Hopefully not trendsetting for Jag, they seem to have struggled in recent years with their reputation for shoddy build quality (with good justifcation in some cases)

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When are they going to recall the XF's face and replace it with the original concept's?

(sorry, ... couldn't...resist)

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Hmmm, shouldn't it be 'fawlty seatbelts'?

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Actually, Jaguar quality has received high marks since 2004, even from JD Power. They’ve long-since resolved the electrical and transmission issues from the 1999-2002 cars. They've worked out all of the bugs by evolving the same base components in a Kaizen way, and by going with the best-in-class ZF 6-speed transmission. No, I’m not a Ford or Jag engineer.
In many cases, Jaguars have received higher quality marks than their BMW and Mercedes rivals, as well as higher dealer service ratings than Lexus.
It's almost ironic that Ford let them go just as they released their most evolved design with the XF. I drove one during an XF Launch Party I was invited to here at a California dealership and I was impressed. I own a supercharged S-Type R, but have to admit that the XF is just that much more refined, more responsive, and more aesthetically complete, proving that the Jaguar designers and engineers did their homework.
Also, I don't think any other luxury car powertrain engineering group can touch Jaguar when it comes to engine/transmission calibration since about 2004. Their ZF 6-speed--(the same one used at BMW, MB, and now Hyundai)--is ALWAYS in the right gear, stays in the right gear in Sport Mode, and is certainly the fastest shifting auto with a torque converter. You can’t say that with BMW’s iDrive.
Same with the electronic suspension calibration. After test driving all 3, I think the XF truly defines the class without being as harsh as the BMW 5-Series on city streets or as electronically restrained as the MB E-class when pushed. You can play refined in town, but put in Sport mode on an open road and grin! It becomes a downright brutal tire-burning getaway saloon, yet it remains composed and controllable, not sloppy like, say, the AMG C-class. And it looks great doing it all the while. Wouldn't want to wrinkle that suit now. It exemplifies what a Jaguar means---beauty and luxury at speed.
The XF design is a matter of taste—it’s a very clean, polarizing design in person. I'd still like to see a revised S-type grill on the front end with meaner headlights, and the trademark Jag slanted taillights instead of the Aston Martin-come-Lexus treatment, but that's just me. Also, a leaper would be wrong on this hood. In any case, it is much better in person than in pictures and will only get better.

Back to Quality: This seatbelt problem is probably just a minor supplier issue. The recall is a wise, conservative decision. Otherwise, I'm betting that Tata made the best investment in the luxury car market to date from a quality perspective. The powertrains and suspensions are fully evolved and proven, each with high ratings in class, and now evolving to direct injection. I can't wait to see the XF-R with a direct injected 5-liter V8. It should prove a worthy adversary for the CLS 55 coupe, or sedan, or 4-door coupe, or---whatever. Only without the MB’s gas-guzzler tax hit.
Now all Tata has to do is bring the Jaguar dealerships up-to-date to draw the 35-45 year-olds that the XF is targeting. The salesmen are used selling to un-informed men with white hair, not Internet-savvy, informed men AND women with just a touch of grey on their temples--like me. We know that this rear seatbelt is fully covered under recall BEFORE we come in for service, and that a passenger airbag sensor sells online for $150, not the $1800 that the service manager might tell your wealthy grandfather—and that’s not including labor.

Sorry for the lengthy, magazine article response. Like most post-2003 Jag owners I haven’t seen the old problems, and as an engineer I get bored with people resurrecting Jaguar’s former quality reputation without reviewing any recent data. Those days are OFFICIALLY gone, and I’m very excited to see Tata take-off and run with this brand. Imagine not just Bri-ish beauty and luxury at speed, but with a solid reputation for quality as well.

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