| Written by Editor,
on 02-01-2008 23:00
|
Views : 320  |
Published in : , Motors |
Page 1 of 2  The new Jaguar has lost it's classic style which we have come to recognise but maybe the look of all Jags in the future will be similar if this new model takes off and if going by pre-orders the new cat on the block looks to being popular.
Jaguar's future really depends on this new car. The company is in debt, albeit this goes for many car manufacturers too and it needs a big boost in sales. If this model proves that it is a winner then a new flagship XJ will follow. The new XK has been popular because it looks sexy and has the power to show off. The S-Type, the mid-size saloon car which was supposed to herald Jaguars revival on the street and sales charts didn't pan out. Jaguar fared even worse with the launch of its less-than-laudable X-Type entry-level luxury saloon and estate. It didn't help that with both cars, it was forced to share engineering and components with its decidedly down-market parent, Ford. But maybe there is a change in the wind now. The Jaguar XF. Available from March 2008. The car will be built at the Castle Bromwich plant just off the M6 junction 5, in England. Designed at Whitley, Coventry. A sleek low nose design and a recessed ovoid grille similar to the old XJ. The front and rear lamps follow the curves of the bodywork. Clear and uncluttered instrumentation. A high centre console which gives you the feeling of being integrated into the cabin. Engine types available in the UK are: - 2.7-litre V6 Diesel Twin Turbo - 3.0-litre V6 Petrol - 4.2-litre Naturally Aspirated V8 Petrol - 4.2-litre Supercharged V8 Petrol The slowest engine. the diesel, will give a minimum of 143 mph. The V8 4.2 litre makes 300 horsepower, launching from 0 - 60 in a respectable 6.2 seconds. As its name implies, the Supercharged XF features a blower version of the 4.2-litre V8 that ups the output to a healthy 420 hp and cuts the time from 0 - 60 down to an impressive 5.1 seconds. The Supercharged has a limited top speed of 155 mph. The diesel will give you 210 bhp and lot's of torque and around 36 mpg touring. The 3.0 litre V6 outputs 240 bhp and 0 - 60 in 7.9 secs. The transmission is a new six-speed automatic that can be driven in fully automatic, sport or manual mode, the latter using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. (You can tap one of them to switch to manual mode, or hold the upshift paddle for a few seconds to go back to automatic.)  Open the door and sit down in leather upholstery (no cloth option) and lots of real wood. The start button in the centre console will flash red. Press to start. Now the silver knob, similar to a audio volume control will rise up from its location in the centre console. This knob is your transmission selector.
In Car Entertainment The Jaguar XF's standard audio system comprises a 140 Watt amplifier driving eight speakers, however, dependant upon the level of the vehicle purchased there are two other audio options available. The high line system consists of a 9-speaker (including subwoofer), 320 Watt stereo system; but most impressively there is an optional premium audio system that has been designed and developed in conjunction with the renowned British speaker company Bowers & Wilkins (B&W). The Premium B&W system is standard on the Supercharged version of the vehicle. At its core there are 14 speaker drive-units (including a subwoofer) which (with the exception of the aluminium highfrequency tweeters) employ B&W's distinctive yellow DuPont Kevlar composite speaker cones. Each front door contains a 168 mm woofer, a 100 mm mid-range speaker and a 25 mm dome tweeter (the latter two wired in parallel with a crossover), while each rear door houses a similar 168 mm woofer and 25 mm tweeter. As a centre speaker there is a 100 mm full-range driver, similar to the two 100 mm full-range "surround" speakers located on the rear parcel shelf. The subwoofer in this vehicle is located beneath the space-saving spare wheel under the trunk floor, and is believed to be the largest OEM-fitted subwoofer. It is a 250 mm driver in a 35 litre sealed enclosure. These are powered by a 440 Watt Class AB DSP amplifier that uses the Dolby Pro Logic II 7.1 algorithm to give 7.1 surround sound from any stereo source, ensuring an involving listening experience in any of the vehicle's seating positions. Designed to compete with the Mercedes E class, Audi A6 and BMW 5 series with a starting price tag of £33,900 for either the V6 or V6 diesel. What did BBC's Top Gear Say on road-test? Watch video page 2. What Car Review - Voted Car of the Year 2008 Continued >>
Last update : 11-02-2008 08:07
|
