JAGUAR C-XF CONCEPT

The C-XF concept car is a stunning, four-door sports saloon which blends design purity with unmistakable dynamism and is a clear indication of the design direction that the next generations of Jaguar saloons will take.


Designed by the same teams that produced the award-winning Jaguar XK sports GT range in 2005 - headed by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum and Head of Advanced Design Julian Thomson - the C-XF concept is a precursor to cars that will become recognized for their ground-breaking exterior looks and innovative interiors.


As a striking interpretation of the design values that are the bedrock of every great Jaguar, the C-XF is wholly contemporary yet succeeds in paying homage to its renowned predecessors.



Exterior Design
Set into the front of the C-XF is a bold and aggressive grille finished in black chrome. Recessed deeply into the body rather than sitting flush with the surface, the visual effect is similar to that of an air intake on a jet engine and serves as a reminder that directly behind is a sophisticated and powerful 4.2-litre supercharged V8 engine.


The headlamps which evolve the twin-lamp motif seen on previous Jaguars into a single slim wedge, are narrow and angular. They bring an air of aggression to the C-XF's profile, while between the lamps a blue streak of light reveals an almost cat-like iris when illuminated. Subtly etched below the lenses is a unique 'tattoo' design showing an abstract Jaguar leaper logo - a tattoo that is repeated in the treadplates of the door sills and in the tread of the bespoke Pirelli tires that surround the 21-inch machined, polished aluminum wheels.


Running backwards from the nose of the C-XF is the main feature line of the car - an unbroken shoulder that flows beneath the cabin glassline and into the haunch over the rear wheel. It is this feature, a modern interpretation of renowned Jaguar sports saloons from history, that endows C-XF with its latent power. A similarly simple line can also be seen on the new XK range and is one of the design cues that will carry forward onto the next generation of Jaguars.


Interior Design

Design Director Ian Callum describes the cabin of the C-XF concept car as "one of the most exciting interiors Jaguar has ever done". One glimpse of the inside of the four-seater is enough to understand why Callum has this view.

The emphasis is on tailored performance rather than pampered luxury and nowhere is that better demonstrated than in the lightweight, sculpted bucket-style front seats. Trimmed in semi-aniline leather (a specially dyed hide which ensures even coloration yet retains its softness) the seats are sports-styled yet also offer impressive comfort thanks to a deeply padded lumbar area with ventilation cavities. Twin individual bucket seats house the rear-seat passengers.


Between the seats runs a tall central transmission tunnel that gives the occupants a sense of sitting deep within a futuristic cockpit. One of the keys to any Jaguar interior is that occupants should feel as if they are enclosed in the car, not sitting on it. The C-XF's interior cossets in just such a way, creating an inviting cabin for passengers to slip into, rather than surrounding them with bland, open space.


The focal point of the interior is a sweeping brushed aluminum facia that wraps around the cabin in a dynamic linear graphic that instills a sense of velocity. The counterpoint to the aluminum is a combination of leather and wood that takes detail of finish to a new level.


Innovation
Jaguar's ethos on embracing new technologies that enhance the driver experience has long been that they should surprise, delight and inform, rather than impose themselves or bombard the user with excessive information or choice.


Visually coming to life when being started is one thing, but sensing the requirements of an occupant without physical touch is a further, significant leap forward again. The introduction of a new prototype technology, called JaguarSense, sees four sensors hidden within the doors react to the sweep of your hand as it passes over them. Once activated, the inner door handles - previously hidden - motor outwards ready to be used.


A fifth sensor, located in the facia, responds to the proximity of your hand to reveal an infotainment screen that lies flush within the aluminum front panel. The sequence continues with the centre section of the dashboard rotating 90 degrees to display an advanced Dual View screen which is capable of projecting two different images to the driver and passenger simultaneously. For example, the driver can view satellite-navigation instructions while the passenger watches a DVD-based movie.


Powertrain

Beneath the C-XF's bonnet, further technical excellence is immediately apparent. The car is powered by an enhanced version of Jaguar's renowned 4.2-litre supercharged V8 engine. Tuned to produce in excess of 420 bhp and 400 lb-ft of torque - the latter produced from very low revs - this proven powerplant and its six-speed automatic transmission with Jaguar Sequential Shift manual gearchange capability, deliver superb sporting performance. If C-XF were a production car, it would reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph, with the possibility of an unrestricted speed in excess of 180 mph.