We do pay a lot in road tax in the UK for cars with big engines but we also use more fuel so pay more tax . How long do you think it would take the British government to put the road tax up if we all drove small economic cars about , this is happening now as they have found that people are buying zero rated cars and there not getting enough revenue in . Always been of the view that you put the road tax on fuel then you pay for when you use the road much more fair system . As for the xe see one at goodwood what a fantastic looking car only see one in pictures before but in the flesh loved it and I was the opinion that the older x350 shape was the best but if I had the money I would buy one in a heartbeat

 

Well I still haven't driven one but I have popped into the front and the back. The driving position is nicely snug, the seats are really good with big side bolsters. Comfort wise, I thought they were better than the first XF I'd had, probably on a par with the XKR. The driving position is pretty good and the interior is very nice, in this case it didn't have the leather topped dash and I wasn't a massive fan of the rubbery looking imitation leather, but it is still miles better than (say) an audi and better than the evoque IMO.


The rear seat is probably about the same as a v40. Not a huge amount of knee room, but not bad for me (6 foot). The seat itself is pretty comfy, it is just not much chance to stretch the legs.


This one was in ivory and oyster which looked very nice. I had that combo in my first XF which wore really well.


Really looking forward to driving this...

 

Any idea on when they're going to release US pricing?

 

I got to drive one today and these were my thoughts (I posted to the XE Forum where I had registered getting info about the 4 pot petrols)
"OK, I got to drive one today, a 2.0T rather than the 2.5T. Impressions were really positive. It isn't the engine I'd choose personally, though I'm sure my wife would find it excellent, it reminded me a lot of the Volvo 2.5 5 pot turbo when it was in its 177kw form rather than the current 185kw or whatever. It accelerates fine for daily use with a slight build up and surge, but having it come from the rear wheels is good.
The cabin is quite lovely. You sit low with the centre console comparatively high, and it is a nice driving position. The interior tech seemed much better than the 2012 XF, and far quicker as well. I didn't get to play with that much at all, but it seemed to me to be a big improvement.
The thing that struck me the most is how small the car felt to drive. The XF always felt like a big car, and the XK does as well. Even my wife's V40CC feels big. This felt tiny to drive, like an A class. But in a good way, like wherever you point the car that's where it will go - very tight. Essentially the same as an f type, but with your **** and spine remaining unbruised. Just awesomely good, better than any sedan I've ever driven.
And the ride was amazingly good. This one sat on 19"s, and I deliberately aimed for rough patches on the road to see how it felt - barely registered. Compared to the CC, it is light years ahead. It was as good as the XF on 19"s but handled better than the XF on 20"s.
So pretty impressive stuff. Still waiting to drive the 2.5T, but pretty convinced we will get one. "

 

Nice write up, Bruce. I can't wait to take one for a spin. The 2.0L, is that still the Ford sourced EcoBoost or the Ingenuim? Also did this car have the active or passive dampers?

 

Cheers - it was the ecoboost 147KW engine. It was actually a pretty decent engine with some good pickup in the mid range, but I like a bit more power and it isnt much more for the 187KW engine. I think that the ingenium petrol engine is a year away at least.

Not sure about active or passive dampers. In fact I think it didnt have adjustable suspension. I dont want to talk it up too much but the ride has to be experienced to be believed, it had all of the comfort of the XF on 19"s without the body roll.

 

Pictures don't do this car justice see one at the festival of speed on the jag stand absolutely stunning In my opinion if this car is not a success I will eat my hat as we say in the UK

 

That watering down is why it will outsell the old XF. The old XF was too small in the back.

 

. The old XF was too small in the back.[/QUOTE]

Style over function, I will miss the coupe look.

 

I think the headroom is adequate but the rear legroom in my XF is pretty poor, I wouldn't contribute that to the sloping roofline.

 

Maybe it was. They tried to retain the XK angles to the cabin of the XF (I think the glass is the same angle) so essentially to keep the car from being massively long they brought the rear seat forward and made it lower. When I got my first XF, my kids couldnt see over the window sill in the back.

But the legroom in the current XF is positively massive compared to that in the XE. The XE is closer to a volvo V40, but bigger than (say) an A class.

 

I always have attributed the lack of leg room to the coupe look. Although I have passengers in the back on occassions, mostly for business, we have managed without too much problem. I really love the look of coupes. The original design provides the look with 4 seats.

 

Maybe you're right, I don't know. How does the rear legroom in the S-Type compare?