With all of the excitement surrounding the arrival of the new XE small sedan, it’s easy to forget that Jaguar is also set to introduce a new generation of its XF mid-sizer in the very near future. We were treated to a preview last week and now the svelte sedan has made its debut at this week’s 2015 New York Auto Show, where Jaguar has confirmed that the car will be on sale in the fall as a 2016 model.
As previously reported, the 2016 XF rides on a stretched version of the aluminum-intensive iQ[Al] platform first previewed in the C-X17 crossover concept at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show. This platform will form the basis of several future Jaguars including the smaller XE and recently confirmed F-Pace crossover (the production version of the C-X17).
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Wrapped around this platform is the new XF's light yet exceptionally stiff body, with its combination of aluminum and high-strength steels delivering a near-50:50 weight distribution. Double-wishbone suspension is used up front while at the rear is Jaguar’s Integral Link multi-link setup. Other refinements include lighter springs made from narrower-gauge steel, continuous suspension damping, and special bushes for the tubular anti-roll bar.
2016 Jaguar XF
The new XF weighs 3,770 pounds with standard rear-wheel drive and 3,880 lbs with available all-wheel drive. Total weight savings over the previous XF equate to 132 lbs for the rear-wheel-drive model, and a massive 265 lbs for the all-wheel-drive one. The weight savings come despite an increase in interior space thanks to two more inches of wheelbase. Despite the longer wheelbase, the overall length of the 2016 Jaguar XF is 0.3 inches shorter at 195 inches all up.
For the U.S. market, there’s a choice of two supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engines: one rated at 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, the other at 380 hp and 332 lb-ft. Both are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Diesel engines displacing 2.0 and 3.0 liters are offered overseas and may be offered locally at some point. We’re also expecting an electrified version and a high-performance SVR variant in the near future.
The most potent is the 380-hp XF with all-wheel drive. It needs just 5.0 seconds to hit 60 mph from rest. Top speed of all XFs is electronically governed to 155 mph.
2016 Jaguar XF, 2015 New York Auto Show
Electric power steering (tuned with lessons learned during XE development), a new All-Surface Progress Control system (which delivers low-speed driving assistance in adverse conditions), and an upgraded InControl Touch infotainment system and 8-inch display (with optional upgrade to a 10.2-inch screen and InControl Touch Pro), as well as an optional 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster with reconfigurable displays prove the 2016 Jaguar XF’s high-tech mettle, too.
Pricing for the 2016 Jaguar XF will be announced closer to the car’s late fall on-sale date.
To see what else is at the New York Auto Show, head to our dedicated hub.
