Is seems the XF just came out and they already gave it cosmetic tweak? The liked the bulging cat eyes of the original but must say the sleeker new headlights look great too. I am disappointed with the rear end tweak. The original looked so smooth, like nothing else on the road. Facelifted looks like the outgoing Audi A6, a rather boooring design.


Original 2009-2011 XF








Face lifted 2012

 

Not sure, but they didn't do a good job with the rear IMO. I love the "Jaguar" imprint in the chrome real blade on the back..Now it's just a chrome bar.

 

Five years is a long time in the car industry. The "2009" actually came out in 2008. The new engine came last year and so it is rational to facelift the car this year. Besides, Jaguar is trying to integrate the new look across the product line and the new XF look fits better with the recently released XJ. The XK is due for a big refresh shortly. The "F Type" is in the pipeline as is a smaller entry level sedan to compete with the 3 series and 200 series BMW and Mercedes as well as the A4. Look for awd and a twin turbo 3.5 or 3.7 liter engine in these smaller sedans, Ford has just the motor.

 

Thanks for the reply, yes the XF came out in 2008 as an early 09 but that is still just three models years:

2009
2010
2011

2012 is the face lifted version

XK is also face lifted for 2012. They are working on an all new one to be released in a few years.

 

For major manufacturers with the money to do it often a major refresh comes after the 5 year mark. Jaguar just tweaked the bodywork. Hood and grille and a fanny tuck. If the headlights from the XJ fit then it would save them money. Is the new XF grille identical to the XJ, just sloped back a bit? If so then more money saved. The entire line up already uses the same suspension pieces with the XJ using air springs in the rear. We should be pleased that Jaguar is rationalizing their model line. A cheaper production line means more Jaguars on the road which means better parts and service availability.

 

only having 3 model years of a car is something jaguar has done before,
the X300 XJ was only 1995, 1996, 1997 before they came out with the X308, which only had 6 model years in the US market

 

That's pretty standard for the auto industry. Most cars run on a 5 or 6 year cycle so this is a mid-cycle refresh.

 

Front end got very similar to the present XJ unlike first model XFs vs X350 XJs .This could be one of reasons why they face lifted the XFs and wanted to perform a similarity , dunno but plausible

 

Preferences on looks are reserved for the one looking I know... so here goes... The headlights on the 2012 model seem to make this car fit in as a... that (jag) looks like a (fill in the blank) because in my humble opinion, the old headlights (if 2 years old is old) allow for the added lines up the hood... a Jaguar style through the years where now... and I am comparing apples to oranges or worse... but the lights take on an uncanny domestic look such as Dodge (Challenger).... big difference but same streamline type evolution. The dramatic headlight line to me has been a Jag trait that has been on most, if not all Jags since we've owned one and before...
As I said... looks are in the eyes of the looker so this is just my $0.02

 

I like the new front - it's a more aggressive / masculine look which fits the performance of the XF. Hood is cleaner looking and grill looks less detached. ++ on the front. Not sure about the rear. I like the old rear which is very similar to an Aston. Not sure about the new look. The rear looks a little generic to me but you really can't tell without seeing the 2012 in person.

 

Speaking of plain chrome bars across the back, check out this.

 

The first XF evokes the four headlight look which goes back to the XJ of the 60's. In fact, it looks very like the X Type which also had that stylng cue. I put an XF right next to my X Type before I switched from one to the other just to see how much bigger the XF actually is (not much really) and noted that the character lines in the XF hood match the curved character lines in the X Type hood almost exactly.

The facelift removes that connection to the "old jags". The S Type was a styling bust in Europe though popular in North America. Kudos to Callum and his design team for phasing the styling changes smoothly from former model themes to his idea of what future jags should look like.

Jaguar traditionally delivered fresh styling and engineering solutions to the market for much less money than other expensive manufacturers. All Jaguars have pushed style into the future except the poor old X Type and S Type which entered the market deliberately designed to be out of date. Silly idea then and now. Style moves into the future by fresh expressions of classic styling ideas. The facelift is another step along that path.

However, I am happier with my '09 XF with its styling connections to the old XJ theme.

 

me too - i like the face lift much better than the *** lift.

 

Officially, the front re-design was to complete the original show car concept after the XF became a money maker for Jaguar.

As for the rear it is hardly changed at all. I am having serious difficulty seeing any Audi in the XF trunk lid and certainly no Hyundai.

The Audi droops at each corner and does not look anything like the XF.

 

I like the 2012 front end a little more, but the rear end definitely looks better on the first generation XF.

 

Same here, I like the 2012 front end but keep the pre 2012 backend and maybe just change the lights only.