Recently had a 2011 XF loaner and I noticed that the trunk floor in that car was flatter than my 2011 XF towards the rear. I took a picture to compare to my car and found that my car has some sort of metal bar between the shock towers. Attaching pictures. Any one have any clue as to why the newer build XF - 02/11 didn't have the bar and why my 05/10 build did? Does this bar serve any purpose or add anything to the car as far as structural strength. Can this bar be removed? Would like to have a flatter trunk floor.

Thanks

 

Did you buy your car new? That looks like a cross brace which is an integral structural component of the car. Assuming it's not an after market add on I would not remove it under any circumstance.

 

My 10 has the same odd lateral bump. I have not looked under the carpet but it must be the same structural member. If its there its there for a reason.

 

If the bar has been removed by Jaguar they must have put the structural strength elsewhere. Perhaps they used thicker steel in the body pan pressing in that location. Perhaps they discovered they didn't need the extra bar. I would not mess around with removing an obvious structural reinforcement.

Remember that with fold down rear seats the rear bulkhead is weakened from a full sheet steel car. That bar replaces some of that rigidity while preserving the useful pass through feature.

 

my '11 SC has the bump