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Jaguar confronts competition with striking beauty
Jaguar XF-S: Its designers are challenging conventional wisdom. Photo/Courtesy
As far as sales go, the Jaguar may not be at the top of its game but when you take it hunting, it will scratch and bite every rival in its path. Even when it is the underdog.
This is my conclusion from one of my most exciting local test drives in my entire career.
When CMC chief executive Bill Lay called and asked me to try out the new Jaguar XJ on local roads, I was more than willing.
He clearly believes it is a great product that can take on anything in the luxury car market and he may have a point. I was on time to pick up a demo unit but unfortunately a certain celebrity entrepreneur was not willing to let go of it so I begrudgingly settled for the smaller Jaguar XF-S.
My disappointment was as short-lived as the time this car takes to reach 100kph. Just 7.1 seconds.
The entire weekend I had my head and back was pinned onto the sumptuous leather seats. I honestly think this car should be investigated by FIDA.
It was designed to make the female species entirely irrelevant, unless you have intentions of populating the earth.
After a couple of days impressing everyone including my children, I needed to find out if it was really all that.
Was I just getting hot under the collar or is this vehicle a real threat to the established Germans?
I drove to DT Dobie with mischief on my mind and asked for the Mercedes E 300 Blue TEC. They looked at me and sneered.
I begged to have drag race and they just looked at me with disdain. Why would such a prestigious brand want to get dirt on its shoes and dust in its eyes to prove that it is the best in this class?
Well, after a few attempts I left in the direction of the other German marquee. Will they take my bait?
Driving down Mombasa Road I decided to warm up the tyres as if in preparation for an F1 qualifying round. The handling of the Jaguar is amazing and with my headlights on, I swerved between lesser mortals and finally arrived at Bavaria.
I parked the Jaguar conspicuously outside the showroom and made the same challenge.
The response was different this time. In a few seconds the four cylinder 2.0 5 Series was parked outside next to me.
As if that was not enough, the X6 XDrive 3.0 diesel was brought out to defend its lesser brother. It was black and snorting like a wild stallion. I was worried. I did some quick calculations. The Jaguar is lower and cuter. There is no way the X6 can take it on.
The Jaguar is fast; very fast but I was getting butterflies in my stomach as we drove out to look for an open road.
We soon found a clear road and lined up the cars. I drew down my window and gazed at my opponent through my Maui Jims.
He returned the stare and with a slight nod we were racing down a smooth stretch at 100kph, then 150 and finally 180kph before we had to slow down and stop.
Wow! I was trembling with excitement. I could not believe what just happened. This is unbelievable. Nothing had prepared me for this.
The Jaguar’s V6 engine was screaming through the twin pipes at the back. I kept my eyes on the road as the dark back side of the X6 edged ahead, inching away with every gear. I stepped down a gear and reduced the gap a little. I shook my head with disappointment in the defeat I just faced. Germans had won the day and the British marquee had egg in their face.
How could the X6 take on the award winning XF and beat it despite. Lets analyse this stats.
Maximum power
The Jaguar as a maximum power of 177kW available at 4000rpm and its torque of 400Nm peaks at 2000.
The X6 on the other hand is a straight 6 with 173kW also available at 4000rpm but its torque curve has been tweaked to deliver 520Nm at 2000-2750rpm.
All this power is spread across eight gears while the Jaguar has only six to play with. The Jaguar weighs in at a gross weight of 2360kg. Compare this to the X6’s 2150kg. That gives the Beamer a marginal power to weight ratio. The X6 3.0d is able to make the 100kph dash in 8.0 seconds.
Could the advantage be that the X6 sends this all that torque to all four wheels while the Jaguar has to contend with the rear two and a heavier backside? Perhaps.
While the Jaguar might have lost the power battle, this time it wins the beauty contest.
That said I think a rematch is justified with the Non DFP version that has 202kW and 600Nm of torque available at 2000rpm.
That is sure to wipe mad into the face of the X6. Stay tuned for more. Which of these cars would you go for? They are remarkably different in many ways. Where they come together is in the thrill factor.
The Jaguar is clearly more thrilling to look at and fun to drive. The X6 will get you further away from civilisation and consume less fuel doing so.
Although an unfair match up, which would I rather have? I just love the fact that Jaguar have dared to challenge conventional wisdom. I would certainly NOT take the X6 home.
