2012 Jaguar XF Supercharged: Leaping In
June 27, 2012
This car is special and it makes me feel special, too. With the influx of new cars into our long-term fleet, it's a great time to have access to the lot.
I took the XF to a fancy-schmancy lunch in Malibu in the afternoon, then out to a fancy-schmancy dinner in my neighborhood last night. The Jaguar is exquisite from the inside, with rich leather and an intoxicating blend of stately design and high-tech styling. Honestly, the only thing I'm not a fan of is the steering wheel shape.
From the outside, the muscular shape and jet-black paint manage to turn plenty of heads; way more than I had anticipated.
Then there's the engine. Oh. My. Gawd.
It feels like it's got more than 424 lb-ft of twist. When you stomp the throttle, it responds with a flood of power that presses you into the seat. It doesn't shove you violently, no, it's a smooth and graceful wallop that doesn't jostle your innards. Fan-freaking-tastic.
Out of curiosity, I engaged the sport modes. On downshifts, there's a glorious snarl and a series of exhaust crackles. Those turned even more heads in Beverly Hills.
Here's the kicker: the Jaaaaag is almost $30,000 less than our long-term Audi A8. THIRTY-GRAND! I like our Audi, but I love our Jag. *Gasp* this isn't even a fair fight.
Mark Takahashi, Automotive Editor @ 1,200 miles
