| New Model Preview | Frankfurt Motor Show | Jaguar XF |

Jaguar promised a radical departure from its traditional design and the new XF saloon certainly shows the company to be in fighting spirit. The new S-Type replacement will get its first official public airing at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, Jaguar choosing to show its new premium contender on the home territory of BMW, Mercedes and Audi. The XF needs to be good, very good, if it's going to compete against those established German big hitters, the XF's success thought to be crucial to Jaguar's future.

The British firm has definitely taken on board the criticisms of the old S-Type, the XF a very different looking Jaguar indeed. More coupe-like and muscular in style, it's a very modern looking car, which, except for the odd Jaguar visual identifier, looks quite unlike any of the existing range. Jaguar claims its proportions are similar to the XK Coupe, the XF's high boot line and arching roofline giving it something of a coupe stance. The firm is quick to point out that the XF's windscreen is raked at the same angle as its XK relative too. Despite those sleek lines Jaguar claims the XF offers seating for five adults in comfort; we'll need to wait and see on that one, but certainly the interior looks beautifully finished.

Inside, a touch-screen display takes care of the majority of infotainment functions, including (if optioned) full iPod integration. All come with Bluetooth telephone connectivity, an auxiliary socket and a choice of premium audio systems depending on model choice. There are rotating vents and the start button pulses in red before being pushed. American customers will be pleased to hear the cup-holders are capable of holding a 'big-gulp' cup, too.

Of all the interior controls there's one that dominates. The single rotary knob on the transmission tunnel isn't an infotainment interface like BMW's iDrive or Audi's MMI, instead it's the gear selector. It takes the place of Jaguar's old 'J'-gate automatic shifter, manual control of the gears offered by wheel-mounted paddle-shifters. As a result all XF's come with the same acclaimed six-speed automatic from the XK, its shift speed and quality improved further for the new saloon.

That smooth six-speeder is mated to four different engines. There are two V6s, one the 2.7-litre turbodiesel, the other the 3.0-litre petrol, and two V8s. The V8s offered are two 4.2-litre versions. The flagship S V8 gains a supercharger over the naturally aspirated version and adds 120bhp to its 300bhp to deliver 420bhp. That allows the flagship XF S to reach 62mph in an estimated 5.4 seconds and onto an electronically limited 155mph. None of the XFs are slow though, all being able to reach 62mph in under 8.3 seconds and achieve a maximum of over 140mph.

Dynamically Jaguar is claiming the XF as its most involving saloon ever. A number of electronic aids enhance the driving experience and safety, the XF coming with Understeer Control Logic and Dynamic Stability Control among its extensive electronic driver aid arsenal. Jaguar also boasts that the XF has one of the stiffest bodies in its class to underpin its dynamism. Comfort hasn't been forgotten in this quest for driver pleasure, the British firm claiming refinement as bettering its key rivals, while standard equipment levels in the smart interior are comprehensive.

Provision has been made for not just occupant safety but pedestrians, too. Like its XK relative the XF's bonnet features a pedestrian contact sensor, popping the bonnet to provide more effective cushioning between the bonnet and the hard points of the engine beneath it.

Debuting next month in Frankfurt the XF will be in showrooms for demonstration early next year. The range features three trim levels: Luxury, Premium Luxury and S, the latter only offered on the range-topping supercharged V8. Jaguar has chosen not to penalise buyers of the diesel with higher prices, the V6 diesel and petrol starting at £33,900, the flagship S V8 costing £54,900.

Kyle Fortune - 28 Aug 2007