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.

Jaguar, Land Rover Sold: No Major Changes Expected

Business as usual.

That's the general reaction to news that Tata Motors of India has completed the purchase of Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Co. for $2.3 billion — less than both the $2.5 billion that Ford paid for Jaguar and the $2.7 billion it paid for Land Rover.

Both company officials and dealers quickly downplayed any negative effects of the sale to Tata, saying the only change is in ownership.

Jaguar and Land Rover said dealers will continue to sell, service and warranty existing products, and product lineups are expected to grow rather than dwindle now that a company with deep pockets has taken over from a company that lost $2.7 billion last year.

2009 Jaguar XF Starts at $49,200

Jaguar's latest sedan, the XF, will start at $49,200 for the base, Luxury trim. Stepping up to Premium Luxury costs $55,200, while the 420-hp XF Supercharged runs $62,200. All prices exclude a $775 destination charge.

Standard features include power seats and a power-adjusting steering wheel, a moonroof, leather upholstery and a 320-watt stereo. The Premium Luxury adds a navigation system, heated seats and more, while the Supercharged caps the lineup with 20-inch wheels, higher-grade leather and a Bowers & Wilkins stereo. Naturally, most of the higher-end features are optional in lower trims.

Fifty large might seem like a hefty price for a midsize luxury car, especially when competitors like the BMW 5 Series and Infiniti M start at thousands less. But the XF comes standard with a V-8 engine; others have V-6s. Are the Jag cachet and engine worth the cost? Sound off below.

Related
More on the Jaguar XF
More on the LA Auto Show

Will the XF Save Jaguar?

The Jaguar XF sedan goes on sale in the U.S. on March 1, but unless you put your name on a dealer waiting list by say, yesterday, you may not get one until May.

"It's the blossom we've been waiting to see grow," one enthusiastic dealer said. Jaguar says reaction to the XF ranges from "thrilling to unbelievable."

How do you get one? Spokesperson Anne Clinard said it's up to dealers to begin their own waiting lists, based on how many cars they expect to get from the factory versus the number of customer orders they take, "and all dealers have started taking orders, and some have started their own order bank."

2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: Jaguar XF in Black

The blog world is on hand at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and it’s sending back a slew of interesting images. One model that debuted online weeks before it hit the show floor today is the 2009 Jaguar XF. While we brought you all the official information and images back then, automotive blog Jalopnik has a live gallery from Frankfurt with the XF in black with orange leather seats — quite the color combination. We still wish someone would change those headlights, but otherwise the XF looks stunning. Autoblog also got some good shots of the car's interior.

Jaguar XF Photo Gallery (Jalopnik)
Jaguar XF Photo Gallery (Autoblog)

Related
More from the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show (KickingTires)
Jaguar XF News (KickingTires)

Video: Jaguar XF Straight From England

Car Magazine, an enthusiast publication in the U.K., delivers an up-close look at Jaguar’s new XF sedan. Just a day after we brought you the first images and details, this video brings all that writing and imagery to life as only video can. Especially interesting to see in motion are the moving air vents and rising shift knob.

YouTube video via Autoblog

2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: 2008 Jaguar XF

• Competes with: BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Lexus GS
• Looks like: An ungainly S-Type crashed into the beautiful C-XF concept
• Drivetrain: 420-hp, supercharged 4.2-liter V-8; 300-hp, 4.2-liter V-8 and 240-hp, 3.0-liter V-6, all mated to a six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: March 2008; dealers are taking orders now

When the concept version of the new XF debuted at last year’s Detroit auto show, it was heralded as the car that would save Jaguar. It’s hard to remember any other concept drawing such undisputed praise. Jaguar vowed to build a production model true to the sexy concept, and it did — for the most part.

Video: 2007 Jaguar XKR Duo

If you’ve been following the blog the past few weeks, you already know we had our hands on Jaguar’s top-of-the-line XKR convertible and coupe. We almost universally drooled all over them, but you can check them out for yourself in the video above. Kelsey Mays walks you through why they had us so gaga.

Related
Friday Fleet Notes: 8.10.07 (KickingTires)
Bank Breakers: The Cadillac XLR-V and Jaguar XKR (KickingTires)
2007 Jaguar XKR Expert Review (Cars.com)

Friday Fleet Notes: 8.10.07

This week we had a trio of $100,000 cars in the office. That’s a rarity, let me assure you. Still, we don’t turn our noses up at cars like these when they do arrive.

Cadillac XLR-V

My time with the XLR-V was tragically brief, but it didn’t take long for me to appreciate its exceptional powertrain. The gutsy supercharged V-8 alone will get your attention, but its harmonious integration with the six-speed automatic is inspiring. The gearing is very well matched, and the revs stay at remarkably low rpm in normal driving, much like the Chevy Corvette on which this Caddy is based. Stand on it, though, and the XLR-V takes off like a shot. Chirping the tires when already in motion is one thing; doing so when moving at highway speed is an accomplishment — one I accomplished enough to ensure I wasn’t imagining it. Though it’s not marked, if you move the gear selector into the manual-shift gate, it seems to activate an eager automatic sport-shift mode. Only when you push up or back does it start locking in gears. There are no shift paddles, and I certainly didn’t miss them.

Bank Breakers: The Cadillac XLR-V and Jaguar XKR

If you're considering a high-performance convertible like the Cadillac XLR-V or Jaguar XLR — both of which are at or around six figures — it's not asking too much to expect everything to be top-notch, right? You would think so, but after driving and examining these two cars, it's clear that certain areas received more of those hard-earned dollars than others.

Friday Fleet Notes: 6.22.07

One perk about working around cars is that you get to drive a lot of luxury brands that you’re probably not going to end up plunking down your own hard-earned money for. That’s the case with two recent entries into our fleet from BMW and Jaguar. We were all easily swayed by the luxury cruisers, but that’s because they did a terrific job impressing us with their substance and style, not because we pine away for them. Well, for the most part.

2008 BMW 550i

Question: What does the 550i do that I like? Answer: Everything. The seat's good, the drivetrain’s good, the shifter was good; I liked the steering wheel, headroom, visibility, exhaust note … heck, I even liked the white paint. I drive everything that comes in here with a manual transmission if my bosses let me (they hogged the Mini we had), and this was the best.

2007 Geneva Motor Show: Jaguar XKR Portfolio

Jaguar has a hit on its hands with the new XK sports coupe and convertible. The even more expensive XKR features a supercharged V-8 engine, and now there’s an even higher trim level, just introduced at the Geneva Motor Show: the XKR Portfolio.

The XKR Portfolio starts out life as a regular XKR but adds unique 20-inch wheels, custom Celestial Black paint, larger brakes, new interior trim choices and an upgraded stereo system with Bowers & Wilkins speakers.

No prices have been announced, but dealers are taking orders. Photo gallery below.

2008 Jaguar XJ World Debut

Switzerland will be the place to be next week, when the 2007 Geneva Motor Show officially kicks off, but we’re still getting plenty of new car news leading up to the big event. Today, Jaguar unveiled the 2008 XJ. The company’s flagship sedan receives some new body work, most noticeably a more aggressive grille and a side vent borrowed from the XK coupe.

The seats are new and provide more rear legroom. Otherwise, things look very much the same. The car should drive the same, as the engine choices have not changed; there are two V-8s, a 300-hp version and a 400-hp supercharged one.

If you’re into Bluetooth phones, the new XJ can handle up to five with its in-car phone system. There’s also an optional GPS antitheft device to track down your wayward Jag. Expect to see the new XJ at dealers this August. Full photo gallery below.

2007 Detroit Auto Show: Jaguar C-XF Concept

Before we start blabbing just take a gander at the photo above. Impressed? This is the new design Jaguar hopes will stir the soul enough to rescue the struggling luxury marquee from lackluster sales and the butt of jokes around the valet line. We think it could actually live up to all of the automaker’s greatest hopes.

What you’re looking at is a concept car, but expect next year’s XF — the car that will replace the current S-Type — to look very similar to this four-door coupe concept. Four-door coupes have been the design range since Mercedes introduced the stunning CLS a couple of years back.

Besides the extreme looks and a supercharged V-8 engine we don’t know much more about the C-XF. Look for more information to come during the Detroit auto show starting Jan. 7. Of course, you can also scroll below for a huge collection of photographs.

Detroit Auto Show Update: Ford Interceptor, Jaguar Concept, New Scions

While most of us would like to take it easy this holiday season, the automakers will have none of it. They’re gearing up for the most important industry event of the year, the Detroit auto show. Publications everywhere are gathering every tidbit they can on what we can expect to see in a few weeks. We’re still trying to figure out who gets to ride with Wiesenfelder to Detroit, but there’s still time to pre-cap the anticipated revelations.

• Ford vehemently denied rumors that there would be a four-door version of the next generation Mustang, but at the same time they admitted there would be a sedan concept in Detroit based on the Mustang, just not called Mustang. We’re still unsure if it will be based on the current Mustang’s somewhat aging underpinnings or some new architecture. The name? The Interceptor. I guess the F naming convention is really over — think Fusion, Focus, Freestyle etc. Update: Check out the Interceptor here.
  
• Jaguar revealed a teaser image of the concept they’ll debut in Detroit, shown here. All we know is it is a four-door sedan. That means it could either be the anticipated S-Type replacement the XF or a new take on the iconic XJ. We’re betting on the XF. Update: Check out the C-XF Concept here.
  
• Scion held an event for current owners in Miami where it showed off the next generation xB and the all-new xD. The xD replaces the xA compact car which was greatly overshadowed by the boxy xB. Both will be revealed to the public in Detroit and go on sale in mid-2007.

Related:
Detroit Auto Show Update: Mazda Tribute and Two Nissan Debuts
Detroit Auto Show Update: Mazda and Lincoln Concepts

Cars.com Review Roundup

We’ve been so busy flying to auto shows that we keep forgetting to mention all the new car reviews that have been posted on the main Cars.com site. Since our last roundup, the editorial staff has reviewed some of today’s most anticipated new models, from the economical Suzuki SX4 to the premium Jaguar XKR. Here’s a full list with links. Enjoy.

• 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL550
• 2007 Saturn Outlook
• 2007 Suzuki SX4
• 2007 Ford Five Hundred
• 2007 Suzuki XL7
• 2007 Jaguar XKR

New Jaguar XF Replacing S-Type

Jaguar just delivered the first images and information on the 2008 Jaguar S-Type, but most observers won’t notice anything different from the previous five model years. That’s because Jaguar is replacing the S-Type with an all-new sedan called the XF in early 2008.

There are absolutely no details about the XF available from Jaguar, other than it will replace the S-Type and a vague reference to it resembling the new XK coupe and convertible. The name follows in the footsteps of the XJ and XK. With a release date of spring 2008, we’d expect to see a concept version of the XF relatively soon — like at the Detroit auto show in January. 

What is new for the 2008 S-Type? Well, the entire lineup gets the wire mesh grille and bumper treatments that appeared on the previous year’s performance-oriented S-Type R. A new assortment of wheels are available, and the front seats have been upgraded. Otherwise you’re looking at the same car as in 2007, with the same engine choices. The 2008 S-Type will go on sale in the first half of 2007. Prices have not yet been announced.

Source: Ford

Related:
2007 Detroit Auto Show: Jaguar C-XF Concept

Jaguar Dealers Really Satisfy

J.D. Power is all about ranking stuff. It doesn’t matter what you buy, they want to rank it. When it comes to cars, they even rank customers’ satisfaction with the dealership where they bought their new car. A surprise occurs in the latest such study. Of all automotive brands in the land, folks were most pleased with Jaguar. We say that with a smirk because Jaguar has just one significantly new model in its showrooms — the sexy XK — and isn’t known for overall product quality, either. According to J.D. Power, half of all customers who walk out of a dealership point to poor treatment as the cause, and that means Jaguar is keeping walk-ins happy enough to sell them a car, sexy or not.

Cadillac, Lincoln, Porsche and Toyota filled out the top five, but we’re giving Jaguar its moment in the spotlight.

[Jaguar Tops in Buyers' Dealership Satisfaction, Detroit Free Press]

Cars Making a Comeback on TV

I’ll just say up front, I’m a TV junkie. I love TV. I love TV almost as much as I love cars, and when the two meet in a proper fashion, let’s just say I’m impressed. Last night I was watching the debut of Ray Liotta’s new show, “Smith,” and two cars caught my eye in one of the best shows I’ve seen so far this year.

Liotta’s character, Bobby, is living a double life. He appears to be a devoted family man with a wife, two kids and a job selling promotional products. This Bobby drives a tan Ford Five Hundred, possibly the most sedate, unassuming car someone could purchase. When the other Bobby gets ready to do some crime as the leader of a gang of professional thieves, he heads to his safe house, picks out wads of cash, new IDs and credit cards, and rolls out of the garage in a hot $100,000+ Aston Martin V8 Vantage sports car.

It might surprise some of our readers that Ford actually has an office in Hollywood that makes deals with TV studios to get these cars driven by characters. Remember Eva Longoria’s “Desperate Housewives” character moving up from a Jaguar to an Aston Martin last year? Yep, that was Ford.

2007 Jaguar XKR Coupe, Convertible Pricing Announced

Don’t say we don’t deliver news for every car buyer under the sun. As the onslaught of new model data streams in, we tackled one of the least expensive cars — the Chevy Aveo — yesterday. Today’s news focuses on the high-performance trims of the luxury Jaguar XK Coupe and Convertible.

The price of entry for the 2007 XKR Coupe is $85,835; $91,835 for the Convertible. Prices do not include a $665 destination charge. The XK and XKR as well are completely redesigned for 2007. The XKR price is up from $82,330 and $87,330 respectively from 2006 models but there’s a lot of new in the “all-new” designation.

High-Powered Models Stolen Most

CCC Information Services released its list of the most-stolen vehicles in 2005. It’s an odd list because some of the usual suspects — like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord — didn’t break the top 10. In fact, topping the list is the BMW M-Series roadster, a performance vehicle. High-powered sedans like the Mercury Marauder, Audi S4 and Jaguar XJR also made the list. We wonder if joyriding has impacted the most-stolen list this year.

Otherwise, the rest of the top 10 — yes, all six remaining spots — go to late-model Acura Integras. Some things never change.

The Top 10:

1. 2001 BMW M-Series roadster
2. 1998 Acura Integra
3. 2004 Mercury Marauder
4. 1999 Acura Integra
5. 1995 Acura Integra
6. 2002 Audi S4
7. 1996 Acura Integra
8. 1997 Acura Integra
9. 2001 Acura Integra
10. 2000 Jaguar XJR

[Top 10 Stolen Cars in 2005, Star-Telegram]

2007 Jaguar XJ Announced in England

Don’t fret if it gets a bit more British around here over the next few days. There’s a major auto show across the pond this week, and a number of companies are debuting their latest wares. Jaguar took the opportunity to announce the slightly updated XJ sedan today and there are some changes for American customers. This is Jaguar's top-of-the-line model and features an aluminum frame and V-8 engine.

What’s new this year? Not much on the outside. Some new mesh grille work previously reserved for the higher-level trims is now standard and there are four new colors, but otherwise the 2007 is unchanged from the 2006 on the outside. Engine choices remain essentially the same with slight power upgrades: a 300-hp, 4.2 liter V-8 comes standard and a supercharged 400-hp V-8 is available in the XJR.

There are new trim options inside, but otherwise it too remains the same.

No prices or on-sale date have been announced for the U.S. We’d expect to see 2007s in early fall and for prices to remain similar to the 2006 model year price of $61,830 for the base XJ and $79,330 for the XJR.

[Source: Jaguar]

2007 Jaguar XK: My Take

Joe Wiesenfelder’s extremely thorough – and unusually ecstatic – review of the all-new 2007 Jaguar XK coupe and convertible is a terrific read. Often around the office writers will argue over what they thought of each car, but on this Joe and I see eye to eye: the XK is a winner.

And Joe’s not wrong to point out the looks as one of the important “win” factors. When compared to the awkward wedge shape of the BMW 650i, the XK is all curves. From any angle besides head-on, the XK is tough to compete with, unless you’re in the rarified air of $100,000-plus vehicles.

Jaguar Adds Power to Already Stylish XKR

Some people might be noncommittal about the all-new Jaguar XK’s front end, but from every other angle it’s a winner. We even found the base 300-hp powerplant darn nice. Gosh, remember the days when 300 hp was a lot to handle? But there will always be those who need something more, especially from their luxury coupes and convertibles. So Jaguar has answered with the XKR, announced today.

The R designation is similar to BMW’s M or Mercedes-Benz’s AMG and adds a 420 hp supercharged engine and plenty of other performance bits, as well as some exterior and interior touches like a vented hood and mesh grill.

No prices or on-sale dates have been announced for this high-performance trim, but the base XK starts at $74,835 and the previous generation XKR commanded about a $10,000 premium.

[Source: Jaguar]

Jaguar Offers Plug-and-Play Entertainment System

Jaguar recently announced a $1,499 entertainment option for its X-Type sedan that should please parents and gadget fans alike. The Rear Screen Connectivity System offers a panel of standard RCA inputs for a wide range of common gizmos, from DVD players to iPods. It then plays the media on two LCD screens built into the headrests along with wireless headphones.

We’re impressed by three things: the ease of use of the connector panel, two built-in LCD screens usually seen in more expensive models, and a reasonable price. DVD entertainment systems in domestic SUVs are similarly priced, though this system should warn “DVD player not included.”

The fact that Jaguar is launching this in its smallest and least popular model is a bit odd, as is the lack of S-video or higher-end digital or optical connections. You can get the system installed at your dealer for the X-Type now, and it will be available for the S-Type sedan in August. We’d like to see this option make its way across all the Ford-owned brands, but with a larger array of connection types.

[Source: Jaguar]