After a little more than two years of production, Jaguar believe it’s time to revamp its award-winning XF sedan. So, what’s in store for the company’s mid-level offering in 2012?
A facelift, certainly. These supposed spy photos — shot and provided by the cunning PR folk at Jaguar Land Rover — show the 2012 XF parading about with psychedelic, lens-fooling camouflage draped over its front clip and hind quarters. We’re still waiting to see what cosmetic tweaks Jag’s instilled out back, but a front view shows the new XF receives slender headlamps patterned after those on the larger XJ.
Thus far, Jaguar hasn’t disclosed what — if any — mechanical updates are in store revamped U.S-spec XF models. Seeing as a new engine range was introduced for the 2010 model year, we wouldn’t be surprised if the car continues to soldier on with the current direct-injection 5.0-liter V-8, along with two supercharged forms of the same direct-injection five-liter engine.
Abroad, however, Jaguar has at least one new engine up its sleeve. European XF models will now be available with a 2.2-liter turbo-diesel I-4 (previously, the diesel offering was a 3.0-liter V-6). Jaguar does note the oil-burner will be mated with an eight-speed automatic, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the transmission — not the diesel itself — eventually winds up in XFs being shipped to North America. Jag notes the car pictured is simply a development mule, but the company could have easily installed and tested the four-cylinder diesel in a standard XF without amending — and photographing — the beast you see here.
We’ll know more in short order, for Jaguar is expected to unveil the updated, upgraded XF at the New York auto show in mid-April. Stay with Automobile Magazine for the latest news on both the XF and other debuts from the Big Apple.
Source: Jaguar
