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It's always the quiet ones. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.

It's always the quiet ones
The new diesel XF is the most important model, but we can't help but love the new 5.0 V8.

   



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| First Drive | Nice, France | 2010 Jaguar XF 5.0 V8 |

God bless America. The land of the free is pretty much the only reason that Jaguar has dropped its new 5.0-litre V8 engine into the updated XF, a theory that is supported by the fact that this variant of the car will only be available in the UK to special order. Unsurprisingly, the excellent new XF Diesel will account for 94 per cent of sales in this part of the world. Still, for those of you that fancy the idea of a V8-engined XF, but without the overtly sporting personality of the XFR, read on.

In the Metal

The XF 5.0 V8 is one of the ultimate so-called Q-cars of the moment. There is absolutely nothing externally that lets the uninitiated bystander know that they're looking at a V8-engined sports saloon with 380bhp at its disposal. Admittedly, the 5.0 V8 will only be sold in the UK in high-end Portfolio specification, but this look is available elsewhere in the range too.

Same story inside, though in Portfolio spec the leather is particularly soft and there's a silly number of electric motors and the like catering to the driver's every whim. The rotating air vents and rotary gear selector add occasion to the XF that works particularly well in conjunction with the more luxurious cabin.

What you get for your Money

It would be easier to list what you don't get included in the £49,900, as the Portfolio spec just adds to the already generously equipped Premium Luxury level. With the exception of 19-inch alloys, the changes are all inside with even more adjustable seats that are also actively ventilated, heated and cooled. A tactile 'Suedecloth' headlining is standard, as is a wider range of colour and material finish options. Rivals include the Lexus GS 460 and the cheaper BMW 550i and Mercedes-Benz E 500.

Driving it

Thanks in part to a new acoustic, laminated windscreen, the first thing that strikes you in the XF V8 is just how quiet everything is. Cruising along, road and wind noise are suppressed until you really up your pace. The same can be said for the engine's voice. It whispers politely at slow speed, but use more of the rev counter and summon up a lower gear or two and the new V8 reveals its alter ego. At about 3,500rpm there's a detectable increase in the rate of acceleration, accompanied by a delicious intake-lead roar that can only come from a V8 bred with revs in mind. Stretch the engine further and you'll be greeted by a harder edged, mechanical note as it sweeps from 5,000rpm around to the redline. It'll even pop and crackle on the overrun, though that's hard to hear from inside the cabin with the windows raised.

Not once did we rue the lack of a manual gearbox, despite having the twisting Route Napoleon in front of us. That's testament to the fantastic six-speed transmission Jaguar fits to the XF. It has been significantly revised for the 2010 model year, with faster changes and a more 'connected' feeling two of the engineers' targets. It's a revelation, whether in fully automatic mode, the more aggressive Sport automatic mode or in manual override guise, where you control the gearshifts with paddles behind the steering wheel. Response to a flick of your finger is instantaneous and there's an obligatory throttle blip on downshifts to remind you that there's a V8 under the bonnet. Keen drivers will approve of the lack of an automatic upchange at the rev limiter when you're using the fully manual mode.

While the new engine and gearbox are the most important changes to the new XF, its chassis can't be forgotten. It's as much a luxury car that is fabulous to drive as it is a luxurious sports car with five seats. Its forte is fast cruising, but it's genuinely exciting to drive down a challenging road, if not quite as rear-led as its BMW rival.

Worth Noting

If you like technology, you'll love the new 5.0-litre V8 (if not, you may want to skip this paragraph). Along with an increase in capacity over the previous generation 4.2-litre engine, Jaguar has added direct injection, an advanced variable camshaft timing system, dual-mode switching camshaft profiles and a two-stage variable inlet manifold. Though lower emissions, better fuel consumption and higher performance were all targets of the new unit, Jaguar also focused on the creation of torque lower down the engine speed range. The result is impressive by any standards, with 34 per cent more torque than the outgoing 4.2-litre at 2,000rpm, 31 per cent at 3,500rpm and 27 per cent at 5,500rpm. The driving experience lives up to those numbers too.

Summary

While we acknowledge that the world doesn't really need a V8-engined sports saloon like the new XF, we're happy that Jaguar still has reason to develop such an inspiring car. The 5.0 V8 is highly desirable, yet also subtle in its approach to the sporting luxury saloon genre. Like all great touring cars it makes short work of long distances, yet it's also a real thrill to drive down an interesting piece of road. It's almost good enough to move to America for.

Shane O' Donoghue - 11 Mar 2009



  www.jaguar.co.uk    - Jaguar road tests
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2009 Jaguar XF specifications: (5.0 V8 Portfolio)
Price: £49,900 on-the-road.
0-62mph: 5.7 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Combined economy: 25.4mpg
Emissions: 264g/km
Kerb weight: 1780kg

2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.

2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.



2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 

2009 Jaguar XF. Image by Shane O' Donoghue.
 






 

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