Beneath its ‘groovy baby’ disguise, this Jaguar XF has an eminently sensible 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine. Detailed prices and specification will be announced at the New York International Auto Show which runs from April 22 to May 1.

The powerful (190PS and 332lb ft of torque) four-pot has previously been seen in the FWD, now-departed X-Type. And a jolly good engine it was, too, when we drove an estate a few years back. This time – the first that it’s enjoyed a longitudinal location – it will be in the successful XF executive saloon and will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with full ‘Intelligent Stop-Start’ function.

The heavily revised motor will pull the highly acclaimed XF from zero to 62mph in just 8.5 seconds, before achieving a maximum speed of 140mph. Seventh and eighth speeds are effectively ‘overdrives’, and the super-clever stop-start system can momentarily pause and restart the engine when in real-life driving situations, such as approaching a busy roundabout, without the ‘ker-lang’ that bedevils even top manufacturers such as Porsche.

Although the lusty 2.2 four-cylinder is a refined, state-of-the-art diesel, the Jaguar engineers have added yet more sound deadening around the engine and bulkhead as well as active engine mounts to reduce vibration. The result is a 3dB reduction in cabin noise to make an XF so equipped “one of the most refined vehicles in its class”.

CO2 emissions are just 149g/km, while a figure of 52.3mpg on the Combined cycle has been quoted by the now Gaydon-based company.

Text: Steve Wakefield
Photos: Jaguar