Home / New C-XF Concept Ushers in Jaguar's Necessary Revolution
New C-XF Concept Ushers in Jaguar's Necessary Revolution
A new Jaguar concept car, called the C-XF, that will debut at the Detroit auto show embodies Jaguar’s new design philosophy, which hinges on modern, dynamic styling and indicates what future Jaguar sedans will look like — including the recently announced XF sedan, which will replace the decade-old and ailing midsize S-Type in spring 2008.
The new design approach — as evidenced by images of the C-XF — is progressive and stands in stark contrast to the company’s entrenched conservatism and decades-long use of retro styling for its sedans. New Jaguar models will have “an edginess that exudes a sense of underlying menace,” the company said in a press release. That’s a big difference from the quiet elegance of current and past Jaguars. “Jaguars should be perceived as cool cars, and cool cars attract interesting, edgy people,” said Director of Design Ian Callum. “The next generation of Jaguars will do just that.”
Innovative interior finishes and advanced technology that involves drivers more than in the past are also key to the company’s progressive new approach.
Jaguar has been criticized in the press for not updating the look of its cars and holding too closely to past designs — beautiful though they are. Company officials openly acknowledge that adhering to Jaguar’s past in terms of styling has contributed to the company’s decline. Sales slumped more than 31 percent last year, according to CNW Marketing Research, and the only source of growth has come from the recently introduced XK sports car.
Callum’s team isn’t completely dispensing with Jaguar’s design heritage when it comes to crafting future models. The C-XF concept has elements that were inspired by classic Jaguars such as the 1950 Mark VII and 1959 Mark II sedans as well as the XK120 coupe. One such design cue on the C-XF (and also apparent on the recently introduced XK) is what Jaguar calls “the main feature line of the car — an unbroken shoulder that flows beneath the cabin glassline and into the haunch over the rear wheel.”
Other hallmark design elements have been completely recast with a new look on the C-XF: The grille was fashioned to look like the air intake of a jet, and the headlamps evolve the “twin-lamp motif” seen on previous models into a “single slim wedge,” Jaguar said.
Interior designers took a similar approach inside the C-XF by applying new finishes to traditional materials. Poplar wood trim was scorched to create a unique satin feel, while the leather upholstery has a carbon-fiber pattern and purposely doesn’t have the seam stitching so endemic to British luxury cars. “These unusual finishes allow us to explore new ideas and themes,” said Alister Whelan, one of the designers responsible for the C-XF’s interior. “Jaguar is recognized for tailoring cars in wood and leather, but we have turned that on its head by treating these traditional materials in an unusual and contemporary fashion, obtaining beautiful textures and grains.”
On the technological side, Jaguar is experimenting with sensors that allow handles, knobs and other controls to remain hidden until a hand passes over them, at which time they pop up to be used. The door handles and other elements of the C-XF have this technology, called JaguarSense.
A dual-screen display developed by Alpine emerges from the C-XF’s dashboard and can allow the driver and front passenger to view different things — for instance, the driver can look at navigation directions while the passenger watches a DVD movie.
The four-seat C-XF concept is powered by Jaguar’s 420-hp 4.2-liter V8 engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters behind the steering wheel for manual gear changing.
While it’s not clear exactly how much of the newfangled technology and what design elements of the C-XF will actually make it to the XF sedan and other Jaguar models to come, it’s safe to say that this concept car gives a solid idea of what to expect with regard to Jaguar’s new design approach and future innovation. “The Jaguar XF will challenge people to think again about Jaguar as daring and different,” said Bibiana Boerio, Jaguar’s managing director.
Because the production version of the XF sedan will be introduced for the 2008 calendar year as a 2009 model, the S-Type will continue as a 2008 model with minor enhancements. Some of these include a slightly revised front end, larger wheels, new exterior colors and different interior trim options.
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