Jaguar XF Diesel
The XF has been with us for a while now. Designs date. The simplicity of the XF's interior is its saving grace. The minimalism has kept it fresh and feeling timeless. This is a good thing.
The Luxury Autocrat category of sedan is dominated by a few brands, and is, of course, corrupted by overwhelming drivetrains with superfluous gobs of power. The traditional weapons of choice being the ubiquitous V8 with the odd V10 and V12, with a smattering of insignificant six cylinder engines available from time to time. They just never seemed up to the needs of the Megalomaniac Captains of Industrys' needs.
Now Jaguar has often been a low key option that does the trick. Not too gauche, with an aura of elegance while able to be hustled in anger when necessary. William Lyons, the Jaguar Granddaddy defined Jaguar as Grace, Pace and Space. What more could you need when ripping apart small multinationals to feed the vultures of what is left of our so called financial system.
Modern Jaguar is elegant in the face of bling and brand snobbery. Jag has slowly shaken off the shackles of Ford ownership.
Jeeves will be proud to drive you about in your Jaguar
Jag has a diesel. Travesty you say? Not so fast. Unless fitted with a howling exhaust system, you aren't going to hear the delicious snarling howl of your V8/10/12 anyhow, you are after torque not power. The diesel has it. Gobs of torque. Predictable, effortless, tarmac ripping, honeyed torque. Think Louis Armstrong. Subtle, cosseting yet unforgettable. 600Nm of torque with 500 of it available within 500ms from idle! Mated of course to a not too shabby 202kw. Curiously it delivers all of this effortlessly and quietly. Almost silently in fact, while still managing to return 6,8l/100km.
If gadgets, gizmos and vast arrays of buttons to press and knobs to twiddle are your thing, look elsewhere. Besides the Bondish start button and flipping of air-vents and levitation of hidden gear-dial, the car is simplicity itself. An intuitive touch screen to control everything from how warm the steering wheel and your well upholstered arse are, to a slightly irritating SatNav Sytem. The interior of the jag is subtle and understated, while appearing pleasantly expensive. The brown dash of my tester was, however, an unsuccessful mismatch, and brought the tone down a little I thought. Every other colour choice works though.
Power isn't everything. Consider continent moving torque…
