A Jaguar XF appears to float above the ground during its official NY unveiling on Tuesday in NY.
After offering a tease of the new XF during a daring tightrope drive across the Thames River in London, Jaguar has again taken the wraps off the new mid-lux sedan during a New York Auto Show preview – this time revealing some intriguing details.
The new “aluminum-intensive” model gets much larger inside, resolving long-running complaints about its previously cramped interior. At the same time, it gets lighter and, Jaguar promises, significantly faster.
“In creating the all-new XF, as a design team, we have been driven by discipline, the discipline of simplicity,” proclaimed Jaguar chief of design Ian Callum, adding that, “Every exterior line on the XF has a clear purpose – nothing is superfluous.”
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The exterior dimensions of the 2016 Jaguar XF change just slightly, the wheelbase stretching two inches, to 116.5 inches. But the overall length actually decreases 0.3 inches, to 195 inches. Most of the added wheelbase benefits the rear passengers in terms of added leg, knee and headroom.
The 2016 Jaguar XF rides a tightrope during its sneak preview in London last week.
The front overhangs are now shortened, while the grille stands more upright, with more flush headlamps – that can be ordered with optional adaptive LED technology. Along with the more coupe-like roofline, another new visual cue is the addition of rear quarter-windows.
Under the skin, the mostly aluminum body and platform sheds about 132 pounds compared to the outgoing Jaguar XF model in rear-wheel-drive configuration, and about 265 pounds with the optional all-wheel-drive system.
AWD models will gain new Torque Vectoring by Braking capabilities, and will be offered with an optional Adaptive Dynamics System to further enhance stability under adverse conditions and aggressive driving, according to Jaguar. Also optional is a new Adaptive Surface Response system that can recognize and respond to different road surfaces to further enhance grip.
A variety of engines will be available at launch – with more likely to follow as Jaguar is all but certain to add high-performance versions of the 2016 XF, as it has with its other model lines.
(For more on the 2016 Jaguar XF’s London tightrope ride, Click Here.)
For U.S. buyers, the new sedan will debut with a choice of either a 340-horsepower version of its supercharged 3.0-liter V-6, or a beefed-up, 380-horsepower version. Both will make the same 332 pound-feet of torque. And they will share a new 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox in both RWD and AWD configurations.
The 340-hp model will be capable of launching from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds in rear-drive, the 380-hp model will trim that to 5.1 seconds. And each engine will get there another 0.1 seconds faster with all-wheel-drive, according to Jaguar’s stopwatch.
The 2016 XF adopts a front double-wishbone, rear integral link suspension arrangement, Jaguar claiming that improves both handling and road comfort.
The new Jaguar XF will be loaded with a variety of updated digital safety and infotainment technologies. The latter includes the updated InControl Touch Pro system which includes not only the ability to integrate smartphone apps but also offers a number of remote features, including the ability to unlock the vehicle. The touchscreen is now a 12.3-inch TFT display. There’s also a new laser Head-Up Display.
The XF will add Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane-Keeping Assist, and semi-automated parking.
The British maker says pricing will be announced closer to the official Winter on-sale date.
The launch of the XF comes as Jaguar dives into one of the most aggressive product programs in its history. Among other new products is also readying the XE compact sedan, as well as the F-Space, its first-ever crossover model.
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