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Jaguar’s upcoming estate version of the Jaguar XF has been scooped in winter testing

Jaguar’s upcoming estate version of the XF (dubbed Jaguar XF Sportbrake) has been scooped in winter testing for the first time. The load-lugging XF will carry the Sportbrake name for production and will be revealed at the Geneva motor show in less than one month.

These spy pictures reveal a gently sloping roofline, sharply raked tailgate and subtle rear spoiler for the Sportbrake to help maintain the sporty profile of the XF saloon. The Sportbrake also looks to be the same length as the 4961mm-long saloon, as the rear overhang has not been increased.

See the latest spy pics of the Jaguar XF Sportbrake

Jaguar engineers are understood to have provided the XF Sportbrake with a load capacity similar to that of the Audi A6 Avant and BMW 5-series Touring, which have figures of 565-litres and 560-litres respectively. The desire to provide the Sportbrake with a sporty profile means it won’t be able to match the class-leading Mercedes E-class estate’s load capacity figure of 695-litres.

The XF Sportbrake is identical to its saloon sibling from the B-pillars forwards. The heavy disguise over the rear lights indicate that Jaguar may be tempted to offer a different styling direction for the XF Sportbrake to give it greater visual distinction over the saloon. Some sources have suggested it may even borrow the rear light design and blacked-out rear pillar treatment from the XJ to bridge the gap between the XF and XJ saloons.

The engine range of the XF Sportbrake is likely to mirror the saloon’s, with the exception of the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 from the XFR. That means 2.2-litre four-cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 diesels will be offered alongside the normally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 petrol.

The XF Sportbrake is only the second estate in Jaguar’s history, after the X-Type wagon. The model was not part of the original XF’s product plan, as the word ‘estate’ was off-limits at Jaguar after the X-Type. But the popularity of premium estate cars in Europe, in particular the UK, has convinced bosses that an estate version of the XF is a necessity.

Another imminent development to the XF range is the addition of all-wheel-drive. Jaguar boss Adrian Hallmark said all-wheel drive XFs, along with all-wheel drive XJs, were “critical”, in particular to the company’s growth in the US market.

“In the snowbelt of America it accounts for 70 per cent of sales, and overall it accounts for 30 per cent of sales, so we are working on it and in the final stages of a decision. It is core to our future offering,” he said.

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eddyesi 13 February 2012

Re: Jaguar XF estate spied testing

Rich_uk wrote:
supermanuel wrote:

At last!

I guess it will be saddled with those horrific DRL's that blight the otherwise gorgeous revamp.

I agree, I'm just not keen on DRLs on any car. The estate is surely a good move and I can understand to some extent the desire to avoid the word 'estate' but 'sportsbrake'? Really?
I assume your all aware DRL's are nothing to do with OEM's blinging up their motors, but a 2012 EU legal requirement for all new cars, so will be on everything from now on, just more obvious on posh motors with fancy LED's!

Aly1000 11 February 2012

Re: Jaguar XF estate spied testing

Regarding re-sale values I think Geetee40 is ill advised. Looking at the guides the XF still out performs the 5 series at keeping its value. Especially when nearly new. The XF is worth thousands more. Probabl down to the fact that the spec is better at all levels.

supermanuel 11 February 2012

Re: Jaguar XF estate spied testing

K1NZ wrote:
Im sure this will look fantastic, if i had the money, one of these in 4WD and that would be my new car. I do wish they offered a manual gear box...at least in the 2.2L diesel

Me too, except without the manual :-)

and with the V8 petrol

In R spec please......