Fast facts
* Model: 2016 XF 35t Prestige RWD * Exterior color: Polaris White * Interior color: Espresso/Latte * Engine: 3.0-liter, V-6 Supercharged * Horsepower: 340 * Transmission: Eight-speed automatic * Fuel economy: 30 mpg highway, 20 mpg city * Dealer: Jaguar Chattanooga * Price (as tested): $59,520
An uncluttered dash and well bolstered seats are highlights of an upgraded interior.SECOND LOOK: Since our quick spin in the Jaguar XF late last year, we had a chance to spend several days in a 2016 XF 35t R Sport in January. Our first impressions, that the XF is a more buttoned down version of the redesigned 2009 model, were confirmed during a week of Chattanooga-area driving.
Commuting on a newly-constructed roadbed on Highway 27, the XF was as smooth as a hovercraft. Our tester this time was an Ammonite Grey XF in R Sport trim, which includes such upgrades as a sportier front bumper, side sills and a rear spoilers. Our tester also included a suite of high-tech safety features including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitor and reverse traffic detection.
The new XF was a thrill to drive on area mountain roads, its 340-horsepower supercharged engine eager to pull any grade. The slightly higher list price of this vehicle was $64,185, with about $2,500 in optional equipment including a useful head-up display and adaptive dynamics.
A few random impressions from a week of driving the XF:
* The LED headlights with auto high beams were easily the brightest set of car lights we've ever experience. On high, the beams lit up a quarter-mile swath almost like daylight. For those with any night-vision issues the XF is a godsend.
* A gas-saving start-stop feature takes some getting used to. At idle the 3.0-liter V-6 checks out until it's time to pull away again. There's never a performance issue, but the little shutter as the car cranks is noticeable.
* The 380-watt Meridian sound system has luscious tone, but the satellite radio tended to bleed in and out in urban driving.
* Fuel economy of 30 mph highway and 20 mph city is phenomenal in a car with a super-charged V-6.
* A winter driving mode is a nice feature in a rear-wheel-drive car if you live at altitude and experience frequent frozen precipitation.
PREVIOUS STORY FOLLOWS:
Jaguar's mid-size luxury sedan, the XF, has been called the first 21st century Jaguar, shedding the stodgy, mid-century styling cues formerly associated with the British car company. The first XF was introduced as a 2009 model in 2008, and it has taken Jaguar only six years to re-imagine the five-passenger sedan with an all-new chassis, interior upgrades and a host of new high-tech features.
Thanks to Jaguar Chattanooga General Manager James Vandermerwe, we were able to snag one of the first of the 2016 XFs to touch down in Hamilton County and take it for a spin on a brilliant, autumn day which showed off the car's deeply luminescent Polaris White paint.
Before the test drive, we were able to examine a 2015 XF and a 2016 XF side by side. The styling changes, while evolutionary, are none-the-less dramatic. A black-out, honeycomb grille replaces the bright-work in the previous design and gives the XF a slightly more menacing appearance. Meanwhile, a black-on-black showroom copy of the XF at Jaguar Chattanooga in high-performance trim bristles with masculinity.
Our white XF 35t, in Prestige trim, on the other hand, reminds us of a super model who also happens to be a world-class sprinter, Our tester stickers for $59,520 with a SiriusXM satellite radio ($450) and adaptive dynamics ($1,000) among the major options. The adaptive dynamics package monitors speed, steering and body movements to dial in the proper suspension settings for prevailing road conditions.
STYLING AND FEATURE
Our XF tester turned heads at Heritage Park in East Brainerd as dog walkers and joggers slowed down to nod their approval. Indeed, the XF strikes a dramatic profile with its rakish lines and its unmistakable leaping-cat brand badges.
A new sculpted hood and swept headlights give the Jaguar more visual pop. Flared wheel arches hint at the car's sporting personality; emotionally preparing you for the fun to come when you begin goosing the accelerator to hear your Jaguar growl. The 340-horsepower supercharged V-6 under the hood is a performance beast capable of propelling the sedan from zero-to-60 mph in a few ticks over five seconds - not sports-car fast, but uncommonly quick for a touring sedan.
The rear of the XF is best described as tastefully restrained. Taillights, with embedded LED squiggles, give the XF some night-time sizzle. Nineteen-inch aluminum wheels are classically attractive.
Inside, the new interior treatment has a minimalist vibe that exudes class. The dash is a blend of dark (espresso) and light (latte) colors that seem designed to match your Starbucks order. The thing is, the contrasting colors work together beautifully, blended by a horizontal brushed-aluminum inset.
The center stack features one of my favorite Jaguar quirks, a rotary shifter that rises magically from its sunken chamber when you start the car. Then, suddenly, in your peripheral vision, you'll notice that the motorized heat-and-air vents are also swinging open and shut in step with the start/stop rhythms of your car. Frankly, these are the sort of playful, conversation starters that luxury car owners covet.
A new telematics system is featured in a 10-inch dash, touch-screen display. Perforated leather seats (heated in front) are well bolstered for those times when you want to accelerate through a 360-degree exit ramp on the freeway.
Standard features on the XF Prestige also include paddle sifters, heated front seats, a moonroof, and a 380-watt Meridian sound system.
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS
The XF is available in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. Our tester is rear-wheel drive, which makes steering delightfully light and precise. The 2016 re-design features many more aluminum parts in the car's unibody frame which carves about 200 pounds off the curb weight and makes the car feel considerably more nimble.
It's a pleasure to hear the 340-horsepower supercharged engine growl to life. Pressed on our test drive along I-75, the XF shot through midday traffic like a racehorse among carnival ponies. Handling is taut and the suspension gobbles up road-surface imperfections. The eight-speed transmission is silky smooth.
BOTTOM LINE
Jaguar has taken a competent mid-size luxury sedan and bumped it up several notches. With better styling and more contemporary telematics, the XF is ready to re-assert itself against the likes of the Audi A6, Cadillac CTS-V, and BMW 5-series.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.2016.