Third quarter launch for empowered XF

Jaguar's XF has only been on sale for half a year, but is already headed for a new model year upgrade to coincide with the introduction of the supercharged XFR flagship and the new 3.0-litre turbodiesel variant. The whole XF range for the 2010 model year has come in for a program of detail revision and new engine options, but only the new alloy wheel designs will tell the onlooker at a glance that this is an upgrade model, unless it's the XFR variant.

The Carsales Network has already reported existence of the XFR (more here) and the larger-capacity diesel V6 (more here), but now Jaguar has confirmed officially that these two will be launched locally in the third quarter of this year, as 2010 models.

The importer has been pleased with the Australian market response to the XF so far. Marketing and Public Affairs Manager for Jaguar, Tim Krieger, advises that the sales last year (352 units), were in line with the company's expectations.

"We launched the car in June, so we had about six months of sales," he told the Carsales Network. "We achieved our sales projections for the car -- in pretty difficult circumstances."

Taking the fight right up to its German competitors, the XF for 2010 will gain a 5.0-litre direct-injection V8 -- a naturally-aspirated version of the supercharged engine powering the XFR -- to replace the current car's 4.2-litre V8. Developing 283kW of power and 515Nm of torque, the naturally-aspirated engine musters 64 more kilowatts and 104 extra Newton-metres than the port-injected 4.2.

According to Jaguar's own testing, the atmo 5.0-litre car will reach 100km/h from a standing start in 5.7 seconds -- an improvement of 0.8 seconds over the 4.2-litre variant -- but the Euro 5-compliant engine is as economical and produces the same CO2 emissions that its smaller-displacement predecessor did (11.1L/100km and 264g/km respectively).

The AJ-V8 Gen III engine is more compact and lighter than the 4.2-litre V8 engines previously powering the higher-grade XF variants. Focusing on bearings, fuel pump tappets, piston skirts and oil pressure, Jaguar has reduced friction in the new engines and specified features to boost efficiency in the naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre engine; features such as variable camshaft timing and profile for inlet and exhaust cams on both banks of cylinders, an inlet manifold with varying length runners and the direct-injection fuel delivery system. Through adopting a direct-injection fuel system, Jaguar has been able to raise the engine's compression ratio to 11.5:1.

By shifting the smaller oil pump to a new location, the overall length of the engine has been reduced 24mm. Jaguar could reduce the capacity of the oil pump (to reduce its external size and aid under-bonnet packaging) because the new variable-valve timing system is not dependent on oil pressure for its operation. Jaguar says that the new system relies on "positive and negative torques generated by opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves, instead of by oil pressure".

The aluminium block is stiffer than the 4.2 engine's block and is now manufactured by means of a high-pressure diecast process and, in a nod to environmentalism, Jaguar has opted to construct the DOHC heads for the engine from recycled aluminium.

Both the V8 engines and the 3.0-litre diesel V6 drive through a revised version of the ZF 6HP28 six-speed automatic transmission. In the case of the XFR, the ZF box features additional clutch plates and a heavier-duty torque converter. The torque converter damper clutch will lock up at lower speeds, irrespective of which engine is coupled to the transmission. Jaguar attributes the diesel V6 and naturally-aspirated V8's higher levels of torque for this fuel-saving enhancement.

By re-engineering the rear subframe and adopting for the entire range the boot cross-brace that was formerly only fitted to the XF SV8 model, Jaguar claims to have increased the new XF's body stiffness further.

For the new model year, the XF provides information to the driver concerning the oil level and brake-pad wear without the driver needing to leave the seat.

Among the other changes to the XF range, Jaguar has refined the satellite navigation system by incorporating turn-by-turn route instructions in the LCD display. These outline a 'tulip' graphic, progressive distance data and the name of the new road. In addition to the satnav enhancement, all XF models are now equipped with an Acoustic Laminated Windscreen and diesel models are now fitted with a mis-fuel countermeasure as standard. Jaguar is also offering new colours and interior trims for the 2010 model year.

Krieger confirmed that the petrol V6 models would carry over without change, other than those revisions that apply across the range.

Finally, Jaguar is adding to the range a 'Portfolio' level of trim, which will be powered by either the 5.0-litre V8 or the turbodiesel engine and will be based on the Premium Luxury grade with additional features.

Those features are: 20-inch Selena alloy wheels; power-adjustable and actively ventilated heated and cooled front seats; leather seat back map pockets; 'Suedecloth' premium headlining; door-top and instrument panel trim featuring contrast-colour twin-needle stitching; and premium carpet mats with contrast-edge binding and embroidered Jaguar logos.

XF Portfolio buyers can select four different decorative trim veneers and a wider range of interior colours -- two more than the three available in other grades.

If Jaguar seems to be telegraphing its punches a long way out -- and risking the wrath of those who have already purchased the XF -- there's little likelihood of unwanted stock left sitting in dealers' yards, according to Krieger.

"We keep things pretty tight... We're a small player," he says. "We take a lot of forward orders and don't like to keep a lot of stock on the ground. There's still supply of 2009 [model year deliveries] to come through, so we won't be starting to retail those new cars [2010 model year] until quarter three."

"There's some free stock in that as well," he responded when asked whether the 2009 model year allocation was accounted for by forward orders.

Jaguar is yet to announce pricing for the 2010MY XF, but given the way the Pound has stalled against even the Australian dollar, we figure there won't be much of a jump.

"We'll be releasing those cars mid-quarter three," says Krieger, "and our intention will be to announce pricing closer to the launch time".

"Because we won't be ordering these cars for a little, it's a bit of wait-and-see, but we'll keep a close eye on that and see how it affects us."