiser, with a quiet and very comfortable cabin. Unless you really boot it, you would hardly know you have more than 400 hp underfoot. But I constantly found myself cruising at 90-plus without realizing it. That’s when I started using the cruise.”
“I find the car somewhere between luxury roller and sports sedan in terms of ride, handling and performance,” said another staffer. “The supercharged V8 gets it going in a hurry.”
The ZF transmission has been roundly praised in the office thus far, even in full-automatic mode, where it shifts pretty much at the point you think it should. Manual shifting works well, too. The paddle shifts are quick and, with revs matched, never harsh.
“The tranny is smooth,” says the logbook, “but I find myself torn between letting it do its own thing or running the paddle shifters.”
So, initial impressions are that the hardware is on the money as much as that from the Germans. We hope for Jag’s sake that the car will prove reliable.
And this brings us to the $66,675 question: Will people buy a Jag owned by an Indian company? Does Tata owning Jaguar tarnish the brand, or will nobody care?
Tata is well known to Brits. In 2000, Tata bought that most British of companies, Tetley Tea. More recently, Tata bought Corus, a British steel company.
Furthermore, Tata is successful in a joint venture with Italian automaker Fiat, a deal that is expected to produce Fiat cars and wagons for India. Fiat will use a Tata pickup as the basis for a Fiat truck built in Argentina. And don’t forget that Fiat had considered buying Jaguar, so it’s possible that the Tata link could lead to future Alfas and Jaguars sharing platforms.
All indications are that Tata is a well-funded, stable company with the coin to support Jaguar properly. If the cars are good and there is money to grow the brand, it could be the proverbial marriage made in heaven. We will have some idea about the former by the end of our year with the company’s latest.
SPECS & DATA
PRICING & OPTIONS
Base (includes delivery): $64,475
As-tested price: $66,675
Options: Adaptive cruise control ($2,200)
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase (in): 114.5
Length/width/height (in): 195.3/80.8/57.5
Curb weight/GVWR (lb): 4,194/5,137
ENGINE
Front-longitudinal 4.2-liter DOHC
supercharged V8
Power: 420 hp @ 6,250 rpm
Torque: 413 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Fuel requirement: 91 octane
DRIVETRAIN
Rear-wheel drive
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
SUSPENSION
Front: Double wishbone with coil springs, gas- and oil-filled shock absorbers with two-stage damping, antiroll bar
Rear: Double wishbone with coil springs, gas-and oil-filled shock absorbers with two-stage damping, antiroll bar
BRAKES/WHEELS/TIRES
Vented discs front and rear, ABS; aluminum 225/35ZR-20 front, 285/30ZR-20 rear
Pirelli P Zero
FUEL ECONOMY
EPA combined: 18 mpg
TRACK TEST DATA
STANDING-START
ACCELERATION
0-60 mph: 5.57 sec
0-quarter-mile: 14.09 sec @ 102.1 mph
BRAKING
60-0 mph: 109 ft
HANDLING
490-ft slalom: 44.3 mph
Lateral acceleration (200-ft skidpad): 0.87 g
INTERIOR NOISE (DBA)
Idle: 48
Full throttle: 73
Steady 60 mph: 63
To say that the XF is an important car for Jaguar is an understatement. So, we thought we would flog one for a year and find out if we can get an indication of whether the car will be up to the task.
The XFs come in three trim levels: luxury, premium luxury and supercharged SC. We ordered the top of the line, of course, with the supercharged V8, and the car came loaded. The only option we checked was the adaptive cruise control--but more about that later. The sticker price is $66,675, including destination.
Our XF’s blown 4.2-liter V8 delivers 420 hp and 408 lb-ft of torque. It is fitted with the ZF’s six-speed automatic, a terrific transmission. The XF uses the XK coupe’s basic suspension of unequal aluminum wishbones in front and rear and available with computer-controlled adaptive dampening.
Most people on staff think the car looks good, but more than once, we’ve been asked how we like our Lexus.
The XF is one hell of a good driver, though. Jump on the gas, and there is no lag. Just a bunch of forward thrust, enough for the car to hit 60 mph in 5.57 seconds when we tested one in California. The supercharged V8 produces most of its torque from 2,000 revs to its 6,200-rpm redline, with no peaks or valleys.
The XF’s variable-ratio steering is light and, for the most part, quick. Through the slalom, it can feel a bit slow, but the car goes where you point it, and the body motions are well controlled. In sport mode, the adaptive shock management eliminates squat, dive or lean, and the ride is still mostly comfortable. (Yes, you can turn the stability control all the way off.) There is plenty of grip from the sport tires, though snow tires have been fitted in anticipation of winter.
Overall impression: So far, so good. A comment from the logbook said, “This is a smooth, terrific cruiser, with a quiet and very comfortable cabin. Unless you really boot it, you would hardly know you have more than 400 hp underfoot. But I constantly found myself cruising at 90-plus without realizing it. That’s when I started using the cruise.”
“I find the car somewhere between luxury roller and sports sedan in terms of ride, handling and performance,” said another staffer. “The supercharged V8 gets it going in a hurry.”
| This Jag sprints from 0-60 mph in 5.57 seconds. |
“The tranny is smooth,” says the logbook, “but I find myself torn between letting it do its own thing or running the paddle shifters.”
So, initial impressions are that the hardware is on the money as much as that from the Germans. We hope for Jag’s sake that the car will prove reliable.
And this brings us to the $66,675 question: Will people buy a Jag owned by an Indian company? Does Tata owning Jaguar tarnish the brand, or will nobody care?
Tata is well known to Brits. In 2000, Tata bought that most British of companies, Tetley Tea. More recently, Tata bought Corus, a British steel company.
Furthermore, Tata is successful in a joint venture with Italian automaker Fiat, a deal that is expected to produce Fiat cars and wagons for India. Fiat will use a Tata pickup as the basis for a Fiat truck built in Argentina. And don’t forget that Fiat had considered buying Jaguar, so it’s possible that the Tata link could lead to future Alfas and Jaguars sharing platforms.
All indications are that Tata is a well-funded, stable company with the coin to support Jaguar properly. If the cars are good and there is money to grow the brand, it could be the proverbial marriage made in heaven. We will have some idea about the former by the end of our year with the company’s latest.
SPECS & DATA
PRICING & OPTIONS
Base (includes delivery): $64,475
As-tested price: $66,675
Options: Adaptive cruise control ($2,200)
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase (in): 114.5
Length/width/height (in): 195.3/80.8/57.5
Curb weight/GVWR (lb): 4,194/5,137
ENGINE
Front-longitudinal 4.2-liter DOHC
supercharged V8
Power: 420 hp @ 6,250 rpm
Torque: 413 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
Fuel requirement: 91 octane
DRIVETRAIN
Rear-wheel drive
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
SUSPENSION
Front: Double wishbone with coil springs, gas- and oil-filled shock absorbers with two-stage damping, antiroll bar
Rear: Double wishbone with coil springs, gas-and oil-filled shock absorbers with two-stage damping, antiroll bar
BRAKES/WHEELS/TIRES
Vented discs front and rear, ABS; aluminum 225/35ZR-20 front, 285/30ZR-20 rear
Pirelli P Zero
FUEL ECONOMY
EPA combined: 18 mpg
TRACK TEST DATA
STANDING-START
ACCELERATION
0-60 mph: 5.57 sec
0-quarter-mile: 14.09 sec @ 102.1 mph
BRAKING
60-0 mph: 109 ft
HANDLING
490-ft slalom: 44.3 mph
Lateral acceleration (200-ft skidpad): 0.87 g
INTERIOR NOISE (DBA)
Idle: 48
Full throttle: 73
Steady 60 mph: 63
0 comments
Post a Comment