Very black, very masculine, very sophisticated - these are just some of the external traits that the Jaguar XF executes. Its look resembles that of a machine ready for a battle -- because of its black color as well as its rigid and fierce exterior features. But the battle that the Jaguar XF wants to conquer is the road battle while at the same time, ensuring the comfort of the driver and the passengers.
Jaguar engineers made the safari from the English Midlands to the American desert Southwest to punish a number of Jag XF prototypes. A good portion of the front-end disguise was removed although the heavy rear-end camouflage was still in place. It is still in question whether the partial striptease was necessitated by the day's record 129 F -degree heat to allow more cooling air through the grille.
Now completely visible is the wide and rectangular grille. Other than that, there is also the array of additional air-intakes along the front bumper. On the production model, the gaping militancy of the arching outer intakes of the concept have been toned down and simplified.
The "blades", which bisect those intakes, are similarly toned down. Jaguar designers have gone for a cleaner, less polarizing design treatment, probably leaving room to move up market when Jaguar unveils the rumored 500-horsepower XFS.
Furthermore, the latest XF prototypes were running without their usual heavy camouflage covering their hoods. We can, therefore, now get a further sense of the production XF's collection of character lines. Matching the general layout of the C-XF concept, with a central power bulge, which narrows as it runs from the windshield to the grille, is the sculpting. From the A-pillars to the outer edges of the grille, additional sculpting runs, leaving a nice "shelf" affect sweeping back from the headlights. Though the exact shape of the headlights is still a mystery, it is clear that the XF will have a unique face that admirably lives up to the promise of the concept.
Expect the production XF to shed every inch of camouflage at the Frankfurt Motor Show by this September.
Nonetheless, always remember that any car can be customized. To customize your car -once you already have one- if in case you do not want the styling of the original one, you may opt for any suitable for your Jaguar car, and experience the distinctive feel of the XF.
