2017 Jaguar XFL
The all-new Jaguar XFL delivers unparalleled passenger luxury and technology to the business segment; this is a luxury long-wheelbase saloon that is as good to be driven in as it is to drive. Jaguar’s peerless design discipline, together with class-leading dynamics, offers a unique and compelling alternative to the Chinese business customer.
Building on the success of the new XF saloon, this long wheelbase version has been developed exclusively for the Chinese market, and provides all of the space and refinement expected in the segment without compromising the outstanding proportions and elegant lines which distinguish Jaguar design from the competition.
Passenger comfort has been a key consideration and increasing the wheelbase by 140mm to 3,100mm delivers exceptional legroom and kneeroom in the rear seats. The extra length has been perfectly integrated into the XFL’s form, preserving the elegance and sporting profile of the roofline.
Whether for work or for relaxing, the all-new XFL’s row-two is designed to be the perfect environment, made all the better by four-zone climate control and – in a Jaguar-first – cabin air ionisation for greater comfort. The amount of natural light flooding in through the extensive glasshouse with characteristic sixth-light is enhanced by the opening twin aperture panoramic roof.
With the state-of-the-art InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, the all-new XFL offers rear seat entertainment through 8-inch screens and digital wireless headphones. Capable of showing two concurrent TV channels, the screens can also display media from devices connected through the HDMI/MHL port in the new rear console. InControl Touch Pro is also available with the outstanding Meridian Surround Sound System with 17 speakers (including subwoofer) and 825W of pure digital audio throughout the interior.
Rear passengers will also benefit from enhanced safety technology with the debut of Clear Exit Detection – a segment-first technology which makes it easier and safer for rear seat passengers to step out of the car by warning them of traffic approaching from behind.
Jaguars are always defined by proportion, and the standard wheelbase XF is proof of this. The Design team did not want to compromise that when creating the all-new XFL – it too had to be the best looking car in its segment.
The result is a car which maintains all of the muscularity and balance of XF while delivering extra space and luxury. New features such as the chrome strips in the door handles and the sill finishers, together with the integrated chrome tailpipe finishers in the rear valance, provide further subtle distinctions that this is the all-new XFL.
Since the first-generation XF was launched in 2007, the interior has always set the standard for luxury, craftsmanship and innovative technologies such as the rotary gear shifter and the rotating air vents. These elements still feature, but the all-new XFL takes the row-two experience to a completely new level: the exceptional ride quality delivered by the all-new XFL’s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture and class-leading suspension design is more than matched by the comfort delivered by seats available with heating, cooling and massage functions, and perforated Windsor leather.
The Jaguar XFL will be the first Jaguar produced at Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Changshu and heralds the opening of China’s first purpose-built aluminium body shop. The body shop is almost 50,000m2 and contains a fully flexible production line including more than 300 robots.
Sales of the Jaguar XFL will commence in China in the second half of 2016.
Range summary
The all-new XFL range will consist of:
- XFL Pure
- XFL Prestige
- XFL Prestige Lux
- XFL Prestige Lux +
- XFL Portfolio
The powertrain range will consist of:
- 200PS 2.0-litre petrol automatic
- RWD, 240PS 2.0-litre petrol automatic
- RWD, 340PS 3.0-litre petrol automatic
- RWD
Designed and engineered in Britain, the all-new XFL is the first Jaguar to be made in China, and is manufactured at Chery Jaguar Land Rover’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Changshu.
DESIGN
Staying true to the principles of elegant lines and disciplined surfacing, the all-new Jaguar XFL delivers perfect integration of its extended wheelbase and is the most visually dynamic car in the segment.
Integrity, simplicity: Perfect proportions
As a manufacturer with an unrivalled tradition of designing outstanding sporting saloons, Jaguar has once again set the benchmark. The design intent was to create the best looking car in the class, and the all-new XFL delivers.
From any angle the all-new XFL is instantly recognisable as a Jaguar. The sleek, coupé-like profile, long bonnet with deep power bulge and the short front overhang mark this car out as a sporting luxury saloon stood apart from the crowd.
Working in direct partnership with engineering and manufacturing, Jaguar’s design team started with the Lightweight Aluminium Architecture and used it to shape a long wheelbase version of the new XF that would offer even more interior luxury and space without compromising the perfect proportions or muscular, sporting elegance.
The additional 140mm in the wheelbase, which now measures 3,100mm, is seamlessly integrated into the highly streamlined form. The longer wheelbase not only delivers 157mm more rear legroom and 116mm more rear kneeroom than the standard wheelbase XF, but also contributes to the even greater ride comfort.
The short front overhang emphasises the car’s dynamic, rear-wheel drive stance and the outstanding proportions characteristic to all Jaguars. The near-vertical mesh grille delivers a prestigious, mature look to the car and helps to optimise cooling.
Aerodynamics are improved further by using apertures in the front bumper to channel air over the front wheels. This helps to prevent the turbulent wheel wake from disturbing the smooth laminar airflow passing around the car.
The headlights – including the adaptive full-LED technology – are flush with the surrounding panels, improving not only aesthetics but also aerodynamics. They also feature Jaguar’s signature J-Blade LED daytime running lights and a ‘modern quad’ design, referencing the four round lights that Jaguar saloons have made iconic. The fluting running backwards from the top of the headlights is another detail inspired by Jaguar’s rich heritage.
The power bulge on the long aluminium bonnet runs all the way through to the nose cone, emphasising the car’s performance potential. Integrating Jaguar’s latest-generation deployable bonnet technology into the rear hinge assembly enabled the bonnet line to be 35mm lower. Not only does this contribute to the sleek design but also improves visibility as well as pedestrian protection.
The one-piece aluminium bodyside pressings emphasise Jaguar’s philosophy that surfacing should always be executed with discipline, simplicity and purity. Designing and manufacturing these panels from a single sheet is extremely challenging but contributes not only to the overall stiffness of the body, but also to surfacing purity and quality because there are no visible joints.
The door handles are available with chrome inserts, and the new sill finishers benefit from a chrome strip running the full length of the doors. As befits its status, this brightware helps to distinguish the all-new XFL from the sports-oriented character of the standard wheelbase saloon and provides a subtle visual reference to the all-new XFL’s greater luxury and prestige.
The sweeping, coupé-like profile features a sixth-light. This feature helps to reinforce the car’s status and prestige, and, together with the extended panoramic roof, also allows more light into the rear of the cabin, creating a greater sense of spaciousness to mirror the increased leg and kneeroom.
The elegant daylight opening graphic features a full return, the form inspired by past Jaguar sports saloons. With radii honed to within fractions of a millimetre to deliver the complex curvature, the feature is testament to Jaguar’s expertise in working with aluminium.
Running from front to back, peaking above the rear wheel in terms of height and then tapering away, is a chamfered feature line known as ‘the spear of light.’ This feature, in long wheelbase form, makes the car look even more lithe, more agile and more elegant.
At the rear, the LED tail lights feature the signature Jaguar graphic from F-TYPE – a line intersecting a roundel – also used on the XE. But here, the graphic is repeated, creating a clear hierarchy from XE, and an unmistakable pattern at night.
The slender chrome signature blade running across the bootlid between the light clusters emphasises the all-new XFL’s taut surfaces and dynamic visual balance. To deliver the flush fit of the light clusters and perfect integration of the chrome blade, the bootlid is made from two steel pressings joined by laser brazing. As well as being highly energy-efficient, this state-of-the-art process was selected for its precision and neat, clean finish.
Completing the rear-end design is a new lower valance featuring twin integrated exhaust finishers. Like the chrome inserts in the door handles and the along the sills, these details enrich the all-new XFL’s exterior form and reflect the even greater levels of interior luxury.
Interior design: simplicity, strength, space
From the first generation, the interior of the XF has always attracted praise, especially the start-up sequence bringing the car to life as the rotary gear selector rises up from the centre console and the air vents rotate into position.
This sense of occasion remains in the all-new XFL, complementing the strong, simple lines and horizontal feel of the instrument panel: complete with Jaguar signature ‘Riva Hoop’ inspired by XJ, the structure continues into the doors, creating a unique cabin feel. This is enhanced by the generous application of veneers such as Gloss Figured Ebony and textured aluminium trim such as Morse Code.
Offering features including a 12.3-inch virtual instrument cluster and 10.2-inch touchscreen, four-zone climate control with cabin air ionisation technology, configurable 10-colour ambient lighting, heated and cooled massage seats with Windsor leather facings, folding rear tables, rear-seat entertainment system, opening twin aperture panoramic roof with sunblind and electric side and rear window blinds, the all-new XFL resets the standard for interior luxury and design.
Appreciation of the all-new XFL’s interior starts from the outside – there’s an approach sequence leading you in to the car as the Jaguar Intaglio at the centre of the Riva Hoop is lit up.
Once in your seat, available with 14-way adjustment, you notice how the doors with optional soft-close shut with reassuring precision and a sound painstakingly engineered to match the premium materials and perfect execution of the interior. Press the engine start button and watch the backlighting fade: the effect is calming – this is your personal space.
Look around and you notice the height of the waistline and the centre console: this enhances the feeling of being sat in the seat rather than on it, creating a sense of safety, comfort and security. The strong horizontal theme of the instrument panel, the layering of it, and the materials used for each layer, such as the leather wrapping, creates a rich, luxurious, hand-crafted feel.
Sitting in the rear of the all-new XFL offers a truly sublime experience. The sixth-light and twin-aperture panoramic roof let more natural light into the cabin and, just as importantly, heighten the perception of space.
Compared to the standard XF, the all-new XFL benefits from ambient lighting in the rear footwells, joining the subtle illumination of the door releases, the door stowage areas and the signature lines along the veneers. The veneers themselves are longer – another subtle design feature signifying that this is the long wheelbase model. Electric blinds are available for the side windows and rear screen to offer greater privacy, while four-zone climate control with cabin air ionisation make the second row an even more comfortable place to be.
The already generous amounts of row-two legroom and kneeroom offered by the standard wheelbase car have increased by a further 157mm and 116mm respectively, making it even more relaxing to sit back and enjoy the comfort of seats offering heating, cooling and massage functions. Distinctive winged headrests provide even greater support on long journeys. For even greater relaxation, a touch of the button in the door is all it takes for the front passenger seat to slide fully forwards, delivering up to 1,102mm of legroom.
Folding rear tables transform the all-new XFL into a mobile office, while the 8-inch screens of the rear seat entertainment system can play digital TV and films, or media streamed from devices such as tablets and smartphones via the HDMI/MHL port. The folding centre armrest features a large storage compartment and deployable cupholders.
INFOTAINMENT AND CONNECTIVITY
With a tablet-style touchscreen, a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices, apps for wearable technology and a Meridian Surround Sound system, the all-new XFL’s next-generation infotainment system ensures that you’re always connected.
World-class infotainment technology
The all-new XFL is offered with the InControl Touch system with 8-inch capacitive touchscreen, and the next-generation InControl Touch Pro system – Jaguar’s most advanced infotainment system ever. InControl Touch Pro is designed around a tablet-style 10.2-inch touchscreen and is as intuitive to use as it is powerful, making every journey a more enjoyable, rewarding experience.
InControl Touch Pro features state-of-the-art technologies including a powerful quad-core processor and a high-speed 60GB solid-state drive (SSD). Everything is connected using ultra-fast Ethernet – the most advanced network available and up to five times quicker than competing technologies. Put together, this gives InControl Touch Pro incredible computing power and delivers exceptional performance and functionality.
The 10.2-inch touchscreen makes interaction smooth, seamless and intuitive. The home screen can be customised and widgets can be added to provide shortcuts to specific features, functions, tasks and favourite contacts. It’s even possible to add additional customised home screens if desired.
The screen delivers superb graphics and the super-wide display enables multi-tasking. So for instance, media can be shown in the main area of the screen, while the side panel can show journey status or phone details.
Because the data is stored on the high-speed SSD it can be accessed in a fraction of the time needed for conventional hard drives, so the graphics are sharp, highly detailed and incredibly responsive. Users can zoom in and out of maps using ‘pinch’ and ‘pan’ gestures – nothing could be simpler or more intuitive.
InControl Touch Pro can get you to your destination even when the GPS signal is lost, thanks to innovative dead-reckoning functionality. By analysing data from the vehicle’s sensors, it can accurately predict the vehicle’s location and heading – something beyond the capability of smartphone navigation apps.
Functionality is taken to the next level by specifying InControl Touch Pro’s data connection and location-based features and services. Enter a destination and the system can check if there’s enough fuel in the tank to complete the journey. If not, the driver is alerted and filling stations on the route that are within range are highlighted on the map: a tap is all it takes to add one as a waypoint.
A companion app for iOS and Android smartphones enables true door-to-door route planning and guidance and can help you to complete the final stage of your journey on foot. The app also enables synching of routes and destinations between the device and the all-new XFL’s InControl Touch Pro system so that routes can be set in advance and uploaded automatically once in the car.
Outstanding performance: Meridian audio
InControl Touch Pro is designed to deliver exceptional audio performance too, and offers a choice of two systems developed specifically for the all-new XFL together with world-renowned British firm Meridian. The first is a superb 380W system with 11 speakers (including subwoofer), while the truly outstanding surround sound system delivers 825W and features 17 speakers (including subwoofer).
To enhance the experience still further, the surround sound system benefits from Meridian’s and Audyssey’s signal processing technologies, producing rich, balanced sound throughout the all-new XFL’s cabin. And because all of the speakers and amplifiers are so carefully matched, it delivers its high output with exceptionally low levels of total harmonic distortion – just 0.2 per cent.
The experience is enriched with Gracenote album art stored on the SSD drive – a massive 10GB is dedicated to user media storage. There are also smart functions such as ‘Play more like this’ which automatically compiles playlists, or Music Queue, which makes it easy to search for and add songs, albums or artists to a music queue while the current track is still playing.
As well as media streaming from smartphones and tablets via two USB 3.0 ports and a dual-purpose HDMI/ MHL port, InControl Touch Pro offers a CD/DVD player too.
The rear-seat entertainment system is another highlight. Exclusive to the all-new XFL, this system features 8-inch screens, which can support two concurrent channels, enabling one passenger to watch TV, for example, while the other watches a film. Audio is delivered over digital wireless headphones.
Wearable technology makes it even easier to stay in touch
The all-new XFL’s InControl Touch and InControl Touch Pro infotainment systems support the familiar InControl Apps, Wi-Fi Hotspot and InControl Protect features, but now the InControl Remote app is available for the Apple Watch and the Android Wear watch, making it simpler and more convenient than ever to interact with the vehicle – no matter where you are.
Offering similar functionality to the InControl Remote smartphone app, drivers will be able to use their Apple Watch or Android Wear watch to lock and unlock the vehicle, check how much fuel is in the tank and see its location on a map. It’s even possible to set the climate control and start the engine to get the cabin to the ideal temperature before the journey begins.
ARCHITECTURE AND BODY STRUCTURE
Every Jaguar features a light, stiff body structure made predominantly or entirely from aluminium – a unique achievement for a premium brand.
Material benefit: aluminium-intensive construction
Aluminium alloys, self-piercing rivets, structural adhesives: these are the essential elements around which every Jaguar is designed. Used to create inherently light, stiff body structures, they enable the highest standards of performance, efficiency, safety and dynamics.
These attributes were engineered into Jaguar’s Lightweight Aluminium Architecture from the very beginning. It is from this state-of-the-art modular structure that the all-new XFL was developed. Also featuring advanced high-strength steels, it uses materials intelligently, exploiting each to its full potential. Aluminium is also used to make the bonnet and front fenders, while the front-end carrier and cross-car beam are cast from even lighter magnesium alloys.
The aluminium-intensive monocoque leverages more than a decade’s experience of manufacturing luxury cars from aluminium in high volume. The one-piece bodysides of the all-new XFL are testament to Jaguar’s world-leading expertise in working with the material.
Stamped from a single sheet of high-strength 6000-series alloy, the bodysides weigh just over 7kg and are among the most technically-challenging panels Jaguar has developed – they push the very limits of what is possible in terms of designing and manufacturing in aluminium. Perfecting the deep haunches and the sixth-light incorporated all of the learning from F-TYPE in terms of depth of draw and tightness of radii.
Assembly to the rest of the structure uses a two-stage framing process. The technique allows for greater joint efficiency through optimised positioning of the rivets. This translates to increased torsional rigidity of the body, which is fundamental to safety, comfort and refinement.
Features such as the high-pressure die-cast aluminium front suspension towers increase local stiffness and make a significant contribution to the all-new XFL’s benchmark ride, handling and steering.
Quieter by design
The all-new XFL is even more refined too, and much of the improvement comes from reducing structure-borne noise. Critical to this is that the body behaves as one homogeneous structure: wherever vibration energy finds a discontinuity it will concentrate and then radiate noise through to the cabin.
Every single part of the body was analysed in this way to ensure that as many potential sources of noise could be designed-out. In some areas, such as the crash structure behind the front bulkhead, fully-sealed, double-wall structures are used. Where sound deadening has been applied, the latest spray-on materials are used due to their combination of higher performance and lower weight.
Foam baffles inside the aluminium sections also contribute. These pieces are fitted during assembly: as the body passes through the e-coating ovens the heat causes the foam to expand so that it completely fills the section.
A further example of the painstaking attention to detail which delivered the all-new XFL’s benchmark low levels of cabin noise is typified by the way in which the high-level brake light is fitted to the body: this full-LED light has a seal and an acoustic barrier behind that to minimise any noise leakage through to the interior.
Closing the loop: Recycled aluminium alloy
Aluminium pressings used where stiffness is a key criterion, such as underframe reinforcements, are typically formed from 5000-series alloys. These include RC5754, a grade unique to Jaguar Land Rover, and which is made predominantly from recycled material.
Around half of this is scrap sourced from the press shops, helping not only the move towards closed-loop recycling but also reductions in overall electricity consumption and therefore lifecycle CO2 emissions. Innovations such as this are a further example of Jaguar Land Rover’s world-class aluminium expertise and drive for environmental sustainability.
Structural integrity: World-class safety
The all-new XFL has been engineered to meet the most demanding crash test requirements. As part of the intelligent material mix in the body, the rear longitudinal members and the B-pillar reinforcements are made from ultra-high strength hot-formed boron steels, providing exceptional rigidity and stability of the occupant safety cell.
Pedestrian protection benefits from the more vertical front grille and the improved energy-absorbing properties of the front bumper but is enhanced even further by Jaguar’s latest-generation deployable bonnet technology.
The system uses pressure sensors mounted in the front bumper to detect collisions with pedestrians. When deployment is initiated, pyrotechnic piston actuators integrated into the rear bonnet hinges fire, and, in some 40 milliseconds, can lift the trailing edge of the bonnet by approximately 130mm. This increases clearance between the pedestrian’s head and hardpoints in the engine compartment, helping to mitigate head injuries.
Jaguar’s commitment to improving pedestrian protection in this way began back in 2006 with the launch of the XK. Compared to the airbag system used then, which was further developed for the first-generation XF, the latest technology in the all-new XFL has even more accurate and robust sensing plus improved firing times, as well as weight and packaging benefits.
CHASSIS
The all-new Jaguar XFL exceeds all expectations of how a business saloon should ride, handle and steer. Comfort and refinement have been taken to an even higher level and combined with agility and responsiveness that are unequalled in the segment.
Dynamic, agile, composed
Whether on city streets, a motorway cruise, or on mountain roads, from behind the wheel or when relaxing in the back, the all-new XFL has been designed to deliver a driving experience that sets the class standard.
The light yet exceptionally stiff body with its combination of aluminium and advanced high-strength steels delivers near-50:50 weight distribution – the ideal starting point for dynamics development.
Double-wishbone front and Integral Link rear suspension systems provide the inherently high levels of stiffness needed for agile handling and steering precision with the compliance essential for first-class comfort and refinement. Advanced damper technology improve ride quality still further and extend the all-new XFL’s breadth of dynamic capability.
With components made entirely from lightweight aluminium, the all-new XFL’s double-wishbone front suspension is modelled closely on F-TYPE’s and was chosen because fundamentally, there is no better configuration.
Its exceptionally high camber stiffness means that the tyres are able to generate lateral force immediately – which translates to sharper and more immediate turn-in. And the high roll camber gain means that the tyre’s contact patch is maintained, generating more grip and delivering better feel.
Other refinements include lighter springs made from narrower-gauge steel and low-friction, PTFE-lined bushes for the tubular anti-roll bar.
Integral Link: Forces separated
The optimum balance of ride and handling requires lateral and longitudinal stiffnesses to be tuned independently. This simply isn’t possible with a conventional multi-link suspension rear suspension: changes to the one will affect the other, leading to compromises in the vehicle’s dynamics attributes.
Integral Link is different, enabling the all-new XFL to realise exceptional levels of comfort and handling. Bushes soft in recession allow the wheels to move rearwards and upwards upon impact, providing excellent energy absorption characteristics.
At the same time, camber stiffness can be increased, delivering greater responsiveness. Greater caster stiffness can also be achieved, for greater stability under braking.
Electric power-assisted steering
The XF set the benchmark for steering feel. The all-new XFL will do so again: steering response and on-centre feel are among the most important attributes which define Jaguar’s dynamics DNA.
Everything from the tyres through to the steering wheel itself makes a difference but one of the key enablers is the enormous tuning potential of electric power-assisted steering (EPAS). From filters which damp unwanted disturbances caused by road surface irregularities to algorithms which compensate for changes in ambient temperature – EPAS has far more to offer than hydraulic systems ever could.
Incorporating all of the learning from F-TYPE and XE, the advantages of EPAS have been exploited to the full, giving the all-new XFL an even more connected feel together with intuitive, linear response. And because the system only uses energy when the wheel is turned, it improves fuel efficiency.
Torque Vectoring
Another technology proven first on F-TYPE and now standard on the all-new XFL is Torque Vectoring. On corner entry, lightly braking the inner wheels individually can mitigate understeer and help the driver to take the ideal line. Intervention is subtle and virtually transparent to the driver, but the increased agility is felt immediately.
Next-generation damper technology: smooth progress
Making the all-new XFL’s body lighter and stiffer delivers inherent benefits in terms of ride control, but Jaguar’s dynamics engineers looked closely at other fundamental improvements that could be made. One of the most effective is the integration of next-generation passive damper technology to significantly enhance comfort.
The new passive dampers enable frequency-dependent damping – the ability to vary damping force not only with the velocity that the damper piston moves at, but also as a function of its frequency. Inputs from road surface imperfections are high frequency, driver inputs and large road undulations are low frequency.
An extra valve in the piston provides an additional bypass. Over road surface imperfections this extra valve opens, allowing some fluid to flow through it instead of the main valve in the piston. This reduces the damping force and makes the ride smoother and more supple, making the driving experience even more relaxing. On smooth road surfaces the valve is closed, forcing all of the fluid to pass through the piston: damping force increases and the ride becomes more controlled. The result is a car which is just as good to drive as it is to be driven in.
POWERTRAIN
Responsive, refined, rewarding
The all-new XFL’s four- and six-cylinder petrol engines are engineered for exceptional response, smoothness and efficiency, and all benefit from benefit from stop-start systems and smart regenerative charging. Characterised by a rapid build-up of torque from low speeds to give effortless acceleration, the linear throttle response and refined soundtrack of every one makes the driving experience as intuitive as it is rewarding.
Four-cylinder petrol power: Responsive, refined, efficient
Already proven in the standard wheelbase XF, this 2.0-litre unit combines a low-inertia turbocharger with direct injection and fully variable valve timing to deliver the driveability of a larger naturally-aspirated engine but with significantly improved fuel economy.
Available in 200PS and 240PS ratings, the 340Nm maximum torque of the most powerful version is developed at just 1,750rpm, enabling the all-new XFL to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 7.4 seconds. Mid-range flexibility is equally impressive: 80-120km/h is covered in only 5.0 seconds.
The all-aluminium design is lightweight and compact and features twin contra-rotating balancer shafts to counteract vibration and enhance refinement. Isolating the fuel injectors from the cylinder head and fitting an acoustic layer to the high-pressure pump and the fuel rail reduces radiated noise.
Among the innovations on this highly advanced engine is the sheet metal turbine housing integrated into an air-gap insulated exhaust manifold. This feature not only saves weight, but it also reduces thermal mass, allowing the catalyst to reach light-off temperature sooner, thereby cutting fuel consumption and emissions.
Supercharged V6: Highly-rated sports car performance
Enthusiasts demanding the most involving driving experience have the choice of Jaguar’s free-revving 3.0-litre supercharged V6, which develops 340PS and 450Nm of torque.
Shared with the F-TYPE sports car, this all-aluminium engine combine supercharging with direct-injection and variable intake and exhaust valve timing to deliver exceptional throttle response, linear power delivery and a unique soundtrack.
Always smooth-running and refined, a carefully-tuned symposer feeds some of the supercharged V6’s induction sound back into the cabin to make exploiting the performance potential even more exhilarating.
This remarkable engine can accelerate the all-new XFL from 0-100km/h in 6.0 seconds on its way to an electronically-limited maximum speed of 250km/h.
Comfortably ahead: Optimised eight-speed automatic transmissions
Every engine in the all-new XFL is paired with ZF’s peerless eight-speed automatic. Combined with Jaguar’s unique rotary gear shift controller and paddle shifts, this state-of-the-art transmission offers an unparalleled driving experience, blending exceptionally smooth launch behaviour with seamless shifting and outstanding efficiency.
The transmission controller monitors driving styles and adapts its shift patterns to suit. The ECU is also networked to the Jaguar Drive Control, offering even quicker shifts and more dynamic kickdown in Dynamic mode, and earlier up-shifts in Eco mode.
Complementing the stop-start system is Transmission Idle Control: if the vehicle is stationary and held against the brakes with the engine running, one of the brakes inside the transmission opens, reducing drag losses and therefore further reducing fuel consumption.
To improve driving comfort even further when running at very low engine speeds, all applications except the supercharged V6s feature a pendulum damper in the torque converter. This additional element is able to absorb very low frequency vibrations and prevent them from passing through to the cabin. This enables even greater fuel efficiency without compromising on refinement.
ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS
From traction systems which know the type of surface you’re driving on to a stereo camera which read the road ahead: the all-new XFL features all of the intelligent technologies needed to reduce driver workload and make any journey feel effortless and stress-free.
Clear Exit Detection: Smart safety for the city
Making its debut in the all-new XFL is Clear Exit Detection – a segment-first technology which makes it easier and safer for rear seat passengers to step out of the car by warning them of traffic approaching from behind.
When leaving the rear of car, rearward visibility can be severely restricted, especially in busy cities. This can make it difficult for occupants to step out safely: Clear Exit Detection is designed to solve this problem.
When the car is stationary, a sensor near the door handle detects if the occupant’s hand is close by, signalling their intent to open the door. If the all-new XFL’s rearward-facing radars detect vehicles approaching from behind, and if the system determines that they present a potential hazard, a warning sign in the door alerts the occupant to the risk.
Forward-thinking: Stereo camera at the heart of intelligent safety
The highly automated driving functions of tomorrow will only be made possible through the use of exceptionally accurate and robust sensors. Such technology is available today in the all-new XFL: it is one of the few vehicles to feature a forward-facing stereo camera.
This state-of-the-art sensor, packaged in front of the rear-view mirror, generates a detailed, 3D view of the road ahead. The information is interpreted by highly sophisticated image processing software and the output used by a wide range of advanced driver assistance systems.
One of the most important is the autonomous emergency braking system because it has the potential to significantly reduce accident statistics. If the controller determines that a collision with a vehicle ahead is likely, the brake system is pre-charged and the driver given audible and visual warnings. If no avoiding action is taken and the collision deemed to be imminent, full braking is initiated to avoid it or mitigate the effects.
The stereo camera also provides the intelligence for the auto high-beam assist function. When the camera detects other vehicles in the distance, the headlights will be dipped automatically as necessary to avoid dazzling other drivers.
The stereo camera also enables the all-new XFL’s lane departure warning and lane-keep assist systems. By monitoring the vehicle’s position relative to lane markings either side, lane departure warning can prevent drivers from drifting out of lane by triggering a visual warning in the instrument panel and a haptic warning through the steering wheel rim.
If the driver drifts too close to the edge of the lane, the lane-keep assist system can guide the driver towards the centre by applying a small amount of counter-steering. The amount of torque applied to the steering wheel is slight and can be easily over-ridden by the driver at any time.
Drifting out of lane can be caused by driver fatigue as well as inattentiveness, and this can be identified by periods of little or no steering activity followed by sudden or excessive inputs. The all-new XFL’s Driver Condition Monitor system recognises these patterns, and, by also checking activation of brake and accelerator pedals and various instrument panel buttons, will display a multi-stage visual warning in the instrument panel to prompt the driver to take a break.
In the line of sight: Laser head-up display
The all-new XFL offers a laser head-up display (HUD). Projecting key information such as vehicle speed, gear shift indication and navigation instructions onto the windscreen makes it easier for the driver to concentrate on what matters most – the road ahead.
The colour images are exceptionally sharp and are adjustable both in height and in brightness, making it easy to find the ideal setting. The HUD may also be switched off if desired.
Laser technology offers several advantages over conventional TFT systems. The images it generates offer superior colour saturation and higher contrast, so they’re easier to see – even in bright sunlight. The images also remain clearly visible should the driver be wearing polarised glasses.
Keeping a safe distance: Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist
The adaptive cruise control system familiar from the first-generation XF has been enhanced with a function designed to take even more of the effort and monotony out of driving in heavy traffic. Using a long-range 77GHz scanning radar, the system will maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front, all the way down to a standstill. Queue Assist then enables the all-new XFL to track the vehicle in front as the traffic starts moving again – all the driver has to do is touch the accelerator pedal.
Always looking back: Blind Spot Monitor and Reverse Traffic Detection
Radar can keep watch on the area behind the car too, making overtaking safer. Medium-range sensors will alert the driver to the presence of vehicles approaching fast from behind once they’ve closed to within 70 metres. As the vehicles approach the blind spot, a flashing icon appears in the mirror as a warning. Once the vehicle enters the blind spot, the icon is shown as a solid.
At slower speeds, such as reversing out of a space in a busy car park, the same radar sensors warn drivers of approaching vehicles which may be hidden from view or are outside the driver’s peripheral vision.
Perfect positioning: Park Assist
The effort of trying to slot a large car into a small space is now a thing of the past. The all-new XFL features park-assist functions for both bay and parallel parking. Ultrasonic sensors measure the space and, if it’s suitable, will enable the car to steer itself into position: all the driver has to do is operate the accelerator and the brakes. In the case of parallel parking, the system can also steer the vehicle out again.
Complementing this feature is the surround camera system. The four cameras mounted in the front grille, the side mirrors and the bootlid combine to give a 360° view of the area around the car, making manoeuvring easier and safer.
Getting to grips: All-Surface Progress Control
Even the most expert drivers can struggle to pull away smoothly on very low-friction surfaces such as snow, ice or wet grass – especially in a rear-wheel drive car. From a hill start it can be near-impossible because even the slightest pressure on the accelerator can be enough to break traction.
Conventional traction control systems attempt to modulate what happens after the wheels begin to slip – and often that’s too late. Which is why the all-new XFL features Jaguar’s revolutionary All-Surface Progress Control (ASPC) system.
Leveraging the knowledge built up over decades of Jaguar Land Rover experience in off-road technologies, ASPC delivers a step-change in capability because there’s no driver input on the pedals: the driver just has to steer.
ASPC works like a low-speed cruise control and can operate between 3.6km/h and 30km/h. The system is activated by pressing a button on the centre console and then the driver uses the cruise control switches on the steering wheel to set the maximum speed. After that, the system does all the hard work.
What makes ASPC so effective is that it doesn’t just provide fine control of the throttle: it also uses the brakes in opposition to the throttle so that from standstill, only very low engine torque is applied to the driven wheels. This unparalleled capability ensures smooth progress with little or no wheel spin.
