Jaguar have announced details of the new XF - the S Type replacement - and probably not before time, as the S Type was really starting to look old.
To be honest, although it was obvious the ‘Retro’ look of the S Type had lost its appeal (it lost that in the first year) I’m not too sure about the styling of the XF. To me it looks a dead ringer for a Lexus GS, which itself is not exactly a ‘Stand Out’ looker! But if Jaguar are to survive they have to move forward - and quickly.
Jaguars have always been about grace and pace, and the styling has always been very much their own. That has been its strength over the years, but also its weakness. The XJ was the last real leap forward (and that was in 1969!), and although they make some lovely cars, they have got saddled with a fuddy-duddy, old man reputation. Its a bit unfair considering how good, and quick, their ‘R’ models are, but that’s how it is. They hope to change that with the new XF - the first real styling change for a very long time.
The XF is based on the old S Type underpinnings, but there’s nothing wrong with that as the S was a very well-sorted car. The usual range of engines and trim levels are available from the start, but the real fun is in the SV8, a barn-storming brute with real performance and a 0-60 time of just over 5 seconds.
I do hope the XF works for Jaguar. It would be a real shame to see the marque go the way of other great British cars of the past, but this is a really critical move for Jaguar (especially as Ford are trying to off-load it), so fingers crossed it takes off. Still not sure about the Nippon styling though!!
