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rear seats
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The moment you climb behind the XF's steering wheel you know Jaguar has a winner on its hands. The keyless-go ignition recognises the key's presence, and the starter button on the centre console pulses red like a heartbeat. Press it to fire the engine, and the alloy rotary gearshift selector rises up into your palm for you to twist it into gear as the dashboard vents rotate to expose themselves from their previously flat hidden positions. A little gimmicky? Perhaps, but it's pure automotive theatre and we love it.
To drive the XF feels sharp enough and, in V8 form at least, full of urge with a serious on-road presence. The steering is informative and the standard steering wheel paddles (there will be no manual XF) are even more immediate to change gear than on the XK coupe. Ok, so it's no serious driver's car like a BMW 5-series, but it can easily compete with the likes of the Audi A6 and Lexus GS for driver involvement. The low-speed ride can be a little fidgety and sensitive to tarmac changes, but this improves the faster you go.
The interior is one of the best Jaguar has built for some time. Rear seat space is on a par with the 5-series, if a little snug on legroom for anyone more than 6ft tall. More of a problem is foot space when the front seats are in their lowest position. At 500 litres, the boot though is huge, and satnav, leather seats and iPod connectivity are standard across the range.
Well-equipped, with a strong engine range and very confident early residuals, the XF is all set to attract begin a new generation of younger buyers to Jaguar. Like it or not, the pipe and slippers traditionalist will just have to get used to it.
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