The Jaguar XF comes in several guises and engine sizes, and now there's a three-litre V-6 'Sport' model available in Hong Kong to complement this already sporty series. The Sport, which arrived last month, gives the XF slightly larger wheels, at 19 inches, and the bucket seats used in the racy XFR.
Even though the XF series is not as plush or powerful as Jaguar's flagship XJ, it's not exactly the bigger car's poor cousin, and has many of the same classy design features. Call it the XJ's little brother; there's no doubt from the first glance that they are from the same stable.
Jaguar designer Ian Callum, who conceived the new-generation Jaguars before Ford sold the marque to Tata of India, says his aim was to retain the stable's 'British understatement' but bring it into the new century. Pure surfaces with elements of sculpture, which combine to make a car beautiful to look at, are what he sees as the mark of a Jaguar.
These perceptions form the basis of the new XF's long, wedge-shaped body, which, although much larger in scale, still manages to evoke the 1970s E-Type Jaguar. It is a simple and yet elegantly aerodynamic shape.
Sculpted elements include the curve-lined, swept back headlamps, a prominent design feature shared with the XJ, and the smooth, elevated ridge at the centre of the bonnet.
The XF's look is gentler and more instantly attractive than the XJ, which at first glance seems to be a bit too supersized. One interesting design contrast is the 'cat's claw' tail lights. While the XJ's lights flow vertically, the XF's 'scratched' rear lights course horizontally for a more conventional appearance. The guppy mouth mesh grille is there but smaller on the XF.