Jag's Audi A6 rival will receive a raft of technological improvements, prototypes seen on the road ahead of launch early next year
Jaguar is readying an extensive mid-life upgrade for its XF range, and after prototypes of the saloon were spotted in the UK last month we've now seen the Sportbrake estate testing on the Continent.
Following the recently updated XE and tipped to arrive before similar revisions to the F-Pace SUV early next year, the executive car will benefit from design updates along with a raft of technological improvements aimed at restoring its competitive edge to the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi A6.
Speaking to Autocar earlier this year at the new XE’s unveiling, senior product planning manager Wayne Darley said the XF was “the next priority”.
“If you look at when those two cars [XF and F-Pace] went on sale - late 2015 and early 2016 - that gives you a good idea of the timings”.
The changes will be as significant as the XE, with evolved exterior looks but significant cabin upgrades, focusing on a substantial boost in perceived quality and new technology features. Like the smaller saloon, the XF is set to adopt features from the I-Pace, including a new secondary central screen for the climate control functions and a new steering wheel.
Both cars will also join the XE in receiving RDE2-compliant diesel engines, which Darley said required a “huge push” on the engineering side to ensure the XE was the first car in its class to market with the ultra-efficient engines ahead of an emissions regulation change in 2021.
What remains unclear, however, is whether the XF S will return. The new XE will no longer be available with the supercharged V6 S variant for the rest of its lifecycle, while V6 petrol and diesel versions of the F-Pace and XF are no longer on sale.
Jaguar Land Rover has just released a new inline six-cylinder petrol engine in the Range Rover Sport, but with the XE S axed due to slow sales it remains to be seen whether that engine will return to the larger models.
The prototype spied previously sports a petrol powerplant, according to number plate data, but there is no indication it uses a mild hybrid system as such checks commonly reveal. It remains to be seen if the model will benefit from the same efficiency-boosting 48v electrified system as its Land Rover cousins - but given the XF's older platform, it's not likely.
Read more:
Bolder looks, classier cabin, more tech for 2019 Jaguar XE
Insight: Q&A with Ian Callum, Jaguar design director
Jaguar: we'll continue to make saloons
via Autobuzz Today
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