—Is Mr. Yamanaka's feeling of nostalgia for the "XF" truly just a feeling?

The overall impression is quite massive, far from a traditional Jaguar. Increasing the volume of the body panels, raising the trunk line, and narrowing the windows is actually a popular layout. Lexus is a typical example.
Even when driving, the high rigidity is superb, and the slightly firm ride and the sounds and other sensations are not like the Jaguars I knew; it's finished very modernly.
In that sense, it can no longer be called a car that is distinctly Jaguar, yet superficially, many traditional elements remain.



—This time, we'd like to ask about the interface, including the "Jaguar Drive Selector" on the center console, which is also a selling point of the XF.

It's an ambitious attempt, including the gimmick of the air vents rotating when you press the start button. However, I wonder if these new functions are a perfect match for the sportiness of this car?
I feel it should be more reliant on physical sensation. While the new selector, for example, enables easy driving, it hasn't been refined to the point of offering the ultimate tactile experience. The GUI (Graphical User Interface, referring here to the touch panel interface on the car's monitor) is also not particularly sophisticated, and I felt that this is not the kind of quality one should experience when encountering a Jaguar.

—Does that include a critique of the Jaguar brand itself?

Technically, the design is skillful. There's nothing that feels clumsy, and it's beautifully finished. Overall, it's high quality and the product itself has beauty. The relationship between the steering wheel and the meters, with their minimal communication, is superb.
However, Jaguar is a strong brand with a rich tradition, so I can't deny looking at it through the lens of that image. Or perhaps I might have had a different impression if it were the higher-class "XJ." But regarding the XF, I still feel a sense of unease.



—And that's due to nostalgia?

In any case, it's a problem that old brands face. How to evolve into something new is truly difficult. Especially for automobiles, with their entanglement with environmental issues and universal design, it's no longer possible to create the kind of transgressive products we used to. In the era of products as a whole, it's natural to balance form and function.
In the past, we could discuss things from the perspective of style versus function, but now it must be cool and convenient. We can no longer return to the era of the "Countach."