Officially Official: Jaguar C-XF Concept - pics galore
click on the image above to view the full high-resolution gallery of 34 pics
Embargo breaking notwithstanding, there is still lots of information to share on the C-XF Concept that Jaguar will officially debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week. The design finally breaks Jaguar away from the ball and chain of its own traditions with a decidedly un-retro shape that still manages to exude a feline quality. This cat is more like a lion, however, thanks to a 4.2-liter supercharged V8 producing 420 hp and 368 ft-lbs. of torque driving the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The C-XF also showcases some new technology, including something called JaguarSense that allows certain functions in the cockpit to be activated with a gesture of the hand instead of the push of a button. The interior also employs advanced lighting that bathes the cabin in an electric blue when the vehicle is started. Now, Jaguar's design director Ian Callum and his team want us to know that we are not staring at the next S-Type sedan, though the C-XF does display the brand's new design direction going forward.
As we said, there's lots more material on the CX-F, so check out Jaguar's press release after the jump and a full high-resolution gallery of 34 pics here. They're all 1,280 pixels wide, so feel free to make one your next desktop wallpaper.
[Source: Jaguar]
PRESS RELEASE:
THE ALL-NEW JAGUAR C-XF REVEALED
All-New Jaguar Concept Car Reveals Dramatic New Design Direction for Future Sport Sedans
IRVINE, Calif. January 3, 2007 – The all-new Jaguar C-XF concept car, a stunning four-door sedan that blends dynamic, modern features with classic, heritage cues, will make its debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich. This concept, which boasts a 4.2-liter supercharged V8 engine, signifies a new era for the company and is a clear indication of the design direction for the company's next-generation of sport sedans.
Headed by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum and Head of Advanced Design Julian Thomson, the concept was designed by the same team that produced the award-winning 2007 Jaguar XK Coupe and Convertible. The team looked to create a vehicle that presents a confident statement of design purity. In doing so, the C-XF possesses a sense of latent power through a look that is dynamic and athletic.
"The Jaguar C-XF concept is the most dynamic and modern four-door car that Jaguar has ever created, a design showcase heralding the next generations of our sports saloon models," says Ian Callum. "It signals a future for Jaguar that is as exciting as the C-XF itself."
The concept sedan features single, slim-wedged headlamps which have evolved from the twin-lamp motif seen on past Jaguars. The lights are thin and angular, producing an aggressive look for the car's front profile. Running from the headlamps to the rear wheel haunch is an unbroken, main feature line that gives the car a sense of power and movement. Furthering the vehicles aggressive appearance are the muscular bonnet, side power vents, tapered tail and deeply recessed front grille.
The vehicle's modern, sports design philosophy is applied to the cabin as well, with the emphasis tailored toward performance as opposed to luxury. Inside are lightweight, sculpted bucket-style front seats and twin individual rear bucket seats. Running in between the seats is a tall, central transmission tunnel that gives the occupants a sense of sitting deep within a futuristic cockpit. In addition, a brushed aluminum fascia wraps around the cabin, producing a dynamic linear graphic that instills a sense of velocity. Design Director Ian Callum describes the cabin of the all-new C-XF concept car as "one of the most exciting interiors Jaguar has ever done."
Enhancing the cabin experience is the introduction of the vehicle's new technologies that blend simplicity of design with practical innovation. JaguarSense, a prototype technology which employs motion detecting sensors to activate certain vehicle features, reacts to the sweep of a hand, making it advance yet intuitive. Also, the C-XF has a jewel-like Power button that pulses like a heartbeat on the center console and once pushed, aluminum rings lower from the center console to reveal the gear shift knob. As the engine starts, a blue light sweeps around the cabin, the entire roofline illuminates with a muted blue light and a final blue light shines from the front grille, signifying the car's ignition.
The C-XF is not just another concept car – it is much more than that. Its dynamic styling and modern design offer a glimpse to the future for Jaguar. The exterior is pure and athletic, the interior striking and contemporary while the technology innovative and practical. The C-XF is the new direction of Jaguar design.
From its beginning as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars in 1922, Jaguar Cars has grown to become one of the world's premier manufacturers of luxury sedans and sports cars and with that, one of the most recognized commercial brands. The company's vision is simple: To produce beautiful fast cars that are desired the world over. The company operates two manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom and is fully engaged in environmental programs, community work and brand awareness exercises such as motorsports.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
xxlost_causexx 2:01AM (1/03/2007)
Don't get me wrong it looks good.
But it is just a reworked/rebadged Mondeo/Iosis.
It'll get diluted to boredom.
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Dracos 2:06AM (1/03/2007)
Why is Jaguar's design heritage a ball and chain?
Either way, this doesn't look like a Jaguar in any way, so it's going to be a tough sell to the marque's biggest fans.
If they simply made the grille opening vertical instead of horizontal, it would have one Jaguar design element. This looks like some other bored rich man is playing copycat to Fisker. The design is good, it just doesn't say what it is.
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mk 2:10AM (1/03/2007)
FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC.
I have been drooling over this car since the first pictures leaked out...
Most gorgeous sedan shape I have seen under a quarter of a million dollars (held by another brit, big sister Aston Martin Rapide.)
I would buy this car. New, used, now, later, eventually, someday as a future classic. I would buy it somehow.
I like the S-type R, but this is from a whole other planet, styling wise.
The only things that could improve it would be:
a 5th-door hatchback, like the XK, (and Rapide.)
An automated clutched manual transmission, rather than a hydraulic automatic. Dual Clutch Gearbox would be amazing here.
A magical rear-biased AWD system that didn't add 800lbs to the car. RWD is good, but I wouldn't be able to put this car away for the winter.
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dd 2:13AM (1/03/2007)
Shame that Jaguar can't manage to get 420HP from a 4.2litre engine without supercharging. If the "M" team at BMW can do it (and Ferrari naturally), you'd think Jaguar would make an effort.
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V4 2:16AM (1/03/2007)
Sexy...
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Dustin 3:13AM (1/03/2007)
It's interesting,
but it doesn't light my fire.. :-/
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mk 2:28AM (1/03/2007)
I am sorry. A rear-wheel drive V8 supercharged sport sedan is NOT a re-worked mondeo. It just isn't. naysayers be damned. Fiskers look nice because they are designed well. This car is designed VERY well. That doesn't make it a knock-off and this design is purer than Fisker's adaptations on existing chassis'.
I think the C-XF it is unmistakeably Jaguar, just as the XK180 concept was. Not as much homage to classical jaguars, albeit, but no one is going to mistake this for a camry or accord, that is certain.
Everyone panned the new XJ in that it looked too traditional, and didn't move the marque forward. Now this does, and people complain? ABOUT THIS CAR? find some other parade to rain on. This is a drop-dead gorgeous car, and it screams jaguar tomorrow. not jaguar yesterday.
Even with a taller roof line than this concept, if they keep the lines of this cat for the production XF, they will have something special in the showroom.
IF they do dilute it down, I will be the one most dissappointed.
This looks soooo much better than the Interceptor, or the Lincoln concept car. The CLS "4-door non-coupe" needs no help looking awkward, but this is in another league.
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ruggels 3:10AM (1/03/2007)
"Shame that Jaguar can't manage to get 420HP from a 4.2litre engine without supercharging. If the "M" team at BMW can do it (and Ferrari naturally), you'd think Jaguar would make an effort."
... and Audi, and the list goes on and on and on, it's the same point i make whenever see this 4.2 jag powerplant... it's a redundant one though, ford's selling PAG piece by piece and we know jag's gotten the short end of the budget stick for years now, no surprise their engines aren't top spec.
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Peter 5:28AM (1/03/2007)
Does the front end remind anyone else of a Seat? More specifically, the large rectangular grill and the angled headlights.
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Brooks 3:19AM (1/03/2007)
The gauges... go... backwards!
Can you imagine running through the gears, watching the tach start at the top and going down, counterclockwise, through the revs?
*sobs*
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Geoffrey M. 3:32AM (1/03/2007)
I like the outside.....they got some ideas from Audi...the interior has to look like royality to make this perfect Jag!
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BOB 3:55AM (1/03/2007)
HOT! HOT! HOT! BEAUTIFUL, GRACEFUL, CAT-LIKE, AND COMBINES CUES FROM THE XK SERIES INTO A SEDAN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Sexy, and the square grille is from the first XJ. They have to move on with stying, as they already almost killed the marque with the retro and with the sameness.
Part of the problem with repeating other Jaguar themes
of more recent times -- they have already been used by everybody else. Put the XJ6 Mark III (the 1979 Pininfarina face lift) next to dozens of cars from the ensuing 38 years: even Mercedes and BMW borowed the taillight shapes and decklid cut. A few Buicks, the last Continental were close copies of the XJ, leading to the embarassment of the current, larger XJ seeming to copy an old Buick.
BTW, the lights on this and the Lincoln Marker (MKR) are awfully similar, but it seems the trend is going that way.
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Jaguar videos 4:01AM (1/03/2007)
WOW, this car looks 100% amazing from the front. The back need some work and the exhaust pipes defenetely need to be changed.
http://www.dpccars.com
DPCcars
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Steve.C 5:14AM (1/03/2007)
As a current s type owner who has been patiently waiting for the updated model I am pretty tired of:"pie in the Sky" concept cars! perhaps Jag would actally retain customers if it spent more time on products consumers could actually buy!
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Teq 5:11AM (1/03/2007)
The front reminds me of a Buick supercar for some reason. And the side reminds me of a Dodge Intrepid. Still I think it looks decent, but too many bland american cues IMO. I LOVE the back. The interior, well, I don't think the wrap-around lights will make it in the production version. Although a cool idea. If it were more suttle (Audi style) around the cockpit it'd be hot.
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Richard Warren 5:32AM (1/03/2007)
Ugly
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D-Dog 7:30AM (1/03/2007)
What's with the Volvo grille on Jag? Ugly!!
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C. McFeeny 8:13AM (1/03/2007)
This is AWESOME. I know I'll never be able to afford one in the near future but it it's an absolutely fantastic head turning design.
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dreesemonkey 8:18AM (1/03/2007)
I really like the front end, looks big and aggressive like some sort of Holden and the headlights remind me of the S15 Silvia.
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MikeInNC 8:41AM (1/03/2007)
Finally, a rival form the Merc CLS. Beautiful.
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