DESIGN
- INTERIOR
Relax inside the XF and you are in a very special place indeed. There
is space – more than many will imagine given the XF's sports saloon
design – but also the sense of being in a perfectly proportioned, agile
car. There is also comfort – of course – but it is the c raftsmanship,
materials and attention to detail that impress. Consider, too, the generous
equipment specification – the features that empower rather than overpower
the driver – and the strengths of the XF are readily apparent.
The interior design maximises the feeling of space, with driver and
passenger seating positions, the relationship of seats to window areas,
and the volume and versatility of stowage options all contributing.
New thinking on seat design – the front seats are deliberately sculpted
and reduced in size (but not comfort) – liberates space and makes access
easier, too. The increased track and best-in-class rear seat width means
tall adults can sit in complete comfort. And while the XF roofline might
say ‘coupe’, the rear headroom says ‘saloon’ better than many rivals.
Just as the XF’s exterior defines a new design direction, its interior
moves from traditional themes to contemporary, sporting luxury - emphasised
by ‘surprise and delight’ features such as the JaguarDrive Selector
TM and the rotating vents; through the use of sophisticated new materials;
and by all-new graphics and interior lighting systems.
Jaguar Cars interior designer Alister Whelan says the inspiration for
the XF cabin was pure, modern luxury: “We have found exciting new ways
to say ‘luxury’. The lines are clean and pure, the materials are familiar,
but with a very modern flavour - from soft-grained leathers to real
wood veneers with a bold, contemporary spin. Even the phosphor blue
interior lighting has its own mood.”
The line defined by the soft-trimmed dashboard top and aluminium finisher
runs continuously through the front and rear doors, making the interior
feel more spacious, and especially making it seem wider from the front
seats.
Real wood – more than in any Jaguar since the iconic MkII saloon in
the 1960s – underlines what is a luxurious interior, with veneers including
Satin American Walnut, Burr Walnut and a very modern, straight-grained
Rich Oak that works particularly well with textured aluminium highlights
that are used in every XF to enhance the contemporary, technical feel.
And true to Jaguar’s core values of authenticity of materials, what
looks like wood really is wood.
Even the XF’s headlining material is a step on from conventional materials.
Using a modern technical weave called Morzine, the entire cabin roof
and A-pillars are trimmed in this eye-catching, contemporary finish.
In the XF, many features are ‘invisible until needed’ - a different
approach from carmakers who push technology as a dominant interior theme.
The rotating vents revolve out of sight when they are not in use; the
Touch-screen controls many features, allowing mechanical buttons to
be reduced to a discreet panel below the navigation screen. Jaguar design
is about reducing clutter; the switches that are there primarily give
quick and easy access to functions such as audio volume and climate
control temperature.
As well as the centre cubby, which includes CD storage, an auxiliary
power supply and a Portable Audio Interface for an iPod® or other MP3
player (depending on market), the centre console has two compartments
with veneered lids. It can take a 44-ounce ‘big-gulp’ cup and two more
modestly sized cups plus other oddments. Without the cupholders in place
there is generous oddment storage space for items such as sunglasses
in their cases. There are large storage pockets in each door and on
the backs of the front seats, while the rear centre armrest also incorporates
two cupholders.
But it is not only in the storage of everyday items that the XF excels
– the minimum capacity of the boot is more than 500 litres, with the
possibility to add even more storage space depending on factors such
as whether the space-saver spare wheel or Jaguar Tyre Repair System
is fitted. At its maximum 540 litres, the XF’s boot is equal to the
best in class – and there is still the option to liberate a further
420 litres of space by folding down the rear seat backs.
One feature that maximises space efficiency is the JaguarDrive Selector
TM, an unobtrusive yet completely practical solution to selecting an
automatic gear mode. But the Selector does much more than this thanks
to a start-up sequence that is a strong driver 'handshake' and a real
statement of the XF’s individuality.
Get into an XF and the start button in front of the JaguarDrive Selector
TM pulses red, like a heartbeat. Press this button to start the engine
and the cast alloy JaguarDrive Selector TM rises into the palm of your
hand. Simultaneously, the navigation system initialises to its home
page and the rotating vents turn from their flush, 'parked' position
to their functional open position. While the vents are open, they offer
vertical and horizontal directional vane adjustment and full airflow
adjustment down to zero.
With the JaguarDrive Selector TM, automatic transmission functions
are selected simply by turning the control with the fingertips. As an
example, Drive to Drive Sport selection is accomplished with a simple
push and turn action. Returning from S to D, the rotary control operates
with spring-assistance, which eliminates the need to pull the Selector.
It couldn’t be simpler.
Phosphor blue mood or ‘halo’ lighting echoes the ambience you might
find in a favourite contemporary bar or restaurant. This same lighting
technology is also used in MP3 players and mobile ’phone handsets to
illuminate keypads and controls. On the XF, halo illumination around
the switch panels and JaguarDrive Selector TM console, the start-stop
button and Electric Parking Brake gives a soft glow that indicates their
positions without distracting the driver.
Mood lighting is also incorporated into the header console, bathing
the centre console in a cool blue light, while lights under the front
door releases softly illuminate the door-mounted switches.
Soft, phosphor blue illumination is also used on the instrument dials,
highlighting the sporting feel of the aluminium-coloured dials. As well
as being soothing, blue does not conflict with any of the green, yellow
or red alert or warning signals on the car. Following the luxury theme,
there are chrome highlights on the column stalks and the moulded halo
material around the JaguarDrive Selector TM and audio/climate switch-pack
appears as a soft, almost smoky, chrome until illuminated.
The main switches have been designed to give the feel of a high-quality
audio system, incorporating short travel with positive feedback to the
user. This design is then used in the minor switchpacks in the overhead
console and the auxiliary pack outboard of the steering wheel.
Electric window switches are illuminated through a jewel-like design
that diffuses a soft phosphor blue glow around the switch. All switches
and buttons have the same Tungsten finish to emphasise harmony and sophistication
in the interior.
To say that luxury comes as standard on the XF is an understatement.
Front seats are electrically adjustable, with a minimum of eight-way
seat adjustment for the driver and front passenger, while the SV8 offers
16-way driver’s seat and 12-way passenger’s seat adjustment with 4-way
power lumbar and cushion length adjustment for the driver. The new XF
also introduces the option of active heated and cooled ventilated front
seats, with fan-assisted whole seat heating, whole seat cooling, or
just squab heating or cooling. And because the XF cleverly separates
seat and cabin temperature controls, it gives the option of a warm cabin
with a cool seat, or vice versa. And all of this with a new climate
control system that is also the most efficient Jaguar has ever offered.
Attention to detail was a mantra throughout the XF’s development. The
three trim levels offer combinations of Bond Grain leather and Softgrain
leather in a subtle colour palette. The Luxury trim level uses non-perforated
Bond Grain leather for the seat facings with matching material for the
twin needle stitched facia and door top rolls. Premium Luxury and SV8
have a sumptuous interior with Softgrain leather used throughout for
seats, facia and door top rolls, while perforated Softgrain leather
is used on the seat facings to facilitate the fan-assisted heating/cooling
feature.
The XF is exceptionally well equipped. Bluetooth® technology allows
mobile handsets with Bluetooth® capability to communicate with the car’s
in-built telephone system and phone calls can be controlled either via
the Touch-screen or hands-free, using the steering wheel controls or
JaguarVoice TM control.
The XF offers three levels of audio system, again all controlled through
the Touch-screen. The eight-speaker Jaguar Sound System has a woofer
and tweeter unit in each door – the woofer being mounted much higher
than conventional systems to ensure good bass reproduction . The Jaguar
320W Premium Sound System has a DSP amplifier linked to nine speakers:
eight premium door-mounted and (through clever packaging of the boot
area) a 32-litre sub-woofer for enhanced bass. The Bowers & Wilkins
440W Surround Sound System has a remote amplifier with Dolby® Pro-Logic®
II 7.1 Surround Sound and 14 speakers . Bowers & Wilkins technology,
exclusively used in Jaguar cars, is acclaimed by audiophiles, artists
and recording engineers alike. Kevlar cones in the larger speakers (the
distinctive yellow appearance is discretely visible through the speaker
grille) improve linearity of response and reduce distortion, while aluminium
domes on the tweeters improve sound reproduction at high frequencies
by reducing the weight of the moving part.
XF customers can import their own portable media player to interface
with the car - including iPod® and other portable audio players, or
USB storage devices such as memory sticks. In a world first, full Touch-screen
control of the iPod® allows access to Playlists and Music search by
Artist, Album or Genre. USB Mass Storage devices may also be accessed
via the Touch-screen and other players can be connected to the car through
the standard fit Auxiliary Input port.
The XF audio system also offers Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) and
in North America, Sirius Satellite Radio. Sirius is growing in popularity
because of its commercial-free output and because the same network is
available coast to coast, north to south. XF owners also have the option
of analogue/digital TV reception, with up to nine analogue and nine
digital channel pre-sets with full function control, including country
or format selection and one-touch channel-search, all through the Touch-screen
menus.
JaguarSense TM - an electronic control system that gives touch or
proximity operation to open the glovebox lid and to control the overhead
console lights – is another XF (and industry) first and removes the
need to locate a small switch, especially useful in the dark. JaguarVoice
TM, meanwhile, offers the driver the option of voice control for functions
including audio, CD and TV, satellite navigation, telephone, climate
control, and display and memory functions.
The XF also uses new technology to make driving safer and more relaxing,
with the choice of traditional cruise control or Jaguar’s Adaptive Cruise
Control. In tandem with normal cruise control, an Automatic Speed Limiter
that allows the driver to select a maximum speed that should not be
exceeded, makes life easier and safer. A new optional Blind Spot Monitor
system remotely covers areas that still can’t be seen either directly
or by mirror, with a radar (rather than camera-based) blind spot monitoring
system. The XF has a Rear Parking Aid as standard and a Front Parking
Aid as an option – and for the first time on any Jaguar, a Rear Camera
Parking Aid offers a system that combines a rear-facing digital video
camera with the Touch-screen information centre.