Jaguar is an icon in the world of
automotive. Legendary coupes,
convertibles and elegant
saloons have populated the
world roads for nearly ninety
years, when Sir Williams Lyons founded
this manufacturer in 1922. Since then an
endless series of gorgeous looking models
have shown the true, genuine British taste
in design and engineering, setting a landmark
for many competitors, in Europe and
in the rest of the world. Like few other
brands on the planet, to own a Jaguar
means to own an important piece of automotive
history.
The launch of new models is a
special event. For this reason, we decided
to tell you the full story of the new XK and
XF in two episodes.
The models that we remember
first are the XK 120, 140 and 150, from
1948 till 1961, spectacular looking sport
convertibles and coupes which are still
pieces of art in terms of design and elegance.
Jaguar production between the 50s
and the 70s are those classic cars that
you find in the most exclusive car auctions
and their value has always maintained a
remarkable strength through the decades,
like very other few cars of that period.
Those cars are still running in the hands of
lucky owners who maintained their cars in
their original status or they rebuilt them
as per the original specification. If you happen
to find one, with a healthy chassis and
its proper documents and you are passionate
about classic cars, I suggest you to
buy one, spend a couple of years to rebuild
it. You will find any original spare part in
the UK, with a little patience and I can
assure you will be rewarded when you will
put it on the road again.
That was not the peak of Jaguar
production history. In fact the most
famous E Type was presented in 1961 and
it was a real marvel that left the competitors
astonished, including the Italian legends
like Ferrari and Lamborghini. Enzo
Ferrari himself said that the E Type was
the best looking car ever designed. I find
this car one of most sensual shapes history
can tell with incomparable proportions
and elegance. The long front bonnet and
the minimal short back end are signatures
of these models, as well as the oval open
mouth. I personally know a gentleman who
doesn’t want to drive his own; he parked
his blue E Type in his lounge.
The E Type lasted fourteen years
making the fortune of Jaguar and also participating
to countless racing competitions
all over the planet, winning numerous and
prestigious championships. Racing success
has increased the importance of this
brand, considering that it won against
sport icons like Ferrari, Porsche, Ford,
Lotus etc. Competition brought technology
development and research on material and
processes at a point that Jaguar decided
to participate the Formula 1 championship
from 2000 to 2004, under the direction of
the legendary Jackie Stewart.
It was hard for Jaguar to maintain
the same fascinating aura around
this glorious brand but they kept on
producing great quality machines and
keeping up with the technology rush
that started in the 80s. The saloon
market was also very important for the
Coventry factory. The popular four
doors XJ has been chosen by thousands
of drivers in the world, it was a
perfect, elegant, high end car that
could be driven or being driven by the
chauffeur. The XJ started its life in
1968 and it still continues its path and
its example. It competes with strong
actors, like Mercedes E Class and
BMW 5s and it still maintains its very
own personality. It has been pushed by
6, 8 and 12 cylinder engines, so to
give a broader choice to the demanding
clients. It shows again one of those
shapes that you don’t need to change
since it’s already a very well proportioned
body, with a character of its
own. Jaguar in fact made just few cosmetic
changes through the decades
without touching the original idea.
History has taught us that simple
shapes and lines last longer that
extravagant concept cars made to
attract attention for a short while.
Today the game gets tougher.
Technology has reached unimaginable
level. Electronics is in control of everything
in a modern high end car. Engine
management, suspension, gear box, differential,
traction, stability, braking and
steering are connected to the big
brother and its ECU. No one in the
world can think to build and drive any
modern commuter without the use of a
computer. More power, more weight,
more safety features, more hydraulic
and electric motors are in command of
seats, windows, heating and cooling,
mirrors and lights. It is very difficult to
deliver a product that keeps its own
personality when everything is filtered
by a motherboard but on the other
hand all this technology has allowed
anyone to drive means of transport
with more than 500 Bhp, even a lady
doing shopping downtown. Only twenty
years ago a top end saloon has an
average of 300 Bhp and at that time it
was a lot of power, considering that
the driver had control of everything
and any mistake could cost him bitter
bills.
Jaguar is a modern organisation
and the latest models, are one the
highest examples of technological
development. We tested the new XK
and XF at the Dubai autodrome, an
environment where a machine goes
through the toughest dynamic test.
The meeting was organized to
show that if these cars can perform on a
race track, then they can be unbeatable
on the open roads. I appreciate this idea
very much and I made sure I was not
missing it. Available engines were the
normally aspirated 5 litre with 385 BHP
and the 5 litre supercharged with 510
BHP, both available on the saloon XF and
the coupe or convertible XK. We were
briefed by some experts coming directly
from the headquarters in Coventry who
showed a lot of passion in telling us how
Jaguar has squeezed every gram of energy
to produce a modern machine, loaded
with all the best technology but giving the
driver a unique pleasure of driving. When
you talk about 1850 kg of weight and
more than 500 horses, you definitely
need a very good chassis, perfect suspensions
to cope with the weight transfer,
a very reliable gearbox, surely strong
brakes and a lot of common sense. The
engineers have spent months of testing
in the laboratories and on the roads and
if we are invited to test them, I am sure
it will be a good surprise.
We first drove the saloon XF in
the handling area of the Dubai
Autodrome, where we have to find out
how electronics and mechanics make you
feel you are not driving such a heavy car.
I am a little skeptical to be completely
honest, but as usual, I am ready to
change my mind. After a short explanation
of how the course is set up, I sit in
the car, set everything on sport and
attack the throttle pedal. First impression
is how immediate is the response of
the engines, both the standard and the
supercharged. The torque is soon available
and power comes up very quickly. I
have to brake before entering the coned
sector where I have to turn the steering
wheel very fast, engaged by medium
range slalom. I have to say I am surprised
about the reactive front end entering
a tight bend and even more when I
have to change direction suddenly. The
suspension management is very well
tuned, making you feel much less weight
than it is really. The weight transfer is
massive in braking and acceleration as
well as lateral roll but within few thousands
of a second the ECU strengthens
the suspensions to compensate the
unbalance.
The outcome is absolutely
remarkable with a very neutral behavior
and slightly under steering beyond the
limits, as expected. There is a lot of inertia,
considering the big 5 litre engine sitting
in the front but again the engineers
have found an excellent dynamic balance.
105,000 AED
85,000 AED
