insideKENT Magazine Issue 39 - June 2015 | Page 143
The R-Sport Black is Jaguar's 'last hurrah' for
the current XF, before the new one is rolled out,
and as such is a real opportunity for fans to get
a bit of a bargain. It boasts £8,770 worth of extra
enhancement, such as whopping great 20-inch
alloys and a bone-shakingly loud 825w Meridian
Surround Sound System, but costs just £2,100
more than a standard R-Sport. This is very good
value indeed, and the resulting car is nothing
short of magnificent.
Even though this model has been in production
for an impressive seven years, the XF is a
stunningly beautiful and stylish car. On the outside,
it is not so much constructed as sculpted, almost
seeming to have been chiselled out of marble or
rock, like a renaissance statue. The resulting car
and its eye catching Kyanite Blue paintwork
makes you gasp when you first see it, and then
it is very hard to break your gaze. And the way
it sits low on the road, coupled with the
magnificent 20-inch Black Kalimnos alloy wheels,
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affords the instant and utterly accurate impression
that this car is going to be epic to drive.
Your first 'wow moment' inside the XF is watching
the air vents open and gear dial rise dramatically
out of the console as you get inside, and it doesn't
stop there. Sumptuous leather, luxurious panels,
a plethora of gizmos and gadgetry – the interior
is every bit as beautiful and awe-inspiring as the
exterior. The seats are incredibly comfortable
and the driving position feels perfect the moment
you sit down.
Finally, upon starting the XF R-Sport Black, you're
met with the most glorious roar as the 2.2-litre
engine sparks into life. As you pull away, the RSport Black rewards your anticipation with 0-60
in 8 seconds flat, and a top speed of 140mph.
Travelling fast on the motorway, the ride is
perfectly comfortable and smooth, and on the