Exterior colours available for the XFR are: Ultimate Black, Indigo, Liquid Silver, Lunar Grey, Porcelain, Botanical Green, Kyanite Blue and Salsa.Īmong the features fitted as standard across the XF range are: electric windows/mirrors, electrically-adjustable front seats, Bluetooth connectivity, iPod/USB connection for the audio system and a touch-screen display for satnav and infotainment. The flagship XFR can be distinguished from the other XF variants by: unique 'Nevis' 20-inch alloy wheels revised bumpers and lower front air intakes sill extensions bonnet louvres and grilles four tailpipes and a boot-lid spoiler. Although the XFR shouldn't be directly compared with the previous XF SV8, the difference in price between the two is, nonetheless, a jaw-dropping $35,280. The XF with naturally-aspirated V8 has risen to $147,900, a premium of $14,070, and dealers will ask $208,450 for the XFR. In Jaguar's defence, this car is now positioned differently in the market and the new engine is worth the extra. Previously priced the same as the spark-ignition V6, the diesel XF V6 is now priced at $116,250 - a significant leap of $7900. At the entry level, the petrol V6 variant has risen by $1100 to $109,450 (Recommended price before statutory and delivery charges). Prices for the XF have risen across the board.
The naturally-aspirated V8 model is more efficient and more powerful, and the diesel variant has made a major leap forward. Most importantly however, the supercharged XF model is significantly better in most important respects and is now branded the XFR. All variants are mildly facelifted but there's an even stiffer body, upgraded brakes, a four-point mounting system for the differential (in lieu of a three-point system previously), new active safety technology and an improved ZF six-speed automatic transmission. Barely 12 months after the XF was released in Australia the model range has been upgraded. To the surprise of many, however, Jaguar has not rested. That's probably how things would have gone in the past. With things going so well for this new model in the long-established marque's local line-up, the temptation must be to sit back, accept the pats on the back and revel in the proceeds of all that good work.
There's the innovative design in the cabin and an improving reputation for build quality and reliability, plus vehicle dynamics and competitive value. Jaguar Australia's General Manager, Chris Lidis, welcomes the fact that half the XF's customer base comprises repeat buyers - because that obviously means the other half has never owned a Jaguar before.Īnd it's not just the XF's styling that the public has embraced. Though still small, the importer's sales are up 27 per cent, year-to-date and the sales forecast for this year shows the XF accounting for up to 60 per cent of all sales. Indeed, it's the XF that's largely responsible for Jaguar's resurgence in what is a depressed market this year. If the XF is as far removed from the philosophy behind the 'nouveau classic' look of the S-Type as possible, it has nonetheless been well received by over 500 buyers in Australia since its launch this time last year. Singlehandedly, it would seem, the XF has reduced the average age of the Jaguar-buying demographic in Australia from 55 to 49 - with XF buyers averaging 44 years of age. To up-end a model and replace it with something altogether new - as Jaguar did when it replaced the retro-styled S-Type with the thoroughly modern XF - is often a sign of desperation.īut it has paid dividends for the prestige British manufacturer. In a world of careful and selective product management, companies work hard to maintain visual links and a sense of shared history between old and new models. Price, Packaging and Practicality: 3.0/5.0 > Style wins out over practicality in the boot Evocative V8s, especially the supercharged engine