seen. Yes, you can’ t escape the thicklyglazed wood trim that wraps around the cabin, the touch screen isn’ t the pretties or most intuitive unit around, and I’ m still not convinced that the use of a TFT screen in place of physical instrument dials is good idea when all it is displaying is a rendition of a physical instrument dial in the first place. Yet you won’ t even notice those things once you gaze upon those giant air conditioning vents, the polished chrome gear dial, and the curvaceous dashboard that is simply imaginative and spellbinding to behold.
Wake the supercharged V6 from its slumber and you are treated to a delicious rumble with a creamy smooth power delivery.
Slam on the throttle and the XJL simply wafts away on a torrent of torque, and the new eight-speed ZF transmission keeps the flow of power to the rear wheel uninterrupted.
The tight downhill left-hander of turn two looks especially imposing as you exit turn one from the perch of a limousine, but the XJL changes direction with sublime ease.
Even with the“ Dynamic” mode selected, the suspension does allow for a whole lot of body lean, yet the XJ’ s lighter aluminium body doesn’ t seem to pull and unstick the tyres from the tarmac.
Unlike its Germanic contemporaries, the XJL doesn’ t feel unwieldy like a sledgehammer in a knife fight, it flows easily with the smooth flowing technical corners. For its imposing bulk and size, the XJL is surprisingly lithe, and quick on its feet. If it weren’ t for the acres of cabin space, we would have thought that it was a 5-series or E-class competitor, which bodes well for the actual 5-series or E-class competitor when it was time to step into the XF.
Out of the XJL and into the XF with the
SpECifiCaTiOnS
Jaguar XF 2.0Ti
Engine 1,999cc 4-cylinder direct-injection turbocharged
Max power 237hp( 177kw) @ 5,500rpm
Max torque 340nm
Transmission eight-speed automatic, rearwheel drive
Acceleration( 0-100km / h) 7.9 seconds
Top speed 240km / h
Fuel consumption( combined) 8.9L / 100km
CO2 emissions 207g / km
Price rm388,888 nett
SpECifiCaTiOnS
Jaguar XF 3.0SC
Engine 2,995cc V6 supercharged max power: 335hp( 250kw) @ 6,500rpm
Max power 450nm
Transmission eight-speed automatic, rearwheel drive
Acceleration( 0-100km / h) 5.9 seconds
Top speed 250km / h
Fuel consumption( combined) 9.6L / 100km
CO2 emissions 224g / km
Price rm588,888 nett
same supercharged V6 engine, and it really does feel that we have tumbled down the rabbit hole, and emerged in a Jaguar from the last century.
The simple dashboard and instruments does feel plain and dated, not only in stark contrast to the newer XJL, but also to its Germanic competitors. Its thicker and smaller diameter steering does give the XF a more intimate feel than the XJL with its larger wooden trimmed steering wheel, and all the more better suited for the car’ s smaller dimensions.
According to Jaguar’ s official statistics, both the XF and XJL with the same engine and transmission would be able to accelerate in 5.9 seconds. A further study into the specifications of both cars reveals that they weigh nearly the same despite the 300mm difference in body length.
Out on the circuit however, even though both cars deliver roughly the same accelerative hit, the XF convoy easily left the XJL in its dust, thanks to smaller dimensions that make it easier to carve the perfect racing line through the corners.
Like the XJL, the XF’ s suspension system feels soft and compliant on the corners, and like the big limousine, keeps its tyres clawed onto the road.
Though the XF isn’ t the sharpest tool we have taken on the track, with its body lean and cosseting ride, the grip and poise from the chassis does show that the XF still has some real talent underneath the more you dig into it.
Tiny heart, big ambitions
Taking a break from the trackside activities, we stepped into an XF 2.0Ti fitted with the new 2-litre direct-injection turbocharged petrol engines for a short gymkhana session in the SIC car park.
While we are certainly no strangers to the new engine – as it is the same powerful engine derived from the Ford Mondeo and Volvo S6 – we weren’ t impressed with the unit found on board the XF. Not to say that it was unrefined or underpowered but the turbolag feels more apparent, especially when tasked with handling a tight course, which requires quick acceleration off the line.
If you need a quick getaway, it is best to keep the needle from pointing anywhere below the 2,000rpm mark on the
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