Spy Shots: Jaguar XFR getting ready to bite
In nature, only the lion and tiger are bigger cats than the jaguar, and the spotted feline is quite the predator, as prey learns when the cat's fangs penetrate their skulls. The wild jaguar is also diminishing in number. When you think about it, you can draw a parallel between the beast and the brand named after it. After all, there are bigger luxury marques with more notoriety, such as Mercedes and BMW, and it's no secret that Jaguar (especially in the United States) has been fading from the sales charts, as a peek at our By The Numbers posts will demonstrate. Like the feline predator, however, Jaguar is still no slouch at what it does.
Which brings us to the XF. The XF is The Next Big Step for Jaguar, blending modernity with big sedan proportions and dollops of luxury. Curiously, the blown mill that powers the other "R" cars is available on a standard-grade XF, so the XFR has to be better, and Auto Express has spotted it out testing. Bigger intakes in front, bigger wheels and brakes at the corners, and big power underhood are all on tap. An stout 500 horsepower is expected from the car's supercharged 5.0L V8. Out back, a spoiler and quad tips are the other telltale signs that the XFR is the most serious predator of its immediate family. Assuming it's as good as the XJR and XKR, this is one cat we're eager to tame.
[Source: Auto Express]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LimeDaiquiri 3:05PM (3/02/2008)
If only it's "bite" went along with it's aesthetics's.
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Robert 3:19PM (3/02/2008)
Im disappointed with this after seeing the concept and then the headlights on this...just now.
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Robert 3:19PM (3/02/2008)
...just no*
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FordGT 3:31PM (3/02/2008)
The XF is nearly perfect except for the headlights. They ruin the car.
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Torrent 3:30PM (3/02/2008)
No.
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mr.ed 5:35PM (3/02/2008)
Producing expensive vehicles that look like 5 YO Hyundais or Subarus won't help sales much. How dumb are these people?
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zreeb 8:44PM (3/02/2008)
Have you seen it person?
It looks awesome!
notYou 9:49PM (3/02/2008)
I saw it in person (I related seeing it at a Jag/LR release party for NADA 2008 in San Fran about 3 weeks ago in other threads) and, sorry, but the exterior comes across as too many compromises. Rear, rear 3/4, profile are all decent to good, but it goes downhill from there. The headlights are the worst (and literally look cheap, as in "the hyundai tiburon team dissmissed them...last year") and the creases on the hood are forced and overwrought appearance (maybe they look better on the R). No leaping cat, instead we've got the new screaming-cat ("me too! me too!") badge in the middle of the mesh grille. Ugh. My girlfriend (who loves classic Jags) pronounced it as looking "cheap". And would not have confused it for a jag had I not told her it was.
Oh yes, beautiful interior. So I'm sure the occupants feel great when riding inside. But the image conscious will be forever wondering why nobody outside is looking at their car.
Maybe tech will catch up when it's time to refresh the car and they'll be able to revamp it to the show-car level. But as it is, it's a great car, but a mediocre jag.
Nathan 9:08AM (3/03/2008)
...don't forget ten year old american cars. I know I've seen those headlights somewhere. hmmm, let me think...oh yeah
http://www.dragtimes.com/images/1089910887P0000737.JPG
they looked cheap then and they def. look cheap now.
dean 4:39PM (3/02/2008)
Its funny, the headlamp design on the XF concept looks easier to do than the production version. 500hp? That gonna trickle down to all the R variants?
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Hike15 4:35PM (3/02/2008)
I acutally really like this car a lot
true, the headlights could be better, but this is a very atractive car, especially in person.
I hope they get the XFR right because i will be a great alternative to the e55 and m5 which are both kind of boring or ugly looking in my opinion
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SHOTT3R 5:00PM (3/02/2008)
Jaguar XFR getting ready to suck
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Andrew Tanasescu 7:17PM (3/02/2008)
Wow, what hatred for such a car. I admit, its not the best looking, and it probably wont perform the best. But I dont think Jaguar would just kind of throw a car out there that would suck. Personally, I LOVE the new interior of the XF and that back is gorgeous. Its a pity they made that front the way they did. I had the XF concept is a desktop background for the longest time cause I thought it was gorgeous. But I still reserve my final judgement for when I see this car in person. I dont think it will be as bad as everyone makes it seem...
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jgp 7:07AM (3/03/2008)
The XF is pretty (except maybe the headlights), but it doesn't look like a Jaguar.
Jaguars should be long, low, and catlike. The XF is too tall, and the belt line is way too high. This would make a _great_ Volvo flagship, but I'm not feeling the Jag vibe here.
I'm sick of people saying the design is bad in and of itself--come on, it has the Holden Commodore's side profile and the Lexus GS's roofline--it looks nice. It's just not a Jag.
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V.G.STAN 11:14PM (3/23/2008)
Somewhat disapointed with the XF. Wanted to move up from X-Type sport, but I'll enjoy my X-Type some more. First the chrome window trims must go..it degrades the car. Second, they should produce a 350-360 HP engine to give the power enthusists another level away from what mom and pop drives. I know the supercharged version is available, but segmenting the market and competing with the Lexus and Bmw would help sales...maybe the custom shops will create a more laid look.I'm waiting to see.
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