Jaguar XF Sportbrake makes sense

Granted the recent resurgence in popularity of the station wagon is not always centred around the sleek and super-sexy end of the spectrum inhabited by the XF Sportbrake.

But you can see there could be a business case for it. The Sportbrake is set to capitalise on the popularity of the XF sedan, the best thing to come out of Jag's Birmingham factory in a long time.

Global Brand Director, Adrian Hallmark, said the XF epitomises the Jaguar sporting dynamic with its combination of innovative, seductive design and performance.

"In the XF Sportbrake this is complemented by a no-compromise approach to practicality and versatility," he said.

The XF Sportbrake is entirely new from the B-pillar backwards, endowing it with a very different aesthetic, exemplified by the tautly-drawn elegance of the side-window line and highlighted by its polished finish.

The conjunction of flowing rear window graphic, rising waist and estate roofline lends the XF Sportbrake a dynamic, broad-shouldered stance.

The design-led approach that created the XF Sportbrake's exterior has been achieved in tandem with the goal of maximising practicality.

The extended roofline affords rear-seat passengers an additional 48mm of headroom and the seats offer both a 60:40 split fold function and integral ski hatch.

Remote-fold levers inside the load-space opening allow the seats to be stowed flat quickly and easily, creating a cargo volume of up to 1675 litres. Befitting the XF Sportbrake's perfect balance between usability and beauty, it is powered exclusively by Jaguar's range of powerful, refined and efficient diesel engines, driving the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The 2.2-litre engine is fitted with Jaguar's Intelligent Stop-Start system, making it the company's most efficient powertrain to date, while the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 is available in two states of tune, with 202kW in the range-topping Diesel S. Jag says the Sportbrake is under review for the Australian market. "We're looking at the business case at present and establishing a pricing structure," boss Kevin Goult said.

"Potentially we could see it here Q4 2012. We're still working on the pricing as this hasn't been confirmed for Australia from head office but we are hoping we'll only have a small percentage incremental for this vehicle, possibly around 7 per cent depending on trim level but further pricing information will be announced nearer launch.

"We won't hold the car in stock in Australia, it'll be a retail order only at this time," Goult said.