Jaguar XF Sportbrake

[SVT666]

Jaguar XF Sportbrake

By Andrew Ganz
Tuesday, Nov 29th, 2011

One of the industry?s worst-kept secrets has finally been made public: A five-door wagon version of Jaguar?s XF midsize sedan is on the way to do battle with the German ?defaults.?

While wagons represent an ever-diminishing share of the North American market, they are key to a premium brand?s success in Europe, where Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have dominated the upper premium segment for well over a decade.

But Jaguar has a new trick up its sleeve ? and it?s called the XF Sportbrake.

Ostensibly, the XF Sportbrake is identical to the sedan up until the C-pillar just aft of the rear doors. From there back, it will feature its own unique styling as we can see from these spy photos released directly from Jaguar?s UK offices themselves. The bulging tail lamps shown are not production parts, but nearly everything else looks ready for the showroom once the distracting camouflage is removed.

The XF Sportbrake?s powertrains should mirror those offered in the sedan, although the emphasis will undoubtedly be on diesel motivation for the European market. Since North American sales are unlikely, it?s possible that Jaguar will exclude all V8s but its range-topping XFR powertrain from the Sportbrake.

Look for the XF Sportbrake to formally bow at the Geneva Motor Show in early March, although Jaguar will probably give us a few more teasers between now and then.

[S204STi]

I'd hit that.

[SVT666]

I think it looks fantastic.

[hotrodalex]

I think it looks fantastic.

Me too. Such an awesome paint job, it's like you can't even see the car! 

I'll reserve judgement until I see it without the camo, but it does look promising.

[Catman]

My pants are tight!

[giant_mtb]

I keep reading "sportbike."

[Eye of the Tiger]

I keep reading "sportbike."

Are you somehow insinuting that this is not a sportbike?

Oh... Brake. WTF?

[cawimmer430]

I'd hit that.

"Nice to see, nice to hold. But if you break it it's considered sold."

[Raza]

It definitely looks nice.  But it still doesn't look like a Jaguar. 

[SVT666]

It definitely looks nice.  But it still doesn't look like a Jaguar. 

Cars that look like Jaguars don't sell, that's why they don't look like Jaguars anymore.

[Raza]

Cars that look like Jaguars don't sell, that's why they don't look like Jaguars anymore.

I suppose.  I mean, at least this looks nice.  The XJ looks like shit. 

[SVT666]

I suppose.  I mean, at least this looks nice.  The XJ looks like shit. 

I don't understand why people think that.  I think it's very slick looking and one of the better looking luxury sedans.  I don't like the blacked out D pillar, but otherwise I think it's beautiful.

[Raza]

I don't understand why people think that.  I think it's very slick looking and one of the better looking luxury sedans.  I don't like the blacked out D pillar, but otherwise I think it's beautiful.

I think cars have been so ugly for so long that people have forgotten what a good looking car is. 

[SVT666]

I think cars have been so ugly for so long that people have forgotten what a good looking car is. 

There are a lot of good looking cars on the road right now.

[Raza]

There are a lot of good looking cars on the road right now.

There really aren't.  Very few.  A couple of Lamborghinis, the Golf GTI, a few Audis, a Mercedes, a Lexus or two, the current 3 series, the Mustang, the Fusion, and a handful of others.  

[hotrodalex]

I don't understand why people think that.  I think it's very slick looking and one of the better looking luxury sedans.  I don't like the blacked out D pillar, but otherwise I think it's beautiful.

The D-pillar is so poorly executed it's not even funny. They said it was to try to create a wrap-around effect for back window, but then they stuck a strip of chrome right in the middle of it.

I seem to recall that if you ask nicely you can get it painted the same color as the rest of the car. Is that true or am I just imaging things?