Jaguar XF Sportbrake in Oz by year’s end

JAGUAR’S second-generation XF Sportbrake is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms late this year as the British brand teases its new big-booted model with a Wimbledon video and overhead image.

Jaguar Australia product public affairs manager James Scrimshaw confirmed the new-generation XF Sportbrake will be made available to local customers, unlike its predecessor which was kept from Australian shores.

“We are looking forward to adding this to our Jaguar product range in Australia,” he said. “We confirmed this at Frankfurt when it was announced last year.”Mr Scrimshaw also revealed the British brand is targeting a late Q4 launch for the XF Sportbrake, where it is expected to compete against premium large wagons including the BMW 5 Series Touring, Audi A6 Avant, Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, as well as the rugged Mercedes-Benz E-Class All-Terrain.

Although not yet revealed, the upcoming XF Sportbrake will likely wear the same front features as its sedan sibling – which launched in all-new form early last year – paired to a more practical rear-end setup.

In a teaser video of the new model, Jaguar design director Ian Callum says the XF Sportbrake will share the same dynamic characteristic as the rest of the Jaguar range – looking like it’s moving even while at a standstill.

“When we get to the XF Sporthbrake, what we’ve done with this car is create a silhouette which sweeps off the back of the car almost into the distance and it really gives that car a sense of speed,” he said.

“It’s very different to the sibling car, but I think in many ways it’s just as sporty, if not even more sporty, because it’s got a dynamic about it, it’s got a direction about it, which is very appealing.”The video ends with a silhouette of the XF Sportbrake painted on the surface of a Wimbledon tennis court, an event which Jaguar is an official partner.

In a separate overheard teaser shot, a large panoramic glass roof can be glimpsed, as well as what appears to be a roof-mounted rear spoiler.

A more open glasshouse is also hinted at with larger windows between the C- and D-pillars compared to the XF sedan.

Mr Calllum said the XF Sportbrake “will bring new levels of practicality to the range without sacrificing the dynamic design and agile handling our customers expect”.

For the first quarter of this year, Jaguar has found 65 new homes for its large-sized luxury sedan, placing it behind the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (547), BMW 5 Series (343) and Audi A6 (84) in the large car over $70,000 category.