XF Jag to debut at Detroit

Turn the image 45-degrees anticlockwise and you’ll get the best look yet at the car which holds Jaguar’s fortunes in the balance.

This teaser image is all Jaguar is releasing ahead of the unveiling of its latest concept car at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit in early January.

This is no ordinary concept, however. The car the British marque will be unveiling will be a dolled-up version of its new 5 Series/E-Class competitor, the so-called XF.

Not scheduled for release globally until the first quarter of 2008 (and in Australia later that year) the new car is the replacement for the S-Type. It arrives to take on a segment that will likely determine the profitability of the car maker going forward.

In short, the XF needs to attract stronger buyer acceptance than the S-Type to ensure the car maker is successful as a stand alone brand. In that sense, the concept's reception at Detroit will be an important litmus test for the beleaguered Ford-owned brand.