I got the opertunity to test drive these two beasts at a track today.

Two very different cars, but both was loads of fun - and loads of power.

 

Is that an XF station wagon?
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.
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Yep, it's a Sportbrake.
For some strange reason Jaguar don't sell an XFR Sportbrake, only an XFR-S.
I guess they didn't think the sales volume justified both XFR and XFR-S versions of the Sportbrake.
Now the new XF is out they have stopped building any version of the Sportbrake.

 

Now that u have us hooked, tell us more.

 

I see you posted some comments on the F type forum.

 

Any feedback on how the Sportbrake drove? Just curious how my cousin fared on the open course...

 

We got to drive several cars during the day. Many different XE models (including the XE S) and F-type (awd R coupe, base model coupe, S coupe and S cab) and only one XF (the XFR-S - excuse me for the wrong spelling in the heading).


We also got to see, but not drive, the all new XF.


There were 3 cars that really impressed me on the track (actually all the cars impressed me in some ways, as they are surprizingly agile on this rather technical track). But the F-type R and the XFR-S is in a class of their own with so much power (identical engines - 550 hp / 680 Nm, but you all knows that..), and that is also pretty easy to "use".


We were not allowed to turn the aid systems off (not even to set esc to track-mode), so we drove them in dynamic sport mode with esc turned on.


The awd F-type R struggled a little (in my opinion) with a rather "keen" esc, that cut the power a bit too soon when you pushed the car out of corners. I got to be a passenger when the car was driven by a professional BTCC driver with all aid systems turned off, and that was a totally different experience, were you really could feel how much power and grip this car has.


The rwd XFR-S seems to have an esc-system that is more like on my rwd F-type R, as it does allow for a bit more wheelsspinn and drift out of corners without cutting the power as much and soon. It is also a bit heavier vehicle and you can't drive it just as fast as the F-type through the corners. But the result is that you can go earlier on the throttle without the interference of the esc, and the way it builds speed out of the corner and down the straight is very impressive.


And the sound it makes is awesome! Rather different sound than the F-type R, which means the exaust is tuned to make a different expression. It is deeper but just as loud. It does not "pop and crackle" as much as the F-type on lift-offs though, but the sound really fits the car. It is a true Audi RS contender in my opinion.


I can not say that I drove it "to the limits", but I did push it rather hard on a technical and twisty track, and it did that very well. Brakes, engine/power, drivetrain, chassis - all works very well together - and it has a surprizingly good combination of sportyness and comfort - whenever you want what.


The third car that really impressed me was the XE S (V6 340 hp). It was a lot more agile and fun car to drive than I had expected. Looking at the price (at least in Norway), you get a great medium family car that will do well as an everyday car, but when set in dynamic sportsmode it transferes into a fun and agile trackday car with a nice soundtrack to match. It's a kind of "wolf in sheep clothing".


I really think Jaguar has come up with a model range that can compete with BMW, Audi and Mercedes - and they have done it without loosing the Jaguar DNA.