10 Things You Need To Know About The 2012 Jaguar XF

The 2012 Jaguar XF has been given a new face that brings it closer to its bigger brother the Jaguar XJ in terms of family resemblance. The entirely revised nose gains LED running lamps, a deeper grille and a more aggressively cut hood whose power bulge has grown compared to the 2011 model. Moving around the XF reveals a tighter aero package, different rims, oval exhaust tips and more subtle trim and badging in order to enhance the sedan's already sleek lines. The 2012 Jaguar XF has become more aggressive without resulting to garishness, which is an admirable show of restraint in the premium segment.

The 2012 Jaguar XF dials down metallic appearance of its interior by offering easier-to-read white on black buttons and switches that simplify the vehicle's passenger compartment without taking its classiness down a single notch. Jaguar has also improved the vehicle's seats to offer better support, while the flagship XJ sedan's navigation system has been borrowed in order to offer a much easier to use touchscreen system for planning out routes. Premium touches such as the Jaguar XF's ambient 'halo illumination,' automatic humidity control and available sport seats remain part of the vehicle's game plan.

The 2012 Jaguar XF features one of the most powerful base engines in its class, a 5.0-liter V-8 unit that is good for 385 horses and 380 lb-ft of twist. Should this mill's output be found lacking, buyers can upgrade to a supercharged version that offers up 470 horsepower and 424 lb-ft of torque. Each of these engines is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission, and the blown eight-cylinder mill is stout enough to give the Jaguar XF a 0-60-mph time of 4.9 seconds. Fuel economy for the base motor comes out ahead of its supercharged sibling thanks to a rating of 16-mpg in city driving and 23-mpg on the highway.

A third engine option lurks under the hood of the 2012 Jaguar XFR. The Jaguar XFR has been given a supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 engine that has been poked, prodded and tweaked to produce 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. This is enough thrust to push the mid-size sedan to 60-mph from a standing start in just 4.5 seconds. Of course, the XFR isn't just about pure acceleration - the sporty Jaguar also comes with features such as an adaptive suspension system, air intakes cut into the front bumper, a unique rear spoiler on the trunk and electronically adjustable sport seats. The vehicle maintains the same six-speed automatic transmission found in all other Jaguar XF models.

In addition to the XFR, the 2012 Jaguar XF can also be had in base, Portfolio and Supercharged trims. The XF starts out with features such as HID headlights, dual automatic climate control, heated leather seats, a navigation system that combines with a touchscreen interface to control the vehicle's media system and Bluetooth connectivity. The Portfolio edition installs ventilated seats, a suede headliner, a rearview camera to complement the vehicle's parking assistance system and additional power adjustments for the two forward positions, while the Supercharged model gains 20-inch wheels, more powerful brakes, an upgraded stereo system a heated steering wheel and a blind spot warning system.

The 2012 Jaguar XF features a number of options packages that can be combined with both entry-level and upper trim levels in order to provide a more fully-featured luxury experience. Base model cars can benefit from the addition of Premium Package 1 which includes parking sensors and adaptive headlights, while Premium Package 2 (which applies to the Portfolio trim level as well) introduces auto-dimming mirrors and high beam headlights as well as a blind spot warning system. The Cold Weather Package heats up the windshield and the steering wheel while the Sport Pack upgrades to 19-inch wheels and sport seats. The XF's Black Package installs monochromatic dark trim on the outside of the sedan that gives it a more sinister appearance.

The 2012 Jaguar XF is the best-selling vehicle in the Jaguar stable, and it's not difficult to understand why. The XF is the most affordable vehicle sold by the brand, with a starting MSRP of $53,000, and thanks to the decision to include a V-8 engine as standard equipment the sedan makes for a compelling value when price-matched against eight-cylinder competitors from brands like BMW. The XF's sales success isn't just based on economics, however - the vehicle's unabashedly modern styling made it one of the few Jaguar models that appealed to younger premium car buyers from the day it was introduced, and the momentum that it built up amongst that particular demographic continues on today.

The 2012 Jaguar XF is loaded with both passive and active safety technologies. The passenger compartment is protected front and back by side curtain airbags, while forward occupants are additionally guarded against crash injury via front-mounted airbags and side seat airbags. Complementing the previously-mentioned blind spot monitoring system in the Jaguar XF is a list of safety equipment that includes Dynamic Stability Control, traction control, a cornering brake control feature that selectively slows the sedan's wheels in order to maintain its poise through faster turns and an Intelligent Emergency Braking system. The latter primes the brakes should it detect that a collision is unavoidable in order to provide maximum stopping power in the shortest amount of time.

It's an often-used descriptor, but the 2012 Jaguar XF has had its chassis tuned to the point where the car seems to shrink itself around the driver when hustled through quick S-turns and over abrupt changes in road elevation. Jaguar's extensive suite of electronic driver's aides (primarily in the form of Dynamic Stability Control) keep the mid-size sedan in line even when the one is purposely trying to get the car out of shape, and braking is equally confident when called upon to haul the luxury vehicle down from triple-digit speeds. Although the XFR represents the pinnacle of the model's handling prowess, even the base XF is a willing conspirator in a track situation thanks to the care and attention afforded its suspension setup and power delivery.

It has already been mentioned that the 2012 Jaguar XF is a perennial best-seller for the British brand, and part of this has to do with how well the mid-size automobile competes against its primary adversaries in the sport luxury segment. The Jaguar XF puts a smile on the face for far less money than eight-cylinder editions of its BMW and Infiniti compatriots, each of which must dip down to six-cylinder territory in order to compete with the Jaguar's window sticker. The sedan gives up almost nothing to the Infiniti M when it comes to handling and sheer driving joy, while only the absence of a manual transmission option prevents it from stacking up evenly against the BMW 5 Series.