Posted on Monday 18 February 2008
Dealerships around the world have been taking in pre-orders of the model that many hope will revive Jaguar’s ailing sales and reputation. The XF, designed as a replacement to the S-Type, goes on sale March 10, but already 10,000 people have reserved their seat behind the wheel.
With the replacement of the S-Type, the worst remains of Jaguar’s oft-belittled last generation is the X-Type, which should be sold off within the next month. Sales of the XF sedan will move into high gear as the sales launch nears, and already dealers are being told of more powerful engine options that will be available in 2010. Those who have to have their XF now won’t be shortchanged, however, as the standard car will get a 4.2L V8 and start at just $49,975 in the U.S, reports Automotive News.
The United States accounts for 3,000 of the 10,000 pre-orders already taken by dealerships around the world. With a powerful V8, a reasonable price, a sexy new modern look and a Jaguar-worthy interior, it’s no wonder the lines for the new car are so long. But initial sales aren’t equivalent to final success. Jaguar has to keep the ball rolling in terms of sales, quality, features and price in order to continue in the new market. The XF is a good start, and the upcoming 2010 refresh of the XJ sedan, along with the new high-performance engine lines should prove to continue Jaguar’s new upward trend.
Also interesting in the XF’s debut is how the pending sale to Tata Motors seems to be having none of the depressing effect on Jaguar’s image or sales that many pundits and dealers predicted. In fact, the infusion of new capital and getting the brand away from the corporate influence of Ford - the company’s tenure as owner of the British marque was checkered, at best - may be having a positive influence on public perception of the future of Jaguar.
Full disclosure: I have driven the sedately boring, old-fashioned S-class and I thought it looked lovely but drove like something out of the 1970s. I have not driven the XF, but I can only hope for the opposite. The styling is dreadful, not classy at all, from the Flawed Focus chrome side vent to the un-cat-like styling, this is not even as good at looking like a Lexus as the IS. One can only hope that the inside is better than the outside and that it drives a lot better than it looks.
Most people thought the S-Type didn’t look good, that’s the whole reason they’re replacing it with this. The XF looks much more modern and most people like that, there will always be someone who doesn’t like it but more people like this than the S-Type. I personally think this looks sleek and modern, a very good looking car all around.
roy, im with skyline on this….
typically everyone hates the styling of a new jag… its only with time to people see the style. as soon as this car grows on people, it will be seen as classy, while still being modern.
think of the cts… it caused a huge rift in the automotive world because it was so radical for caddy… and now look at it… everyone loves it.. young AND old.
and the comment about the lexus…… thats cause the IS is the only really enticing looking IS. the only lexus that doesnt look like a fat camry.
I like the XF from all angles except for the front. The front looks cheap and not keeping in exciting design of the rest of the vehicle. Personally, I think too many of the exciting features from the proto type/show car were lost with the production model.
Living in an area which gets lots of snow I’d not be interested in a rear wheel drive platform anyway. They need an AWD version of this car as well.
craig.,.. good point… for the size of this car… AWD should be available.. and yeah, its been dumbed down a little too much from the concept… even for a normally docile brand. I can only hope that the sports car version is true to the concept.
so question.. with 10,000 preorders… doesnt that mean that the XF is a better selling car in preorders than the last year of S types? thats crazy.
For those of you that think the XF is ugly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMvbFXou6y4
:)
I don’t think this car needs AWD, most of cars sold in this segment doesn’t have AWD either. As for the styling, i’m not sure about the front. The back is quite beautiful, likewise the interior, but from the front the grille is weird and the whole shape reminds me of a Lexus GS a lot
I’m sold on the XF. You MUST see it in person to really appreciate it. Then test drive it. I wasn’t crazy about the front of the XF from the pictures. In person, it’s beautiful. To me, the XF is what the W Hotels are to the hospitality industry - sleek, modern and hip.
The car is stunning, simply superb. It’s a class above the Lexus in terms of styling and finish and beats it hands down on the road in every department. Not as comfy as the Rover 75 but if you want to go round corners then the Jag is the better option.
Re. the “un-cat” like styling, if Jaguar produce a car with the “cat - like” styling they get hammered by the press for producing something for the over 70’s golf club types, of whom there are very few compared to the 35 - 50 market that the new car is aimed at.