Jaguar reveals new XF

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Jaguar has revealed its all-new Jaguar XF with a spectacular high-wire stunt over London's Canary Wharf.

Veteran stunt driver Jim Dowdell drove a modified XF across two 34mm carbon fibre cables 240-metres across the Royal Dock to highlight the new aluminium underpinnings that Jaguar claims makes the XF the lightest car in its class.

The new aluminium underpinnings - which are already used on the smaller XE and larger XJ models - reportedly cut the weight of the new XF by 190kg compared to the out-going model.

Up to 75 per cent of the car's architecture is now aluminium and Jaguar claims that helps the XF tip the scales 80kg lighter than its closest competitor.

Building out of aluminium has also allowed the designers, led by Ian Callum, to make the car shorter and lower (by 7mm and 3mm respectively) but increase the wheelbase by 51mm to improve interior space, especially in the rear.

The design of the car remains similar to the out-going model, continuing the styling theme that begun with the current XF and has now spread across the entire Jaguar line-up.

"Every exterior line on the XF has a clear purpose – nothing is superfluous," explained Callum "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."

Under the bonnet is Jaguar's new range of Ingenium petrol and diesel engines, all mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission sending drive to the rear wheels.

The range begins with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel that produces 132kW of power and 430Nm of torque. Next up is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine good for 177kW and 340Nm.

A 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel that produces 221kW and 700Nm will also be offered.

Jaguar hasn't revealed details of the replacement for the XF R so the range is currently topped by the 3.0-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine that will be available with with 250kW/450Nm or 280kW/450Nm.

Although Jaguar is saving full technical details until the car's official unveiling at the 2015 New York Motor Show on April 1, it has revealed a number of technical highlights.

The XF will get the same 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster found in the XJ and Range Rover and will be the first Jaguar to offer full-LED lights.

In the centre of the dashboard will include the brand's 10.2-inch touchscreen with Dual View technology that allows the driver and front seat passenger to watch different projections simultaneously.

Jaguar claims it has improved the dynamic capabilities of the car with lessons learnt on the F-Type sports car, including the electric power steering and adaptive dampers.

Jaguar Australia has confirmed the new XF will arrive in local showrooms in the first quarter of 2016. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/j...25-1m713v.html