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Car executive David Blackhall is known as a calm, cool, straight shooter. Since taking the reins at Jaguar Australia in 2004, he has had to steer the company through some dark days as sales stalled because of a lack of model diversity.
Now he is rejoicing in the imminent arrival of the new Jaguar XF sedan, even if it's still about eight months away from dealers.
At the Australian International Motor Show last week Blackhall had a glint in his eye; and a calm confidence that the new XF is the car that will turn things around for the embattled British brand.
To help show off its new baby, Jaguar Australia also brought out the car's chief designer, Ian Callum, to showcase the car with dealers and prospective customers.
The fact that the company is holding 80 'expressions of interest' in the sedan is also confidence-inspiring, according to Blackwood.
“Whichever way you look at it, this car represents design leadership for future Jaguars,” he says.
As the replacement for the more traditional S-type, the XF is light years away both in design and packaging.
However, Blackhall says it will still sit well with both the existing X-type and XJ sedans, despite the fact that both those cars were designed last century.
“I don't think it will be an issue,” he says.
“I think customers will look at the XF and recognise that the brand is transitioning to the design vision of the future.”
Four different XF models will be available when the car goes on sale about June; a 2.7-litre V6 turbodiesel, 3.0-litre petrol V6, 4.2-litre petrol V8 and 4.2-litre supercharged petrol V8, which in Europe is called the SV8.
The 2.7-litre turbodiesel is shared with Peugeot and Land Rover products.
In the XF it will deliver 152kW at 4000 revs and 435Nm at 1900 revs.
The 3.0-litre V6 develops 175kW at 6800 revs and 293Nm at 4100 revs; the 4.2-litre V8 219kW at 6000 revs and 411Nm at 4100 revs; and supercharged V8 306kW at 6250 revs and 560Nm at 3500 revs.
Prices are expected to start around $100,000, rising to about $170,000 for the range-topper.
Three models will be available; the Luxury, Premium Luxury and SV8. A hotter XF-R is also believed to be in the works.
Based on the C-XF concept car, the XF is slightly more upright in deference to demands for more cabin room.
However, the concept's styling cues of the long, coupe-like roofline, high shoulder line and wedge styling still shine through.
As a nod to tradition the XF has a recessed mesh grille similar to the original 1968 XJ sedan, quad headlights and a fluted bonnet. “I like what this car does for Jaguar,” Blackhall says.
He believes many XF buyers will come from the premium German brands because they are sick of the sameness of continental styling. “We think that, based on the research we've done, that this car will pull a younger demographic,” he says. “Every car company says that of course but we think that if buyers are on to their second or third 5-Series (BMW), they may want to try something different.”
As well as space, the XF's interior ambience is rich and luscious like any Jaguar. Every XF has a shift-by-wire six-speed sequential transmission control. Shift-by-wire replaces manual shift linkages with electronic commands and gives faster and smoother gear changes.
The sequential gearbox is controlled by steering wheel paddle shifters.
Interestingly, the XF uses a new drive selector.
Instead of a conventional stick gearshift, it has a rotary shift control on the centre console to save space and maximise packaging.
Other innovative features include air conditioning vents that fold flush with the dashboard until the ignition is switched on and then rotate open. In-car controls also use touch or proximity sensors for the overhead lights and the glove box release.
Does the Jaguar XF do it for you?
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