Jaguar pounces into luxury market
The 2016 Jaguar XF was welcomed to Jamaica at a media launch at the Jaguar Land Rover Showroom on South Camp Road in St Andrew last Tuesday.
“In 2007, Jaguar decided to establish a new direction for their brand; stepping aside from being a traditional company that created cars true to its English legacy to now becoming relevant in a time where sleek, modern designs were a mainstay in the luxury car market. It was during this new direction that the Jaguar XF was first introduced,” Jacqueline Stewart Lechler, director at Stewart Auto Gallery, told Auto.
Now in its second generation, the XF is Jaguar’s mid-sized luxury sedan offering, sitting between the smaller XE and the larger XJ. Starting at just over $13 million, the car is aimed squarely at high-end professionals with discerning tastes.
The new model receives a facelift and more, staying firmly to Jaguar’s modern design and construction ethos. Externally there have been changes to the front to bring it in line with the rest of the models around it with a revised grill, bonnet, and headlights that feature LED technology. Inside the car has been lengthened for increased passenger comfort and luggage capacity.
However, the major changes are under its skin. Despite its size, the XF retains one of the lowest curb weights in its class due to the company’s commitment to its advanced aluminium architecture, as the lightweight material is used in key areas around the vehicle. This keeps it agile and helps with fuel efficiency as there is less mass for the engines to pull around.
The XF also benefits from the current advancements in the Jaguar line-up, adding a new 180bhp 2.0-litre engine to its line- up and an AWD system derived from the recently released F-Pace Sport Utility Vehicle.
— Rory Daley