Jaguar gives glimpse of next-gen XF

Jaguar has released a top down picture and interior shot of the next-generation XF before its public debut at the New York car show on April 1.

The image reveals sharper creases on the bodywork, a sculpted bonnet with a power bulge, flared wheel arches, pronounced shoulder lines and a raked rear windshield that merges neatly into a squatter tail. The new XF's footprint is bigger than the current model's and it will also feature a scaled-up version of the XE’s grille.

On the inside, the car sports a similar styling theme to the smaller XE but is more upmarket. The interior features a large infotainment system, recessed air-vents and wide centre console with Jaguar’s traditional rotary gear selector.

The new XF will be the second Jaguar after the XE to be based on the firm’s scalable, aluminium-intensive iQ [Al] platform. Even though the new XF is expected to be slightly larger than the current car – to address rear legroom and boot space concerns – with significant weight saving measures on the new chassis, it's likely to weigh up to 100kg less.

The car will be powered by JLR's new 2.0-litre Ingenium turbo-diesel engine along with the range from the existing model. Jaguar has also said that the current XFR and XFR-S will also be replaced although engine details are yet to be provided.

The new XF will make its public debut on April 1 at the New York car show. However, the car will be seen in full online on the evening of March 24, when the car will be driven by British stuntman Jim Dowdall over two 34mm diametre wires high above water.

The stunt drive by the man who’s driven in James Bond and Indiana Jones films, among others, is designed to showcase the XF’s lightweight credentials.