In one of its final tasks on crankandpiston’s Management Fleet, the Jaguar XF R-Sport undertakes airport taxi duties. Slightly better than our publishing editor, it must be said…
| Engine | Power | Torque | 0-100kph | Top speed | Weight | Basic price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6, supercharged, 2995cc | 335bhp @ 6500rpm | 450Nm (332lb ft) @ 4500rpm | 5.4secs | 250kph | 1710 (196bhp/ton) | TBC |
| Driver's Log | |
|---|---|
| Date acquired: | May 2016 |
| Total kilometres: | 9138 |
| Kilometres this month: | 1623 |
| Costs this month: | $0 |
| L/100km this month: | 7.2 |
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I’ve been spending a decent amount of time in the XF recently, predominantly to and from the airport. No no, not mid-afternoon, long weekend trips either. I’m talking extended stays in Europe and America with the obligatory rear axle crippling amounts of luggage and git early morning starts through the darkness while most sane individuals are busy visiting Mr Sandman. A rough schedule, but it turns out the Jag is pretty damned good at it.
Firstly, while your passengers can nestle snuggly in their leather seats and grab an eleventh hour nap, some strategically angled air conditioning and surprisingly brisk cooled seats will keep on your toes nicely in the fast lane. Nor, when weighed down with suitcases, carry-on holster bags – and in notable instance, a hatbox – must you fumble for the keyfob in your pocket: just walk up, tug the handle and the door opens, a pulsating red Stop/Start button awaiting you when you do. Of course the big bonus is the sizable boot space, helpful when ferrying 11 – yep – items of luggage across three different airport trips. You really would be surprised how roomy the Jaguar‘s boot is, even if it takes a spot of 3am Tetris to fit all items in snuggly (minus some overflow onto the rear seats).
Even on the move, the Jag makes early-morning airport runs graciously straightforward. The spirited V6 gets into a run quickly yet doesn’t growl with barely contained gusto when up to highway cruising speeds. Breathe a relieved sigh, your cushioned ride comfort will not be affected. Though in your clouded vision it might be tempting to get the Jag’s taxi duties over and done with quickly, you’ll can’t miss ‘D’ and slide the transmission rotary dial to ‘S’ accidentally since the dial itself needs to be depressed to do so. Ensure Radio 2 is pulsating loudly through the speakers should this not be sufficient, much to the chagrin of those who take the car after you.
When you return from knuckle-chaffing trolley runs, the XF is also easy to find in the airport car park too. I don’t bother jotting down what row I’ve parked in, confident my sometimes-reliable memory will guide me. Unlocking the doors after I inevitably forget automatically turns the headlights on. Discovering the Jag in the dark is thus a doddle, with the added bonus – you sadist, you – that this will likely give your fellow weary travellers a shock as they pass by.
And when all is said and done, when the XF is parked up, and your exhausted head crash lands back into the pillow, you can sleep soundly, knowing you’ve still got to be at work in an hour and a half.
