AERODYNAMICS
As well as facilitating packaging excellence, the XF’s new design language
has another significant functional advantage: for the first time on
any Jaguar, the entire body was developed using Computational Fluid
Dynamics (CFD) before the car ever saw a wind tunnel. Every area from
the outer skin to the lightweight, composite undertray to the cooling
airflow (even the shape of the exterior mirrors) was optimised using
this process. The higher, squarer tail is more efficient aerodynamically
than a lower, rounded one, and the XF’s coupe-like roofline and subtle,
raised bootlid lip improve airflow over the rear of the car. As a result,
the XF has the best aerodynamic performance, in terms of drag, of any
production Jaguar ever and is better than the race-bred, limited edition
XJ220 supercar.
The XF’s drag coefficient is just 0.29 and the front-to-rear lift balance
is precisely zero. This aerodynamic performance contributes to impressively
low wind noise, aids fuel consumption and strong high-speed stability
and, of course, is vital in ensuring ideal handling balance through
optimising drag and lift forces.
