JAGUAR XF (X250) 2008-2012 Photos, engines & full specs

With the introduction of the XF range in the autumn of 2007, Jaguar opened a new chapter in its model lineup.

Jaguar was losing money, and Ford was concerned about that. At the beginning of 2007, the first signs of a future crisis appeared, and the carmaker had to act fast. Time was not on their side, and it couldn't postpone the introduction of the new vehicle, and instead of using a unique, all-aluminum platform, the car had to stick with the older, S-Type underpinnings. Jaguar carried over most of the engines from Ford's products, so the XF was ready and launched in September 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Thus, it raised the stock prices for Jaguar-Land Rover and got a profit from that when it sold the British carmaker to Tata Industries in 2008.

When Ian Callum penned the car, it tried to make it look like a four-door coupe, and he succeeded in doing that. The headlights featured an unusual design, with a round headlamp that intruded into the hood's space. Its chromed mesh-grille resembled older Jaguars, while the wrapped-around bumper sported an aggressive look with a rectangular middle section.

Inside, Jaguar made a revolution in the interior design with its rotating vents, the touch-sensitive buttons for the interior ambient lighting, and the glove compartment. On the center console, the around gear selector raised automatically after the engine started. Its front bucket seats and comfortable rear bench offered room for four due to the high center tunnel.

Under the hood, Jaguar installed a range of Ford-sourced engines. In the beginning, it used diesel and two gasoline versions. Later on, the carmaker added more options, such as an all-wheel-drive system or powerful engines.