A new Jaguar XF makes its high-wire debut in a drive 800 feet above the river in London.

As it rolls out a procession of new products aimed at rebuilding its position in the global luxury market, Jaguar has been riding a tightrope – quite literally, with the first showing of the newly redesigned 2016 Jaguar XF.

With movie stuntman Jim Dowdell behind the wheel, the new sedan rolled across a pair of wires strung nearly 800 feet above the Royal Dock in London’s Canary Wharf. The daring stunt came a week before the official debut of the new Jaguar XF at the New York International Auto Show.

“Over my 35 years in the industry I’ve driven Jaguar vehicles on many Hollywood movie sets,” recalled Dowdell. “However, the biggest test for me on this stunt was the unpredictability of the elements. Potential oscillation in the high-wires from wind speeds meant it added a real challenge. The wires are only 34 mm (about 1.3 inches) in diameter so the journey required absolute precision, balance and control.”

Jaguar redesigns its mid-range XF, opting for a new, lightweight "aluminum-intensive" architecture.

While few customers are likely to ever come close to that sort of driving experience, the London unveiling helped emphasize the new design and features of the 2016 XF, including its first all-wheel-drive system.

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First introduced in 2008, the midsize luxury sedan has struggled to gain ground in one of the more competitive niches in the luxury market, going up against the likes of the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Jaguar is hoping that the new model will have what it takes to become more competitive.

The redesign starts out with an all-new aluminum-intensive architecture shared with the smaller Jaguar XE model that will reach showrooms later in the year. Using 75% aluminum, the platform is not only stiffer, Jaguar claims, but trims weight by anywhere from 132 pounds on rear-wheel-drive models to 265 lbs on the AWD drive versions.

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The new XF gets a 10.2-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster.

The new XF will reach showrooms with both a 340-horsepower supercharged V-6 as well as an upgraded 380-hp supercharged six. Both versions of the 3.0-liter engine deliver the same 332 pound-feet of torque. The optional AWD system features a chain-driven torque on demand system to shift power as needed.

The new XF lifts several performance-oriented features from the Jaguar F-Type, including the optional Configurable Dynamics system which allows a driver to individually tailor settings for the engine, 8-speed automatic transmission, suspension and steering. Meanwhile the Intelligent Driveline Dynamics system helps deliver rear-biased handling with the traction advantages of all-wheel-drive, Jaguar claims.

The new XF uses a double wishbone front and rear Integral Link suspension. The sedan comes standard with what Jaguar calls All-Surface Progress Control, to enhance grip during low-speed driving in adverse conditions.

Jaguar will initial offer buyers two versions of its supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 for the 2016 XF.

Visually, the 2016 Jaguar XF picks up on the design cues first seen on recent models, including the F-Type and XE sedan. The midsize sedan adopts a coupe-like design form, with a sharply creased hood and a large panoramic glass roof. There’s also a hint of a small rear quarter-window, along the lines of the flagship Jaguar XJ sedan.

The 2016 XF is about 0.3 inches shorter and 0.1 inches lower than the old sedan, but its 116.5-inch wheelbase gains just over two inches – which translates into more rear leg, knee and head room.

Inside, there’s a cleaner more elegant layout than with the old sedan that appears more refined and well-appointed, with a 10.2-inch touchscreen anchoring the center console. A 12.3-inch reconfigurable TFT display is used for the gauge cluster.

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The new XF picks up key design cues from the Jaguar F-Type and new XE models.

“In creating the all-new Jaguar XF, as a design team we have been driven by discipline, the discipline of simplicity,” explained Jaguar design chief Ian Callum. “Every exterior line on the XF has a clear purpose – nothing is superfluous. Achieving that simplicity takes time and requires great determination; it’s all too easy to add lines to a car, but much harder to add character by leaving lines out.”

The 2016 Jaguar XF gets the maker’s new InControl infotainment system. The technology allows an owner to access a variety of smartphone apps directly through the car’s touchscreen or steering wheel controls. It also includes both a safety and security system that can summon help automatically in an emergency. And it can be used to remotely start the vehicle, set its climate control system and operate its locks.

A laser Head-Up Display, or HUD, system is optional.

Jaguar has not announced pricing or the precise timing for the new XF to reach showrooms.