Jaguar XF is ‘Car of the Decade’

The Southern Guild of Motoring Writers has declared the Jaguar XF the car of the decade at the SGMW’s 10th anniversary event.

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The Jaguar XF was first revealed in 2007 as the  C-XF Concept at the Detroit Motor Show and then as a production XF at the Frankfurt Motor Show later the same year and was, by any measure, a radical departure for Jaguar.

Designed by Ian Callum, under Ford’s ownership, the XF demonstrated that Jaguar had finally realised that building cars that were a pastiche of past glories was no longer enough to guarantee sales.

Under the skin, much of the Jaguar XF carried over from its predecessor – the Jaguar S Type – but it was in the execution that the XF demonstrated it was capable of giving Jaguar new life.

Gone was the ‘old’ Jaguar look to be replaced by a modern and convincing design that still had hints of Jaguar past, but didn’t rely on its heritage to make a statement.

But it was the interior of the XF that was perhaps the biggest surprise. Out went the ‘Gentleman’s Club’ interior to be replaced with a modern take on all that Jaguar does well, with plenty of theatre thrown in for good measure; back lit instruments, ambient lighting and the delight of the revolving air vents and rising gear knob.

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It may have been Ford that gave the XF life, but it’s been Tata that has made the XF a serious player in the premium market. The introduction soon after launch of the 3.0 litre diesel engine – a diesel as good as any from BMW – and the potent 5.0 litre supercharged engine in the XFR took the XF to a new level, and the more recent launch of the 2.2 litre diesel in the XF has opened up the fleet market for Jaguar.

Next up is the XF Sportbrake – Jaguar’s appealing XF Estate – and we’re expecting Jaguar to reveal an XF Coupe and perhaps an XF convertible before too long.

The Jaguar XF as Car of the Decade is a subjective judgement by the Southern Guild of Motoring Writers, but it’s a judgement we have no argument with.

Well done, Jaguar XF.