Through Ian's Lens: 2009 Jaguar XF

My first impression of the 2009 Jaguar XF was one of disgust. I spent much of that day in the office talking about how much I hated the front end. “How could Jaguar do this?! The headlights are all wrong!” I was up in arms about the design, and the press photos from the manufacturer were to blame. They just didn’t do the car justice. It was a bunch of flashy images that screamed “Target Audience,” not “Cool New Car.”

When the New York Auto Show rolled around I got a chance to sit in a production version, and after one real-life impression, I was sold. The interior design is close to flawless, full of clean lines followed by accents of wood, metal, leather and plastic. After getting a chance to drive and photograph the XF recently, I can recant my earlier statements and tell everyone that I actually like the headlights. They fit. And so does the Supercharger.

A full set of photos is below. Let me know if you think I do it justice or if the headlights still don’t work.

Comments

I personally love the simplicity of the center console. It is just one piece that goes between the front seats and merges with the dash board. Such a design is mostly found in high-end models but should really be mainstream. The navigation screen also fits perfectly in the dash instead of protruding above it. Finally the implementation of a gear knob is brilliant for an automatic car.
I am not crazy about the headlights but they're doing just fine in an otherwise beautiful vehicle.

As usual... Gorgeous Interior

As usual... Horrible Exterior

As always... Beautiful Photography!

Ian:

What camera do you use? I just bought a Rebel XTI and a set of filters, but nothing I've done so far, even in controlled light, looks this good.

And second, once again these are better pictures than what I've seen from manufacturers photos. This, the new Honda Accord and the rest. You really should get a contract to sell them these shots.

Tom L,
Ian has a "contract" to provide the shots to all of Cars.com's readers! What could be better than that?

Hey Tom L,
These photos were taken with a Canon 5D DSLR with a Canon L Series 24-70mm 2.8 lens. As far as the contract work goes, no manufacturer (in their right mind) would ever let me drive more than 150 different cars a year. Please keep checking back because we've got some great cars in the que.

Ford invests billions, Jaguar finally comes out with a very attractive car that is a worthy competitor to MB, BMW and Lexus - and then Ford sells the company just before it starts to make money.

This new Jag looks great but I won't sink this kind of money into an Indian car.

How the British Empire has fallen.

Al, there's a very clear difference between Jaguars and Tata cars... as in manufacturing, design, and pretty much everything else... if Ford messed up so badly with Jaguar, its worth to give Tata a shot... counting ownership by an Indian company as a negative reeks of colonialist mentality... and besides, Tata is one of the strongest multinational corporations out there, its acquisition of Corus steel has gone swimmingly well...

"This new Jag looks great but I won't sink this kind of money into an Indian car."

EH??? Seriously? So, if Ford hadn't sold Jag then you would buy the XF but now they have (even though it's the same car and developed by Ford and uses the same engines etc) you won't simply because the company is now indian owned?

I can presume by this that either:

1. You are a racist.
2. You are monumentally stupid.
3. All of the above.

It is highly unlikely that Tata is going to do anything crazy with Jaguar anytime in the near future. And as of now they will have had precisely NO input into the current range of cars. If Jag's ownership is playing such a huge part in shaping your views then I'm sorry for you.

And I'm British and therefore have more of an emotional interest in the ownership of this great company...

Does anybody else see Volvo S80, especially in the profile of the XF?

not seeing any photos here ... just a big orange box :(

I think everyone is more than a little disappointed with the departure the front end of the production vehicle took from the concept; but having seen the car in person, I can honestly say that the XF looks much, much better in person and in motion.

No offense, Ian, but I don't think any two-dimensional depiction of this car can really "do it justice."

you need flash to view the images

I just compared the volvo S80 to the jag. Looks like the windows are similiar (the jag is curved a little more) and they use the same side mirrors. The rear ends and front end are completely different. The jag looks way better.

Actually I think it looks great.

Very nice Ford, sorry Mercury, eh Lincoln....