Let’s face it, industry awards are all about back slapping and self
preservation. There are so many prizes given out in the annual What Car?
awards that seemingly no car manufacturer walks away empty handed.
This year’s ceremony at London’s plush Grosvenor House Hotel was no exception
and yet that should not detract from Jaguar’s achievement. It was up against
some of the toughest rivals in the market, including Audi, BMW and Lexus,
and it won fair and square. In terms of quality, performance, handling and
comfort, the XF is an impressive piece of design and engineering. It’s a car
whose performance is on par with its looks and if you’ve seen one you’ll
know that's high praise indeed.
There are hints of past Jaguars in the car's lines which will help Jaguar’s
quest to revive the 1960s glamour of Carnaby Street and Mary Quant when Jags
were undeniably the best sports cars in the world. George Best drove an
E-type and it was his love for the car that prompted his remark: "I
spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just
squandered."
The range of engines in the XF includes a supercharged 410bhp V8 and naturally
aspirated 294bhp V8. There will be a turbodiesel version that uses the
Peugeot / Jaguar / Land Rover 2.7-litre V6, and next year there will be a
more powerful diesel and a much anticipated XFR with a 5.0-litre engine and
around 500bhp that promises even lustier performance.
Under its skin, the XF retains some of the old S-type's architecture, but with
a stronger structure that uses more aluminium yet only weighs 15kg more.
It’s roomier than its predecessor, even though tall people like Jeremy
Clarkson may feel a little cramped in the back. Nice touches include a fine
(optional) British-made stereo system from Bowers & Wilkins that sits
amid a stylish and well-thought out cabin dominated by a swooping fascia and
finished in neatly matched wood and aluminium.
So far so good, but how does the XF stand up against rivals? A V8 Premium
Luxury XF carries a price tag of £45,500, compared with £45,745 for the BMW
550i SE. Both the XF and 550i use normally aspirated V8 engines, but the
BMW’s uses a 4.8 litre unit compared to a 4.2 litre workhorse in the Jag.
Not surprising, then, that the BMW delivers more power (362bhp v 294bhp).
Jaguar quotes a 0 to 62mph time of 6.5secs while BMW claims 5.3secs (both
cars with automatic transmission). Yet it is the BMW that uses less fuel on
all quoted cycles and emits less CO2 as well. On paper then, the BMW
triumphs.
But that’s not the whole story, and until you drive one, it is frankly hard to
explain why. The Jaguar feels more foot sure than the BMW, by which I mean
that even with all the electronic aids turned off you could still rely on
this car to see you through the tightest curve on a loose or slippery
surface. Its handling has poise and its throttle response has the urgency
and of something that wants to be let off the leash.
The XF is a worthy winner of the Car of the Year and that’s good news for a
company that has suffered more than its fair share of financial misfortune.
Okay, so strictly speaking it’s no longer British, and its American parent
may soon pass it on to an Indian industrial conglomerate. But the XF is a
descendent of the Mk2 saloon of 1959, beloved of bank robbers, Morse and an
entire generation of car enthusiasts, and that alone makes it a very special
car.
