2009 Jaguar XF

Objectively, the 2009 Jaguar XF SC's test results are imposing: 0 to 60 in 4.9, the quarter in 13.4 at 106.9 mph, 60 to 0 in 105 feet, lateral acceleration of 0.90 g, and the figure eight in 26.0 at 0.70 g, with the last three representing best in test. More important, subjectively, the XF is the finest Jaguar sedan we've ever driven.

Jag has made a sedan that offers more than just good looks and a strong engine.

Indeed, the 2009 XF's steering feels light to the palms but provides just enough weight to relay precise feel, sharp turn-in, and exquisite linearity through the fingertips, which, by the way, get the tactile pleasure of clicking the ultra-responsive six-speed's paddle shifters, relishing rev-matching throttle blips with every downshift. This, as we discover, comes in handy when chasing game on the aptly dubbed Cat Canyon Road, a most challenging wiggle of curves and undulations. But whether the road is straight or sinuous, heavenly or harsh, the 2009 Jaguar XF, riding atop CATS active dampers, always feels poised and ready to pounce.

You know you're suffering from hp-war battle fatigue when your first reaction to the news the Jaguar XFR's all-new, supercharged 5.0L direct-injection V-8 develops 510 hp is a faintly disappointed "Oh..." It might outgun the 500-hp BMW M5 and the 507-hp Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, but it comes up short against Cadillac's mighty 556-hp CTS-V and Audi's head-banging 572-hp RS6. We're here to tell you, however, that sheer horsepower ain't everything. Just point the new XFR at your favorite stretch of gnarly two-lane, nail the gas, and you'll soon see what we mean.

The XFR is, of course, the new flagship car in an upgraded and expanded XF range for the 2010 model year. By now you will have noticed the entirely predictable exterior mods: a new front bumper fascia with large air intakes, deeper sills, a vented hood, new 20-in. alloy wheels, and quad tailpipes. Inside, the XFR retains the 2009 Jaguar XF's cool and charismatic interior design, though Dark Oak veneer is the standard wood trim, complementing a unique dark mesh-aluminum dash panel. The XFR's front seats feature electrically adjustable bolsters for greater side support.

The big news is all under the skin: suspension tweaks that include magneto-rheological shocks, bigger brakes, an active differential, and the supercharged version of the all-new AJ-V8 Gen III engine.

You'll notice the heartbeat every time you enter the driver's seat of the new 2009 Jaguar XF sedan. Not just your ticker -- the car's, too. Slide into the cockpit, and immediately your eyes are drawn to the keyless start/stop button on the center console: It's beating a rhythmic red, as if the Jaguar XF is coming alive. Press it, and the supercharged 4.2-liter V-8 twists into a muted whir, concealed air vents in the dash glide open, an innovative rotary shift knob -- the so-called JaguarDrive Selector -- rises out of the transmission tunnel. You've just witnessed "the Jaguar handshake," the first of several servings of pizzazz that differentiate this striking new four-door from such classmates as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series.

Ah, but 0 to 60 mph in five seconds flat. Sublime steering and handling. That peerless lan. No question: Jaguar is Jaguar again.

Driving the 2009 Jaguar XF S/C is like spending time in your favorite chair, writes managing editor Rusty Kurtz. "It just glides down the road with little fuss."

Speaking of fuss, Kurtz found the Jag's cabin mostly devoid of it. "The controls are easy to operate once you're used to their location. The door-lock button is in the center of the dashboard, under the navigation screen, not on the door where it should be. The air vents open when the car is started or when the air-conditioning is turned on. It's fun to watch, but what's the point? My only real complaint about the 2009 Jaguar XF is that the emergency brake lever on the center console became very hot during my commute to the office. I'm not sure if that is unique to this vehicle or if it's a design glitch that needs to be looked at."

The 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged in our long-term fleet has been nothing short of a staff favorite, rarely left for even a single evening down on Level G3 without a chaperone. And who could blame us? The force-fed 4.2L V-8 serves up a strong-handed 420 hp and sounds good doing it. The XF's Ian Callum-designed body with its Aston-esque taillights, sexy, fender-mounted, XK-style side vents, and '68 Jaguar XJ-inspired front grille causes many of the most jaded L.A. fashionistas to lower their Ferragamo shades and gawk. And the 2009 XF's road manners, with its cracking power delivery, powerful brakes, and direct, well-weighted steering, are a delight. What more could we ask for? Or, as the case may be, what less could we ask for? That's because this ferocious feline is also available in nonsupercharged format. It still has a 4.2L V-8 ahead of the driver, but without a belt-driven impeller cramming fresh air down the throats of each famished cylinder, it makes do with 300 hp. But is that as bad as it sounds? Could we still love the Jaguar XF with 120 fewer horses?

This is a lovely car, perhaps the best Jaguar ever. Nothing broke, nothing went wrong, it was reasonable if not really good for fuel economy cruising down the highway, and the 2009 Jaguar XF was outstanding in ride comfort. The electronics seemed slow, but not the steering or chassis response, which certainly matter more. I had no occasion to brake really hard, but in normal use they were reassuring. I did make a couple of maximum-effort starts, and these were drama free and mightily impressive.

A year ago, after editor-in-chief Jean Jennings traveled to Arizona for the world debut drive of the XF, Jaguar's new sport sedan, she reported that she was "ready to drive the XF home to Michigan." Her wish has now been partially fulfilled, as we have taken delivery of a 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged at our Ann Arbor office. For its $64,475 starting price, the big cat comes loaded to the whiskers, riding on twenty-inch wheels and featuring a 440-watt Bowers & Wilkins stereo that has drawn early praise. We added adaptive cruise control-the only available option aside from special paint-to bring the total to $66,675.

I know I should talk about how it drives first, but the interior is so striking that it's hard to notice much else initially. For instance, the switchgear, particularly for the windows and the sunroof, is extremely well-wrought. Likewise the leather. I like how the 2009 Jaguar XF looks from the outside, too, and so did many people I passed in Manchester and Saline. Other than the Lexus-y side profile, this thing has the presence that Jaguar needs, even if the front end is a bit weird-so, too, were the old Mark IIs and early XJs...

The 2009 Jaguar XF is a new model, replacing the aging S-Type in Jaguar's lineup. This mid-sized, rear-wheel-drive sedan offers a fresh, engaging alternative to luxury imports such as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, and Lexus GS. After a 300-mile test drive, we'd rank the Jaguar XF near the top of its class.

Factor in a well-engineered body structure, and the XF is exactly what it should be: smooth, quiet and responsive. It feels lighter and more agile than some of its competitors, and it bears up like a sport sedan when driven aggressively. The 2009 XF comes with a choice of two V8 engines. The base engine is Jag's familiar 4.2-liter V8, delivering 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The upgrade is a supercharged version of the 4.2, generating 420 hp and 408 lb-ft and surpassing nearly all competitors in output. Both V8s come with Jaguar's six-speed ZF automatic transmission, which is one of the best automatics money can buy.