A spot of tennis and the Jaguar XF Sportbrake

By RELAXNEWS | 15 June 2017


WIMBLEDON: The world number one, Andy Murray, took time out of his preparations to help launch the Jaguar XF Sportbrake on a perfect replica of the All-England Tennis Club's center court.

Still, it wouldn't be a Jaguar car launch if it didn't overtly court publicity and in the case of this latest model, the company wants as many people as possible to know that this car, like Murray, can go toe-to-toe with the best that the automotive world can offer.

Taking the BMW 5 Series Touring and Mercedes E-Class Wagon as its benchmarks, the Sportbrake is aiming to serve up a driving experience that aces the former with levels of comfort and practicality that match the latter.

So, in terms of performance, even with the 3-liter V6 diesel engine under the hood, it can hit 100kph in 6.6 seconds and, thanks to intelligent all-wheel drive and an almost perfect 50-50 weight distribution, will be just as potent in the bends or over uneven surfaces.

What's more, the addition of rear air suspension means that it can carry heavy loads but without impacting on poise or back seat comfort.

The trunk offers 565-liters of space and, with the rear seats down it jumps to 1700 liters. What's more the tailgate can be remotely operated making loading and unloading simple even with your hands full, as long as you're wearing the "activity key' wristband.

The idea of this little wearable is that you can strap it on and forget about things like car keys. It's waterproof and so you can head off on an adventure and know you can still get back in the car when the fun's over.

That's also why the car's called a Sportbrake rather than a wagon - to emphasize its perfect fit for those with an active lifestyle. So, 3-liter gasoline and diesel versions can tow 2,000kg - more than enough for a horse box, boat or caravan.

"With the addition of the Sportbrake, we're adding space and usability to the existing fun-to-drive package," said Nick Collins, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar XF. "We have developed a car to appeal to customers who want an efficient premium estate with low ownership costs."

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