JAGUAR XF US

The all-new second-generation 2016 Jaguar XF luxury sedan featuring Jaguar aluminum-intensive construction will bring a unique blend of design, technology, and refinement to the segment.

The Jaguar XF is offered in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, with a choice between two V6 supercharged engines and the brand's most comprehensive suite of advanced performance, driver assistance and infotainment technology.

As part of the realignment of the Jaguar brand, the entry level XF now features a supercharged V6 engine, over the inline-4 of the previous model year, lowering the cost of entry into the premium powertrain. The XF model line-up also receives an all-new 380hp supercharged V6 engine providing customers with greater choice.

DESIGN

Redesigned from the ground up using Jaguar aluminum-intensive architecture, the second generation Jaguar XF delivers better proportions, more interior space and a progressive, highly streamlined form.

Taking its rightful place between the mid-size Jaguar XE and the full-size luxury Jaguar XJ sedans, the all-new Jaguar XF features a more vertical front end, shorter front overhang, longer wheelbase and new rear quarter windows. Mirroring the evolution of the Jaguar design language, the sleek, coupe-like profile, long hood with deep power bulge and the short front overhang make the XF stand apart from the crowd.

"In creating the all-new XF, as a design team we have been driven by discipline, the discipline of simplicity. Every exterior line on the XF has a clear purpose - nothing is superfluous. Achieving that simplicity takes time and requires great determination; it's all too easy to add lines to a car, but much harder to add character by leaving lines out. Inside too, we have been driven by the desire to ensure the cabin of the all-new XF is as comforting as it is comfortable. New technology is combined carefully with materials that cosset and reassure. The all-new XF has a clear sense of calm and strength, both outside and inside - and I'm proud of my team for delivering that," said Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar.

Benefiting from the design flexibility of the Jaguar modular vehicle architecture, the wheelbase of the all-new Jaguar XF has been increased by 2in (51mm) to 116.5in (2,960mm) while the overall length of the vehicle decreases by 0.3in (7mm) to 195in (4,954mm) long. This longer wheelbase delivers superior packaging that liberates an additional 0.6in (15mm) of rear legroom, 0.9in (24mm) of rear knee room and up to 1.1in (27mm) of rear headroom.

The front overhang is now 2.6in (66mm) shorter, emphasizing the car's dynamic, rear-wheel drive stance and the outstanding proportions characteristic to all Jaguar vehicles.

The mesh grille is more vertical than before, helping to reduce drag and delivering a more mature look to the vehicle.

Aerodynamics are improved by using vents in the front bumper to channel air over the front wheels. This helps to prevent the turbulent wheel wake from disturbing the smooth laminar airflow passing around the car.

The headlights, including the optional adaptive full-LED technology, are flush with the surrounding panels, improving aesthetics and aerodynamics. They also feature the signature Jaguar J-Blade LED daytime running lights and a 'modern quad' design, referencing the four round lights that Jaguar sedans have made iconic. The fluting running backwards from the top of the headlights is another detail inspired by the rich heritage of the Jaguar brand.

The one-piece aluminum body side pressings emphasize the Jaguar brand philosophy that surfacing should always be executed with the discipline of simplicity and purity. Designing and manufacturing these panels from a single sheet contributes not only to the overall stiffness of the body, but also to surfacing purity and quality as there are no visible joints.

The sweeping, coupe-like profile which defined the first-generation XF has evolved, and now features rear quarter windows. The additional feature allows for a clearer view out from the rear seats, and combined with the standard sunroof, allow more natural light to flood into the cabin.

Still relatively high to emphasize dynamics and movement through ideal proportion between the wheel, body and cabin, the waistline is now slightly more horizontal than before. The roofline is lower and the rear deck longer and higher to reduce drag.

Running from front to back, peaking above the rear wheel in terms of height and then tapering away, is a chamfered feature line known as 'the spear of light.' The reflections make the car appear more lithe, agile and elegant.

At the rear, the LED tail lights feature the signature Jaguar design from the F-Type - a line intersecting a roundel - also used on the Jaguar XE. Here, the design is repeated, creating a clear hierarchy from the Jaguar XE, and an unmistakable pattern at night.

The chrome signature blade running across the trunk lid between the light clusters is slimmer than before, highlighting the taut surfaces and dynamic visual balance of the all-new Jaguar XF.

To deliver the flush fit of the light clusters and perfect integration of the chrome blade, the trunk lid is made from two steel pressings joined by laser brazing. As well as being energy-efficient, this process was selected for its precision and neat, clean finish.

The interior of the Jaguar XF has always attracted praise, especially the start-up sequence bringing the car to life as the rotary gear selector rises up from the center console and the air vents rotate into position. The goal was to retain that sense of occasion - and the strong, simple lines and horizontal feel of the instrument panel - but mature the design language and the use of materials, befitting the status of the all-new XF now that the Jaguar XE is in position as the entry-level Jaguar sports sedan.

The layered instrument panel, now with the Jaguar signature 'Riva Hoop' inspired by the Jaguar XJ, continues into the door, creating a unique cabin feel. This is enhanced by the generous application of veneers such as Gloss Figured Ebony and textured aluminum trim such as Dark Hex.

With options such as the reconfigurable, 12.3-inch full-TFT instrument cluster and 10.2-inch touchscreen, four-zone climate control, cooled front seats and 10-color ambient lighting, the all-new Jaguar XF reflects the standard for interior luxury and design.

The longer wheelbase means the second row sits further away from the rear wheels, improving refinement. This created the opportunity to reduce seat height slightly, contributing to the increased headroom, which gains an additional 1.1in (27mm). Options such as the four-zone climate control system, heated rear seats and window blinds make the second row more comfortable.

The rear bench also features a 40:20:40 split, making it easier to through-load bulky items such as skis or snowboards. The trunk now features an optional power close function.

ARCHITECTURE AND BODY STRUCTURE

Used to create inherently light and stiff body structures, aluminum alloys, self-piercing rivets and structural adhesives enhance performance, efficiency, and dynamics. These attributes were engineered into the Jaguar aluminum-intensive architecture from which the all-new Jaguar XF was developed. Also featuring advanced high-strength steels, the aluminum-intensive unibody uses materials intelligently, exploiting each to its full potential.

Aluminum is also used to make the hood and front fenders, while the front-end carrier and cross-car beam are cast from even lighter magnesium alloys. Combined with the other weight savings made throughout the vehicle, the all-new Jaguar XF is up to 265lbs (AWD) lighter than its predecessor.

Features such as the high-pressure die-cast aluminum front suspension towers increase local stiffness and make a significant contribution to the ride, handling and steering of the all-new XF.

The move from an all-steel to an aluminum-intensive unibody leverages more than a decade's experience of manufacturing luxury vehicles from aluminum in high volume. The one-piece body sides of the all-new XF are testament to expertise in working with the material. Pressed from a single sheet of high-strength 6000-series alloy, the body sides weigh less than 13.2lbs (6kg). Perfecting the deep haunches and the quarter windows incorporated all of the learning from the Jaguar F-Type in terms of depth of draw and tightness of radii.

Assembly to the rest of the structure uses a two-stage framing process. The technique allows for greater joint efficiency through optimized positioning of the rivets. This translates to increased torsional rigidity of the body, making the all-new Jaguar XF up to 28 percent stiffer than its predecessor.

The all-new Jaguar XF is more refined with much of the improvement coming from reducing structure-born noise. Critical to this is that the body behaves as one homogeneous structure: wherever vibration energy finds a discontinuity it will concentrate and then radiate noise through to the cabin.

Every part of the body was analyzed in this way to ensure that as many potential sources of noise could be designed-out. In some areas, such as the crash structure behind the front bulkhead, fully-sealed, double-wall structures are used. Where sound deadening has been applied, the latest spray-on materials are used due to their combination of higher performance and lower weight.

Foam baffles inside the aluminum sections also contribute. These pieces are fitted during assembly: as the body passes through the e-coating ovens the heat causes the foam to expand so that it completely fills the section.

A further example of the attention to detail which delivered the vehicle's low levels of cabin noise is typified by the way in which the high-level brake light is fitted to the body. Running all the way along the full length of the rear glass, this full-LED light has a seal and an acoustic barrier behind it to minimize any noise leakage through to the interior.

5000-series aluminum alloy pressings are used where stiffness is a key, such as in the underframe reinforcements. These include RC5754, a grade unique to Jaguar Land Rover, which is made predominantly from recycled material. Around half of this is scrap sourced from the press shops, helping not only the move towards closed-loop recycling but also reductions in overall electricity consumption and therefore lifecycle CO2 emissions.

As part of the intelligent material mix in the body, the rear longitudinal members and the B-pillar reinforcements are made from ultra-high strength hot-formed boron steels, providing exceptional rigidity and stability of the occupant safety cell.