Crossing the River Before Crossing the Sea

On the morning of March 24th, the new XF was unveiled on a wire rope just 34mm in diameter, stretched across the River Thames facing Canary Wharf, one of London's business districts. As commuters looked on, wondering what was about to happen, the XF appeared on the water and performed a dramatic stunt, driving 240 meters across the wire.Previous XFThe new model, which has shed 190kg compared to its predecessor, visually emphasized its lightness.

This dramatic staging, crossing water before crossing the sea to New York, was realized with the cooperation of Jim Dowdall, a veteran British stuntman who has worked on films such as "007," the "Bourne series," and "Indiana Jones."

Regarding the stunt, Dowdall commented, "I've been driving Jaguars in Hollywood movies for over 35 years, but this challenge was a major undertaking because unpredictable things could happen. It's a challenge that requires precise balance and control, moving across a wire only 34mm wide that sways in the wind."

The new XF uses aluminum for 75 percent of its body structure. While achieving a weight reduction of over 190kg compared to the previous model, its torsional rigidity has been improved by 28 percent. This new architecture, boasting both lightness and high rigidity, has resulted in a new XF that is 7mm shorter than its predecessor at 2,960mm, while its wheelbase has been extended by 51mm. The longer wheelbase particularly provides more ample space for rear-seat passengers' knees and headroom.

The available engines range from a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder diesel producing a maximum output of 163ps, to a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo with a maximum output of 300ps and peak torque of 700Nm. The gasoline engine lineup includes a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder with a maximum output of 240ps, and a 3.0-liter V6 supercharged engine delivering a maximum output of 380ps. A 6-speed manual and an 8-speed automatic transmission are available for the basic models, while all other models are exclusively paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

State-of-the-Art Infotainment System

The suspension features double wishbones at the front and an integral link at the rear. While equipped with "Advanced Passive Dampers" as standard, the "Adaptive Dynamics Control," which allows for preferred setting adjustments based on conditions, is also available as an option. In addition, the "F-TYPE" configurable dynamics," which modifies the characteristics of the dampers, steering, engine, and automatic transmission, is also offered.

While primarily rear-wheel drive (FR), a torque-on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) system will also be sold in certain regions. This system utilizes the "Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD)" adopted from the F-TYPE's AWD, providing the benefits of both the sporty handling characteristic of FR and the strong traction offered by AWD.

The front-to-rear weight distribution is approximately 50:50. Jaguar explains that this is the ideal ratio for achieving a well-balanced combination of agility, comfort, and elegance.

The new XF also features the latest infotainment system, "InControl Touch Pro." To process vast amounts of data, it is equipped with a fast SSD for data reading and writing, a quad-core CPU with high processing power, and the latest high-speed network.

The 10.2-inch touchscreen on the center console employs "Dual View Technology," which allows the driver and front passenger to view different content simultaneously. While the driver can see navigation, the passenger can enjoy TV or DVDs on the same screen.

In place of analog meters, the instrument panel features a 12.3-inch full TFT LCD, similar to the flagship saloon "XJ" and the "Range Rover", offering customizable display options. Additionally, the latest driver assistance systems and Jaguar's first full LED headlights are also available.

The new XF is scheduled to be produced at Jaguar Land Rover's Castle Bromwich plant, alongside the F-TYPE and XJ. Detailed specifications and lineup information will be revealed at the New York Auto Show on April 1st.