Jaguar XF test drive since 2007 sedan

Be an Englishman

It is difficult to be an Englishman. Everyone around the morning courage with Ovsyanka, the nightly Five OCLOCK, the ability to splashing in a sink with two cams and a night fireplace in an always protruded room. And although these are legends that the British themselves have long forgotten, the world is still standing on its own and is waiting, if not continued, then at least confirmation of legends. This is exactly what is expected from English cars.
Jaguar does not need to prove its sports. But regularly it is still necessary to confirm it. Despite the lack of money characteristic of most aristocrats, but in full accordance with the respectable way of life and a tendency to luxury. Staging a new model, which has now received the XF index, the engineers were put on the framework of rigid economy and were not so much engaged in the construction of the car, but they tried on the face and the interior on a scale. As a result, the legend of sports sedanov Jaguar received a worthy continuation. V8 engine with a volume of 4.2 liters and a maximum power of 298 hp. (411 nm) The best confirmation of sports. A heavy car is traveling with him rapidly (full weight 2270 kg), but without losing respectability. This is the case when the colonel running in peacetime does not panic, but certainly attracts attention. The acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h takes 6.5 seconds. For those who like to observe even more rapidly running colonels, there is also an inspiring motor with a mechanical supercharger. It is also V8 and with the same volume of 4.2 liters, but with a capacity of 416 hp, and the calculated hundred is reached in 5.4 seconds.
Another unprecedented achievement of British engineers is an extremely successful setup of the automatic gearbox of the German ZF brand. No jerks or delay. Ideal.
But the sports in this class in no case conflict with comfort. That is, both should be in abundance. Indeed, otherwise you need to buy not Jaguar, but Ferrari, and this, you see, is not the same thing. Interestingly, it is an extremely successful engineering work with a suspension. In the struggle for handling and smoothness, electronically controlled shock absorbers won. Without them, a noble ability to be comfortable at any speed and in any intense turn would not have turned out. Thanks to the incredible motor, the car knows how to rush extremely quickly, but at the same time courteous and does not allow them not only to shake them, but even slightly shake in a convincing movement towards new aristocratic pleasures. Harmony with rapture. That's just starting to lack a black pot on the head and golf clubs in the trunk.
But the most fascinating in the new XF in the cabin. This is a completely different level of attitude to work on the interior. Thanks to the work of designer Alister Welan, the world received a topic to follow. Welan’s ideas will begin to urgently study, copy, creatively rethink or just steal. The strongest that will cause widespread shock, control of an automatic box. No lever, no buttons. Instead of them, a rotating flat knight (like those that are on radio receivers to search for the desired wave). Now it is fashionable to call this contraption a word controller. At rest, the controller is not visible with the engine. But if you press the Start button on the human heart with red backlit in the human heart, the controller immediately crawls out on the central tunnel and lies by the arm. And it rotates with such a predictable effort that in case of need (although where does it come from?) Switching the transmission modes can be to the touch. And for the same purpose, there are steering petals. The lighting of the cabin is blue. And this reasonable color is prayerly scattered everywhere, elegantly shading the sports severity of aluminum panels and adding heat to leather inserts. Together with the red engine starting point, all this looks great.
In Russia, the price of the cheapest Jaguar XF with a V6 engine of 3.0 liters starts from 1,850,000 rubles. BMW 5th series is no more expensive. But the beauty and the breed of the German is smaller. Not to mention the exploits of the interior of Alister Welan.

Competitors
ICON
Despite all the efforts of competitors, E-Class was and remains an icon among the premium sedans of the business segment. This German can also boast of the widest set of power units, increasing the number of potential buyers to incredible sizes, which favorably distinguishes it from the British, in the arsenal of which there are only three power units. Of course, ceteris paribus, XF will not yield to neither in comfort, nor in the level of equipment, nor in dynamics.
Golden five
Unlike Jaguar, the design of the BMW 5th series salon is not so progressive, but this circumstance does not detract from its respectability. The price tag for five starts from a mark of 1,364,400 rubles. True, for this money, the buyer will receive only a basic sedan with a modest 2-liter engine. An equal XF in terms of equipment and dynamic characteristics of the BMW 540 will cost more than 2 million. By the way, its 4-liter V8 gives out 306 hp. And 390 nm traction, but this car is gaining a hundred in 6.1 seconds and, unlike Jaguar, it can be equipped with both automatically and manual transmission.
THE BEST OF THE BEST
Audi A6 The most popular car in business class. The potential owner of the six is \u200b\u200bable to offer a modern design, a convenient salon, a successfully tuned chassis, excellent dynamic characteristics, as well as a branded QUATTro drive system. In addition, among its obvious advantages, a decent choice of motors, a huge list of options and a very attractive price tag. The latter allowed the car to overtake all competitors: according to the results of last year, the model confidently ahead of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.
Alexander Pikulenko
Photo author: Armen Meetarjyan
 

Source: MKOMBILA magazine [May/2008]