SPY PICS: XF Jaguar playing it safe

Jaguar's replacement for the S-Type has already been previewed as a concept car (pictured). Now, it has been comprehensively exposed by renowned spy snappers, Carparazzi, while undergoing testing in America.

Codenamed X290, the Jaguar XF in the photos looked to be almost production-ready. Unlike the S-Type, it will have heritage cues without being 'retro-styled'. In fact, the car will be the last word in modernity, which bodes well for Jaguar -- and Ford, if the car can be brought to market before the owners flog off 'the leaper' (more here).

Anyway, back to the car. The photographers believe that the tail lights and probably the roofline around the C-pillars have been revised to turn the concept into a viable production reality. Similarly, door handles and rear view mirrors have come in for revision.

Two vehicles shown in the photos are equipped with different styles of alloy wheel and exhaust outlets.

The car with the chunky, five-spoke wheels boasts two oval exhaust outlets and the car with the multi-spoke wheels has two round exhaust outlets. We believe that the former is likely to be a V8 at the very least and probably supercharged, while the latter is probably a V6. Since Jaguar already markets diesel variants of the S-Type, a diesel XF is a very strong chance.

Note that the brake callipers on the rear wheels of the high performance model possibly have an 'R' legend on them, but the rotors are not cross-drilled or grooved.

The multi-spoke alloys certainly look like the sort of item fitted to a 'luxury' grade vehicle, while the five-spoke units are quite plainly sports alloys with plenty of space for air flow between the spokes.

Based on the RHD steering and the tiny little lamp in the centre of the rear bumper cover, these cars appear to be British market-specific models.

-- with Carparazzi