By Jim Gorde

There are cars you like, and then there are cars you would like to have. And there is one automobile manufacturer that aims for the latter - Jaguar. After their takeover by the Indian conglomerate the Tata group, the iconic British luxury sportcar brand has been sort of freed of their confines, so to speak, unleashing bold new designs like the XF and the XJ and also looking at a wider range of models at the same time showing brilliant new concepts like the C-X16 and sportier C-X75.

When the XF sedan was introduced as the production car to the C-XF concept, it retained much of it's concept language and was quite the looker in it's segment, which then comprised the Mercedes W211 E-class, the Audi C6 A6 and the BMW E60 5-series, all of which soon were replaced by the newer W212, C7 and F10 versions respectively. While these automobiles raised the bar in terms of performance and refinement, the Jaguar XF still had the edge of novelty over all of them! And now, Jaguar has added quite a few of the elements many thought went missing in the journey from concept to production. This then, is the 2012 Jaguar XF!

Exterior
The most obvious change on the outside is the addition of the "J-blade" signature LED daytime lights to the adaptive bi-xenon headlamp cluster. There's also a leaner, meaner grille inspired from the larger and bolder XJ, which complements the revised bulging hood and redesigned front front fenders. The sleek lines along the side and the sloping roof remain and look just as great as they did then, as they run smoothly into the rear, which now incorporates a redesigned LED tail lamp cluster.

Interior
Contrary to the outside, the changes on the inside are quite subtle. There are new seats for the front and rear which offer good support and offer active ventilation in higher variants. That being said, they're still quite firm when compared to the Volvo S80 or BMW 5 series. That being said, the excitement is rekindled with the inclusion of a full-color TFT instrument display that replaces the conventional gauges and cluster. First seen in the XJ, the effect it provides is one to behold. Once seated in the midst of the blue ambient lighting, you press the throbbing "Start" button and see the whole car come to life, beginning with the gear knob rising up from the center console as the air vents open up in the dashboard. The instrument display welcomes you and proceeds to display the electronic gauges. Pretty exciting stuff that you don't get in any other sedans in it's class!

Powertrain
The range comprises of three variants of the big 5.0L V8 motor. In standard naturally aspirated form, you have 385 hp and 380 lb/ft of torque that does the 0-60 dash in 5.5 seconds while offering an economy of 16/23 mpg. Step up to the supercharged version and you have 470 hp and 424 lb/ft, allowing you to hit 60 in 4.9 seconds, and delivers 15/21 mpg. At the very top is the XF R, which offers a blistering 510 hp and 461 lb/ft of torque and cuts the 0-60 time to 4.7 seconds! It still returns similar fuel economy as the standard supercharged version. All engines are paired to the JaguarDrive 6-speed automatic transmission with steering mounted paddle-shifters.

Performance
On the road, the XF S behaves like a completely different animal. Only a thorough road test can help you experience the savagery on offer. The Jaguar pounces much like it's namesake and is one of the most fun to drive, offering exhilarating levels of pace. Even though the cabin is well-insulated, for the simple purpose of review, pushing the pedal to the floor unleashes a supercharger whine and a flurry of what I can only describe as jaguarpower, as the car lunges forward with a ferocity more vicious that even a BMW 550i! The kick that throws you deep into your seat continues up the rev range and just goes on accelerating through the gears. The steering is still among the sharpest and gives you precise feedback and confidence-inspiring handling characteristics. The seats are very supportive and hold you well in place while cornering, and the ride is quite supple as well.

Safety
The new XF is a car that incorporates a raft of features including dual stage front airbags, side bags and curtain airbags. The list of support systems include ABS and EBD working on all four discs, along with a hydraulic emergency brake assist and corner braking control. The Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control are further assisted by the addition of Engine Drag torque control, which prevents sudden skids while downshifting.

Models & Pricing
XF - from $53,000
XF Portfolio - from $59,000
XF Supercharged - from $68,000
XF R - from $82,000

The 2012 XF is a car that not only challenges the established players in the game, but brings a heady mix of artillery and capability as well. Jaguar also plan to introduce an Estate and all-wheel-drive models of the XF too. The cat's among the pigeons then!

RP6 Car Road Test Beta