Jaguar XF 4.2 SV8 S / C

With the Jaguar XF, you must love the theater as it takes care of the spectacle every time you step into it and start the engine. When you press the bright red flashing button to start the engine, not only will you wake up the Jaguar under the hood, but you will also lift the rotary gearshift knob, the steering wheel zooms in, and the dashboard slits open. All this may seem a little vulgar, but definitely unusual and enjoyable in its own way. The leggy ones in the right seat will be delighted.

Even worse at night. Feel like you're in an amusement park with a fully illuminated dashboard and thousands of buttons and switches surrounding the driver. Fortunately, the interior dimming button is close at hand (more precisely, with the left foot), and with the padded base, you will feel like in the cockpit of the latest aircraft. But the abundance of buttons and switches does not bother, they are located in a logical system.

It impresses with a multifunction steering wheel with useful buttons for radio, cruise control and telephone (Bluetooth system), as well as a touchscreen. In fact, we only missed out on a slightly sharper key operation on the inside (both on the center console and on the screen) as the command had to be repeated multiple times, better stuff around the radio and, above all, better seats.

The electric power steering, heating and cooling, and the ability to adjust with memory are pleasing, but the seats won't hug you enough in dynamic turns. Well, we must!

Under the hood was a real beast, dryly called the 4.2 SV8. If I say V-4, you will be thrilled if I add XNUMX liters, and probably already kneel in respect. At the end, I will calmly add that this is not all. In addition, the compressor helps the engine run.

Ha, I can already see you bowing, rather slowly, with your forehead on the ground. ... And they will be right, he really deserves respect. The power of 306 kilowatts or more of domestic 416 "horses" indulges at full throttle, as it jumps to 100 km / h in about five seconds, as if it is blinking, and reaches a top speed of 250 km / h. If we say that the engine is really good , you will probably laugh with us, because we have not yet encountered a bad 400-horsepower engine.

But if we continue to indulge in city crowds, when you are driving literally in the silence of idle and full acceleration with the rear seat, then there is no dilemma: this is really good. The torque is rated for a truck with a fully loaded trailer, and the sound at full throttle is causing all the hairs, even long-legged ones, that it regularly removes, so the DSC has quite a bit of work to do to control rear wheel slip and driver excitement. when he finally presses the accelerator pedal to the ground.

In fact, the eight-cylinder has only two drawbacks: in the car dealership it is already on siding (it will be replaced with a five-liter one, as if 4, 2 is not enough), and even quite wasteful. We were unable to get an average fuel consumption below 17 liters per 100 kilometers, so the range was only 400 kilometers.

You know you can't buy a supercharged V8 to save money, but there are already many engines on the market that offer similar performance at much more moderate consumption. Well, at least when you're driving quietly, which is almost always the case in terms of performance. If you just don't want to be on "you" with police officers and inmates.

The real surprise, however, was the gearbox. It basically allows for automatic transmission, and with the center rotary knob, you can also think of a sportier program (S), which is controlled by two levers on the steering wheel. The transmission runs very smoothly in automatic mode and shifts gears very quickly and efficiently in the sport program. In fact, the drivetrain is so good that it never occurred to us to miss one with two clutches.

After all, there was a lot of fun inside (wide-adjustable seats, radio with CD player and USB dongle, iPOD or external AUX interface connectivity, Bowers & Wilkins speakers, touchscreen, navigation, rearview camera and even directional bi-xenon headlights , making it easier for the driver to drive), and the appearance aroused admiration.

The Jaguar is a discreetly sporty but good-looking car that we know has a long and rich history and perhaps not the brightest future. But in our time, few people can boast of good sales. But you can count on exclusivity: the Ljubljana seller told me they only sold two XF models, so he knows both owners. So there is no hiding place in Slovenia.

But what impressed us most was the dual nature of this car. Jaguar can be downright meek, generous and not picky about driving at all (DSC works great), but you can switch to S, set the stabilization system to dynamic mode (checkered flag next to the gear shift button) and play with reverse sliding, because that the stabilization electronics then take into account the greater lateral action.

For a track, you can completely turn off the DSC system (the button needs to be pressed for 10 seconds, so you can change your mind sooner if you have no motivation), switch back to S and have fun with a butt that will be everywhere, just for the nose the car has no ...

We did not notice any brake leaks, although we worked on them several times and the gearbox does not want to shift by itself, even if the engine is already at red revs. It is only on the steering wheel that road irregularities are transferred too much onto the driver's hand. The air suspension is (perhaps) a bit stiffer, but if you want more comfort, consider a different Jaguar. XF needs a dynamic driver.

Whether the Jaguar is tamed on the Portorož waterfront or threateningly jawed at the Tomb, you will be more than satisfied with the technique and the image. You can enjoy the show together in the salon before starting the engine, or become the protagonist in a crazy dance at the racetrack. Jaguar XF is alive and so is the driver!

Aljoьa Mrak, photo :? Aleш Pavleti.

Jaguar XF 4.2 SV8 S / C

Basic data

Sales:	Auto DOO Summit
Base model price:	88.330 €
Test model cost:	96.531 €
Calculate the cost of auto insurance
Power:	306kW (416 KM)
Acceleration (0-100 km / h):	5,4 with
Maximum speed:	250 km / h
Mixed flow ECE:	12,6l / 100km

Technical information

engine:	8-cylinder - 4-stroke - V90° - mechanically supercharged petrol - longitudinally mounted at the front - displacement 4.196 cm? – maximum power 306 kW (416 hp) at 6.250 rpm – maximum torque 560 Nm at 3.500 rpm.
Energy transfer:	the engine is driven by the rear wheels - 6-speed automatic transmission - tires 255/35 / R20 V in front, 285/30 / R20 V in the rear (Pirelli Sottozero W240 M + S).
Capacity:	top speed 250 km / h - acceleration 0-100 km / h 5,4 - fuel consumption (ECE) 18,7 / 9,1 / 12,6 l / 100 km.
Transportation and suspension:	sedan - 4 doors, 5 seats - self-supporting body - front single suspension, spring legs, double wishbones, stabilizer - rear multi-link axle, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, stabilizer - front disc brakes (forced cooling), rear disc - ride 11,5 m - fuel tank 69 l.
Mass:	empty vehicle 1.890 kg - permissible gross weight 2.330 kg.
Box:	Trunk volume measured using AM standard set of 5 Samsonite suitcases (total 278,5 L): 5 places: 1 backpack (20 L); 1 × aviation suitcase (36 l); 1 suitcase (85,5 l), 1 suitcase (68,5 l)

Our measurements

T = 5 ° C / p = 1.000 mbar / rel. vl. = 50% / Mileage condition: 10.003 km
Acceleration 0-100km:	5,6s
402m from the city:	13,9 years ( 172 km / h)
Maximum speed:	250km / h (WE.)
Minimum consumption:	17,1l / 100km
Maximum consumption:	21,8l / 100km
test consumption:	19,8 l / 100km
Braking distance at 100 km / h:	41,3m
AM table:	39m
Noise at 50 km / h in 3rd gear	52dB
Noise at 50 km / h in 4rd gear	52dB
Noise at 90 km / h in 3rd gear	62dB
Noise at 90 km / h in 4rd gear	60dB
Noise at 90 km / h in 5rd gear	59dB
Noise at 90 km / h in 6rd gear	58dB
Noise at 130 km / h in 4rd gear	64dB
Noise at 130 km / h in 5rd gear	63dB
Noise at 130 km / h in 6rd gear	62dB
Test errors:	roof window creak

Overall rating (333/420)

• While the XF flirts openly with sportiness (engine, transmission, position, looks), it's also surprisingly useful for day-to-day cruises from meeting to meeting. Only then do you spend time in the offices, because driving the Jaga is very pleasant.

• Exterior (14/15)

  A beauty in which beautiful details are always revealed. Only quality can be better.

• Interior (97/140)

  Large enough, but with some ergonomics and calibers considerations. Surprises with convenience and ease of use.

• Engine, transmission (61
  
  
  / 40)

  If we were to refine the steering gear, it would be dangerously close to perfection. But there are no ideal ones yet ...

• Driving performance (61
  
  
  / 95)

  It loses a few points due to the fact that in manual mode it can get confused in the city, as the ears of the steering wheel move with the steering wheel.

• Performance (35/35)

  There were no dilemmas on this topic. Not only is there enough, the fast driver XF just crashes onto the track.

• Security (31/45)

  There are no serious comments on passive safety, but there is still room for active safety. Among the accessories you will find gadgets.

• Economy

  The engine is wasteful, the price is high, the warranty is average, the loss in value is moderate.

We praise and reproach

engine

Transmission

appearance

sound comfort

manual transmission with DSC off and gear indication

seat

vibrations are transmitted from the road to the steering wheel

twisting of the body in case of severe irregularities in the road

opaque speedometer

consumption (range)

closing the box in front of the front passenger