AFTER EIGHT years at the crease Jaguar’s called in its XF for a clean-sheet overhaul. Then as part of what may be the world’s priciest diet, Jaguar spent more than £400m (AUD$800m) to have the new XF made at Castle Bromwich, its aluminium-specialising plant that also produces the XJ and F-Type.

As a result, the second-gen XF rolls out of Bromwich’s doors 75 per cent aluminium – just like the XE sedan. However that’s not all it shares with its smaller brother. Its front double-wishbone set-up, adaptive dampers (on S models) and modular platform are all derived from the XE.

Jaguar -XF-rear

Thankfully, the XF cashes the cheques written by its brooding new look. With up to 190kg less hanging off its aluminium skeleton, the XF feels agile; wieldy even.

Jaguar -XF-side

Jaguar matches the steering to a brilliant front end, too. It is impressive how the XF turns in with almost scything precision, making its nigh-on five metres easy to place.

Discovering how much grip exists at either end will have to wait until we throw the XF on more challenging roads, but Melbourne’s flowing hinterland revealed the XF’s suspension feels a touch floaty over rises and struggles to smooth mid-corner bumps. However, overall it feels controlled and well-resolved.

Jaguar -XF-driving

However, what was a snarling, raucous blown V6 in the F-Type S is a muffled introvert in the XF. Short on brawn or theatre, it feels burdened by the 1710kg-plus it has to carry.

Another gripe lies with the XF’s interior. It’s nicely designed, but until it welcomes Jaguar’s new fully digitised instrument panel and touch-only centre screen in a few months, which it calls InControl Touch Pro, it’ll feel well behind a BMW 5 Series’.

Jaguar -XF-interior

3.5 stars out of five

Jaguar XF S Specifications

Engine: 3.0-litre V6, DOHC, 24v, supercharger Power: 280kW @ 6500rpm Torque: 450Nm @4500rpm Weight: 1710kg 0-100km/h: 5.3sec (claimed) Price: $128,200