New Jaguar XF introduces enhanced interior exterior, advanced connectivity

Rasheed Bisiriyu

Premium automaker, Jaguar Land Rover, has released an updated Jaguar XF with new features for both its exterior and interior with a retuned engine.

A statement obtained via email from the South African office of the company on Tuesday October 6, 2020 shows that the car features enhanced exteriors, an all-new interior, incorporating luxurious new materials and seamlessly integrated as well as connected and future-proof technologies.

The new XF is said to showcase contemporary British design and engineering at its best.

It is scheduled for sub-Sahara African introduction early in 2021.

The car is coming with a new-generation, 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium turbocharged diesel engine and the latest 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine, providing enhanced efficiency with strong performance.

Exterior

The exterior features a new front bumper with larger and lower air intakes for increased visual width.

The statement says, “This visual width is enhanced by a wider front grille featuring a mesh design detail inspired by Jaguar’s heritage logo.

“The side fender vents now feature the iconic Leaper emblem, demonstrating the exceptional attention to detail found right across the vehicle.”

It also says new super slim all-LED quad headlights with ‘Double J’ Daytime Running Light signatures are available with optional Pixel LED technology.

With Adaptive Driving Beam capability, which evaluates the road ahead and automatically adapts the high beam light to mask oncoming traffic or traffic signs, the system can create varying light beam patterns by selecting different LED segments to optimise visibility without distracting other drivers.

The car premium LED technology is fitted as standard across the range and is available with Auto High Beam Assist on SE and HSE models. The technology uses the forward-facing camera to automatically switch between high and low beam, ensuring that oncoming drivers aren’t dazzled.

People can also have Animated Directional Indicators as an option upgrade.

Design enhancements

Some of the new enhancements at the rear of the vehicle are a wider bumper and body-coloured rear upper valance, which visually lower the car.

In R-Dynamic specification, the new XF features a series of distinct design elements for a more performance-focused look, while all models are available with the additional Black Exterior Pack, which delivers an even more dynamic appearance with bespoke elements finished in Gloss Black.

Interior

The XF has an all-new interior with heightened luxury, enhanced connectivity and greater serenity and refinement.

The new cockpit design is bolder, more dynamic and with greater focus on the driver. A new sporty centre console, faster in profile, sweeps up to the dashboard incorporating an optional wireless device charger with phone signal booster (in selected markets).

At the heart of the new interior is a seamlessly integrated centrally-mounted 11.4-inch curved-glass HD touchscreen in an elegant magnesium alloy casing, which controls the new Pivi Pro infotainment system.

One cannot miss the car’s authentic finishes, including open-pore wood veneers and aluminium, feature in beautifully formed shapes such as the upper door insert and full width ‘Piano lid’ that is formed across the width of the dashboard.

Laser-etched mid-line speaker frets and the metallic rotary dial of the JaguarDrive Control are said to epitomise the attention-to-detail.

The new Drive Selector – just one of the many beautiful details – features an upper section finished with ‘cricket-ball’ stitching, the lower part being made of precision-engineered metal for enhanced tactility.

New door casings, featuring a new 360-degree grab handle, provide easier access and increased storage for drinks bottles and other items.

For the seating, the car new seats feature wider cushioning, new massage functions and enhanced coverage of the heated and cooling areas. An embossed Jaguar Leaper features on all standard headrests, while a set of ‘Est.1935 Jaguar Coventry’ upholstery tags highlight the brand’s heritage.

A series of advanced technologies are also offered, according to the automaker, to ensure the health and wellbeing of all occupants. Optional on all models, Cabin Air Ionisation improves interior air quality through Nanoe technology, which helps remove allergens and unpleasant odours.

The system is also said to feature PM2.5 filtration, which captures ultra-fine particles – including PM2.5 particulates – to improve occupant health and wellbeing.  The system is activated by simply pressing the ‘Purify’ button.

Engine

The new Jaguar XF features a focused range of Ingenium four-cylinder petrol and next-generation diesel powertrains; available exclusively with eight-speed automatic transmissions.

Specifically for the sub-Saharan market are           D200 147kW/430Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, eight-speed automatic, RWD; and a  P250 183kW/365Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, eight-speed automatic, RWD version.

The new 147kW diesel, which adds 15kW to the outgoing 132kW version, powers the XF from 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds.

For the petrol customers, they can choose a 183kW version of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 365Nm and delivering 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds.

Advanced connected technologies

It says the new XF features Jaguar’s next-generation Electronic Vehicle Architecture, dubbed EVA 2.0, which supports a range of new technologies to ensure the future-ready vehicle is always connected and always up to date.

The latest Pivi Pro infotainment technology is said to be easily accessed through the all-new 11.4-inch curved glass HD touchscreen. The key benefits are given as enhanced clarity, the screen being three times brighter and 48 per cent larger than the previous screen, and the simplified menu structures allow drivers to access or view up to 90 per cent of common tasks from the homescreen in two taps or less.

It also notes, “To help drivers access vital information quickly, new XF features a new 12.3-inch HD Interactive Driver Display with enhanced graphics and a configurable layout which can show full screen navigation mapping with turn-by-turn instructions, digital dials, media, contact list or infotainment details. Working in conjunction with the latest Head-up Display technology, new XF gives drivers all the information they need with least distraction.

“The intuitive new infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard and allows customers to connect two phones simultaneously via Bluetooth. Wireless device charging with phone signal booster allows occupants to fast charge their smartphone. The system also provides clearer calls through the help of an external aerial.

“To enable almost instantaneous start-up, Pivi Pro has a dedicated power source, so is ready to use as soon as customers get behind the wheel.

“The collection of new convenience technologies includes Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA) capability, which ensures the XF is always using the latest software. The technology means that owners don’t have to visit retailers to receive software updates for the vehicle.”

One other striking feature of the new car is the second-generation wearable Activity Key that can be used to lock, unlock and start the vehicle without the need for the conventional key. This is for enhanced convenience.

The rechargeable device is said to incorporate a watch and has a battery life of up to seven days between charges.

“The new XF also benefits from the latest generation of driver assistance technology. This includes Clear Exit Monitor, which alerts both front and rear occupants to the presence of an approaching car or cyclist when exiting the vehicle. Adaptive Cruise Control automatically maintains a set distance from the vehicle in front.

“Jaguar’s latest 3D Surround Camera technology delivers advanced 3D functionality using the latest camera technology to deliver more detail and a choice of real-time viewing optional when manoeuvring the vehicle,” it states.

Jaguar’s commitment to creating strong and lightweight vehicles, continues with the new

1. The aluminium-intensive architecture features recycled aluminium from closed-loop manufacturing for greater sustainability and is an important contribution towards Jaguar’s journey to Destination Zero, a world of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

Customers can choose from S, R-Dynamic SE and R-Dynamic HSE specification packs. Also optional on all models is the Black Exterior Pack.

The new Jaguar XF is scheduled for sub-Sahara African introduction early in 2021 with pricing to be available closer to the time.