NEW YORK AUTO SHOW: 2012 Jaguar XF makes world debut

The wait, it seems, has been worth it. In New York City at the Jacob Javits convention centre, Jaguar's highly-anticipated facelifted 2012 XF model was unveiled, showing off a sophisticated new look that bears more than a passing resemblance to the highly-lauded XJ model.

Gone are the controversial headlights of the first-generation Jaguar XF, introduced in 2008, replaced with a sleeker, more contemporary front end style that chief designer Ian Callum calls "purposeful yet elegant."

The new model range is set to arrive in Australia from October and local pricing will be announced in August. In addition to the updated image the big news is the new engine offering, a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel, outputting 140kW at 3500rpm and 450Nm at 2000rpm. The new entry-level diesel engine is paired to an eight-speed automatic ZF transmission as standard, as are the two other 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel offerings. The 283kW 5.0-litre naturally aspirated and 375kW supercharged V8 models remain coupled to six-speed cog swappers.

Jaguar's new 2.2-litre turbodiesel is paired to a stop-start system that helps it achieve a low fuel consumption figure of 5.4L/100km, while emitting just 149 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Despite its frugal nature, the engine will propel the new XF Jag from zero to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

As Jaguar Australia's Brand Manager Kevin Goult put it, the new diesel won't appeal to everyone, but it will provide the XF range with more scope to attract new motorists. "We plan to have the new 2.2-litre engine from launch in October. We'll still have a broad range of petrol and diesel, and that gives the consumer a great choice. Diesel isn't for everybody, but I think when we see the drive impressions on the 2.2-litre [diesel] engine, it will change the perception of what a diesel can achieve in a Jaguar XF."

While the new entry-level diesel engine has the potential to increase the XF sales in Australia, the vehicle's transformed design will also raise a few eyebrows.

Along with the redesigned front end, which includes new LED daytime running lights, and an updated front fascia and revised LED brake lights that extend into the centre of the boot area, the 2012 Jaguar XF features a significantly updated interior, boasting new seats, new instruments and improved equipment levels.

Fitted with alloy wheels of between 17- and 20-inches, the facelifted XF is a more striking vehicle to look at than its predecessor, and has a clear familial resemblance vis-a-vie the XJ. Moreover, the new 2012 XF is also almost a carbon copy of the original C-XF concept car that broke cover in 2007, and as Jag's design director Ian Callum explained, the original headlight design was abandoned.

"[In 2008] we did the XF, and we were working with certain technology. I won't go into great detail about it, but the head lamp ended up a certain size and when we did the concept version of the XF, C-XF -- we did that after the XF [production version] -- we realised the lamp should have been much slimmer and we would have liked it to be much slimmer and we had an opportunity with the new technology and the new facelift to do it.

"So we've got a much slimmer lamp on the front of the car now, which is familiar in terms of the design we see on the XJ, and also on the C-XF concept car."

The 2012 Jaguar XF range will compete against mainly German products from BMW and Mercedes, the 5 Series and E-Class in particular, and Callum states that the revised model is a "strong evolution for a mid-life facelift of a car" while taking a subtle swipe at the car's rivals.

"It's a much bigger and bolder facelift than you would expect. Some of our competitors put in bit of new headlamp detail and a bumper change perhaps, and stuff that is almost only recognised by aficionados and current owners. I think this is quite a significant face lift in many ways. It's something we wanted to do in the very first stages of XF."

Stay tuned for full drive impressions of the 2012 Jaguar XF range in October.

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