Jaguar XF 2012 Model Year Press Kit - New York Auto Show 2011

04/20/2011

Jaguar

The new Jaguar XF saloon, XK sports coupe and flagship Jaguar XJ all make their debut at the New York Auto Show 2011. Substantial changes and improvements across the range bring performance, refinement and economy to new levels, while fresh design enhancements strengthen the contemporary appeal of Jaguar's latest line-up.

The 2012 model year XK builds on the car's award-winning reputation as a high-performance sporting GT. A new range-topping variant, the XKR-S, creates a new performance flagship for Jaguar by becoming its most powerful production car ever, capable of 186mph and 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds.

Purposeful cosmetic alterations to the front and rear are made to the entire XK range, bringing its visual appeal right up to date, while further personalisation options are available to both the car's performance and styling through a series of special order upgrade packages. New interior options will allow the discerning driver to emphasise either the luxury or performance aspects of the XK's nature.

The XF, which has won more than 80 awards around the world for both its performance and styling, now receives bold new front and rear revisions to its appearance that bring it in line with the flagship XJ. The supercharged XFR features further uniquely dramatic design enhancements that signal the performance available in this potent range-topper.

Major technical advances include an all-new, state-of-the-art 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine in the XF, which comes with a fuel and emissions-saving Intelligent Stop/Start system for the first time in a Jaguar. This market specific version of the XF will be the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the Jaguar line-up - achieving 52.3mpg* combined and 149g/km CO2 - while retaining the performance and refinement that make it stand out as a true Jaguar sports saloon.

For the flagship Jaguar XJ luxury saloon, a suite of enhancements to the interior and options list includes a new Rear Seat Comfort package, which incorporates electric recline, lumbar adjustment and massage functions to reinforce the ultimate executive limousine experience.

These three cars are the result of a design and technology revolution at Jaguar, led by award-winning Design Director Ian Callum, the architect of the company's future success:

"The world has been introduced to an entirely new generation of Jaguars in the past few years. With the new product range, today's Jaguar is at full-strength for the first time. The 2012 XK, XF and XJ are design-led products that break new boundaries. We believe our cars resonate with customers on an emotional level and that's reflected both in the way they drive and the way they look."

The 2012 Jaguar XF

At-A-Glance

Dramatic design changes bring the XF's exterior into line with the XJ flagship.

Range-topping XFR receives unique, assertive styling treatment.

Bi-function HID xenon headlamps incorporate LED daytime running lights with a distinctive 'J-Blade' signature.

Three discrete front bumper and lower rear valance treatments differentiate between variants.

Tail lamps are now LED for stop, tail and direction indicator functions.

Refreshed exterior complemented by new alloy wheel choices and paint colours.

New AJ-i4D diesel model (market specific) is the most economical Jaguar ever, with a range of more than 500 miles.

190PS and 450Nm AJ-i4D introduces Intelligent Stop/Start technology, improving fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to 52.3mpg and 149g/km.

New 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox with optimised response rates, shift quality and efficiency.

Upgraded interior with new seats, instrument panel and optional 1200W Bowers & Wilkins premium sound system.

XF Design

A saloon with the soul of a Jaguar sports car, the XF has won accolades and enthusiastic fans across the globe for its dynamic abilities and dramatic looks. Advances in lighting technology have allowed the new 2012 XF model range to adopt the bold Jaguar design language introduced on the flagship XJ saloon.

Sheetmetal revisions to the grille, bonnet and front wings incorporating new triangular side vents give the car a more muscular, purposeful appearance. The range-topping XFR receives its own unique, overtly assertive design to underline its performance potential while an alternative 'Aerodynamic' option is available on all other derivatives for a total of three dramatically different styling options.

The headlamps now incorporate bi-function HID xenon technology that allows them to be much slimmer and more compact while still providing outstanding beam resolution. They also incorporate LED daytime running lights arranged in a distinctive Jaguar 'J-Blade' signature pattern for instant recognition.

The tail lamps have been entirely renewed and now extend onto the central portion of the boot lid. These new units are now full-LED for stop, light and indicator functions and give the XF a distinctive night-time rear signature. Separating them is a revised boot lid finisher with a gloss black lower edge for a cleaner appearance. The boot also features power closure on all models.

Three new paint colours and an expanded alloy wheel selection ranging from 17 to 20-inch provide the finishing touches to the revised styling.

"The XF has rightly been recognised as a quintessential Jaguar saloon. It is purposeful yet elegant, with inherent sporting intent in its design. For the latest version we have been able to evolve and enhance that performance character to make the XF the most visually dynamic car in its class."

Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Cars

XF Powertrain and Dynamics

It also continues the Jaguar tradition of innovation by offering a combination of technologies that anticipates automotive trends.

New four-cylinder diesel

Key among the enhancements to XF is the introduction of the 2.2-litre AJ-i4D turbodiesel engine. The unit features low-friction pistons and a water-cooled turbocharger to increase efficiency plus active engine mounts and modifications to the sump and block to reduce NVH levels. The result is not only Jaguar's most fuel-efficient engine ever, but one which offers levels of refinement on a par with the previously-fitted 2.7-litre V6 diesel and all the performance expected of a Jaguar sports saloon. Further refinement is assured on all models by the use of additional acoustic shielding and the use of computational fluid dynamics to smooth exterior airflow.

Power output is 190PS with an impressive torque figure of 450Nm to provide the muscular performance expected of a Jaguar. Reaching 60mph in 8.0 seconds, the car will go on to achieve a top speed of 140mph. Nevertheless the unit still manages 52.3mpg on the EU combined cycle - making it the most economical Jaguar ever - and emits just 149g/km of CO2 and is Euro Stage V compliant.

New 8-speed automatic

The engine is perfectly complemented by the all-new 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Specifically adapted by our engineers for its first-time application in a Jaguar, the transmission offers a host of benefits including both improved acceleration and economy. Gearchanges are completed in just 200 milliseconds - four times faster than the average human resting heartbeat - while driver control is enhanced by the ability to perform multiple downshifts using the paddleshift technology. The use of lightweight materials ensures the overall weight remains the same as the previous six-speed transmission, while improved pump design and gear control elements increase efficiency. Standard on all XF diesel models, it reduces the CO2 emissions of the 3.0-litre V6 to 169g/km and improves fuel consumption to 44.8mpg.

Intelligent Stop/Start

Also making its debut with the 2.2-litre diesel engine is Jaguar's new Intelligent Stop/Start system, the first time this technology has been seen in a premium diesel saloon. This automatically shuts down the engine in just 300 milliseconds when the car comes to rest, in order to improve fuel economy and CO2 emissions by between five and seven percent.

No driver intervention is necessary, with the engine management software analysing a host of complex factors in order to decide when the engine can safely be stopped. A Tandem Solenoid Starter with a dedicated secondary battery instantly restarts the engine as soon as the driver's foot leaves the brake pedal, ensuring it is running optimally by the time the accelerator is pressed. In order to facilitate this process, the gearbox features Hydraulic Impulse Storage, which supplies oil pressure to actuate the shift elements.

For the first time, all diesel variants are also available with Jaguar's Adaptive Dynamics system, allowing the enthusiastic driver to enjoy the car's outstanding chassis control and discover the XF's sporting soul.

XF Interior

Whether experienced from the driver or passenger seat, the cabin of the XF is a uniquely welcoming and stylish place in which to spend time, using high-end materials in a truly contemporary manner.

Continuing to feature such dramatic 'surprise and delight' elements as the JaguarDrive Selector that rises from the centre console and air vents that rotate to their open position when the starter button is pressed, the XF interior has also received a comprehensive update.

New seats and instruments

Revised front and rear seats incorporate a 'hoop' feature on both squab and backrest that improves not only their appearance but also the support it offers by increasing the seat's profile. New hide colour combinations, veneers and headlining choices increase the personalisation options available to buyers. All models benefit from a revision to the colour scheme on the centre console, fascia and steering wheel where the 'Tungsten' finish is replaced by a more contemporary 'Aurora' theme.

The XF incorporates a formidable amount of technology but in true Jaguar fashion it is integrated seamlessly into the function of the car and controlled through a central seven-inch Touch-screen with a new polarising filter for better contrast viewing.

In order to reduce driver workload, additional switches have been added below the Touch-screen to instantly switch between different functions while new graphics are based on those in Jaguar's flagship XJ. The main driver instrument cluster is now a full-colour TFT unit for greater resolution and clarity.

Cutting-edge technology

Three new audio systems are offered on the XF, all of which represent a significant upgrade on those previously available. Heading this up is a 1200W, 17-speaker premium set-up, from British audio experts Bowers & Wilkins, which offers concert hall-like sound reproduction.

All audio systems can be specified with a hard-drive based satellite navigation system that incorporates a 'virtual' CD multichanger allowing the owner to 'rip' 10 CDs at a time into the car's memory storage and play them as if they were a physical music medium. The system also now offers a number of different options for connecting MP3 players; two USB ports, one of which is iPod specific and Bluetooth connectivity that allows music to be streamed from a smartphone.

The majority of the car's functions can also be controlled from the driver's seat by Jaguar's Interactive Voice functionality, which provides an intuitive interface for safe, hands-free operation.