Buyers on this side of the Atlantic are still waiting for the new Jaguar XE, but in the meantime its big sibling, the XF, will get an update.
The 2016 Jaguar XF will debut in “an extraordinary journey across London” March 24 before a formal unveiling at the 2015 New York Auto Show the following week.
Because anyone can roll a car onto a stage, Jaguar recruited British stuntman Jim Dowdall – whose resumé includes Bond, Bourne, and Indiana Jones films – to do something a little different.
He’ll attempt a high-wire water crossing in the XF, driving the car across two 34-milimeter diameter wires. Talk about tension.
If the 2016 XF plunges to the Earth, it should at least look pretty good doing it. Jaguar design chief Ian Callum is promising the “best-looking car in its class.”
The current XF served as the styling template for much of Jaguar’s lineup, and it’s still probably the best-looking car in the rather staid midsize luxury sedan class. So Jag probably doesn’t need to go too crazy with the changes.
The new XF will use the same aluminum platform as the XE and the upcoming F-Pace crossover, slashing weight to improve performance and fuel economy.
Engine choices will probably include turbo four-cylinders from Jaguar Land Rover’s new Ingenium line, plus the supercharged 3.0-liter V6 and 5.0-liter supercharged V8 offered in the current XF.
An XF SVR hot rod from the company’s Special Vehicle Operations could also appear, replacing today’s XFR-S.
Jag’s teaser image shows a clean interior, with a steering wheel and rotary gear selector lifted from other current models, and a central screen that will likely feature the latest version of Jaguar Land Rover’s InControl infotainment system.
After its high-wire act, the 2016 Jaguar XF will appear at the 2015 New York Auto Show April 1. We’ll have all of the details live from the show floor.