Jaguar has unveiled the second generation XF in a ‘high wire’ stunt across the Royal Dock in London’s Canary Wharf.
[Not a valid template]The feat – performed by veteran Bond, Bourne and Indiana Jones stuntman Jim Dowdall – was designed to demonstrate the new XF’s lightweight aluminium- construction, a design that first came to prominence on the conceptual C-X17 back in 2013 and the production F-PACE. And since the XF didn’t fall in the water, we’d say the demonstration was a success.
Built from 75 per cent aluminium, the architure enables weight savings of up to 190kg over the outgoing XF and improvements in torsional stiffness of up to 28 per cent. Proportions of the luxury saloon have also changed, the second gen XF 7mm shorter and 3mm lower than the car it replaces. The 2960mm wheelbase is also 51mm for improved cabin room.
Another headline element of the new XF is the selection of Ingenium powertrains, ranging from the 2.0-litre-litre four-cylinder (available in both 160bhp and 178bhp guise) up to the 375bhp 3-litre supercharged V6. Each are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission while Jaguar’s Electric Power Assisted Steering – as found on the new XE and F-TYPE – also comes as standard.
That’s the basics in a nutshell anyway. Time to see a Jaguar on a tightrope.
Source – Jaguar
