Critics purr as Jaguar XF goes into production

THE first cars in a new model line from luxury motor company Jaguar rolled off the production line yesterday.

The new Jaguar XF is being built at the company’s Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, facility in England and will be available to British consumers from February 2008.

First shown in concept version at the Detroit Motor Show at the beginning of this year, the XF replaces the Jaguar S-type which will cease production. Jaguar boasts that the new car combines the best in sporting and saloon models, with the entry model — the 2.7 litre diesel — costing £33,900 (€47,186).

There are four other versions: the 3.0 litre V6 and two 4.2 litre models capable of speeds of up to 155mph (250 km/h) and going from 0-60mph (97km/h) in little more than five seconds.

Even before production started, the XF won an award. Earlier this year, it was voted What Car? magazine’s most exciting car launched in 2007.

Jaguar expects that Britain and America will provide the bulk of sales for the new model. Jaguar’s owner, Ford, is expected to announce soon which company will take over the British carmaker.