Jaguar releases cheaper XF Diesel

JAGUAR Australia has lowered the admission price of its diesel-powered XF model line by more than $16,000 with the release of a new entry-level variant, the XF 3.0D, which arrives with slightly less performance and standard equipment.

On sale now at a price of $99,900 plus on-road costs - well below the previous most affordable oil-burning version of the large British sedan, the $116,250 XF S Diesel - the XF 3.0D is the first diesel XF available for less than $100,000.

The move follows the release of a new entry-level version of the petrol V6-engined XF in July, when the XF 3.0 V6 ($93,900) arrived as the new XF price-leader, undercutting the XF 3.0 V6 Luxury ($105,990) by $12,000.

However, the diesel XF remains more expensive than the cheapest four-cylinder diesel versions of full-size luxury sedan competitors like BMW’s new 5 Series, the Mercedes-Benz E-class and Audi’s A6.

The 2.0-litre 520d opens the new 5 Series sedan line-up at $83,300, while the 2.2-litre E220 CDI sedan is even more affordable at $82,200 - although its more direct rivals in the 3.0-litre six-cylinder E350 CDI and 535d sedans are much pricier at $134,400 and $133,830 respectively.

Audi continues to offer the most affordable large European diesel sedan line-up with the A6, including the base A6 2.0 TDI ($73,100) and mid-range 2.7 TDI ($81,788), while the top-shelf A6 3.0 TDI quattro is more than $5500 up on the XF 3.0D at $105,514.

The XF 3.0D comes with a detuned version of Jaguar’s cracking twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, which in this case delivers still-respectable outputs of 177kW and 500Nm – down from the 202kW/600Nm peaks found in all other diesel Jaguars, including the XF S Diesel.

The result is marginally slower claimed 0-100km/h acceleration, which climbs from 6.4 to 7.1 seconds, although the 3.0D returns the same minimalist fuel consumption of just 6.8L/100km.

Left:BMW 5 Series. Below: Audi A6.

As with more expensive models, the XF 3.0D comes with three gearshift modes and steering wheel-mounted shift paddles for its standard six-speed automatic transmission. Like the newly released 3.0 V6, however, it offers a reduced level of standard equipment to reflect its lower pricetag.

Naturally, the $100,000 Jaguar saloon still offers a host of luxurious standard equipment, including 18-inch ‘Cygnus’ alloy wheels, satellite-navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, full leather trim, eight-way power front seat adjustment, dual-zone climate-control and special ’75 Years’ centre console badging.

But like the 3.0 V6 petrol XF, the 3.0D misses out on features like 10-way power seat adjustment with memory, front parking sensors, keyless starting, bi-Xenon headlights and a rear-view camera, effectively making the 3.0D a 3.0P with a diesel engine and 18-inch wheels.

The larger wheels are a $2450 option on the entry-level petrol XF and must be fitted on all XF diesels to accommodate their larger brakes, which in effect reduces the 3.0D’s premium over the 3.0P from $6000 to just $3550.

For now, there are no price changes for either the top-shelf XF diesel, the 3.0 S Portfolio Diesel ($138,750), or Jaguar’s V8-powered XF models – the XF 5.0 Premium Luxury ($147,990), XF 5.0 Portfolio ($159,490) or range-topping XFR ($207,990).

“Jaguar's 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel engine delivers refined, powerful and efficient performance,” said the general manager of Jaguar Australia, Kevin Goult.

“Our new 3.0D now brings XF diesel ownership to a new level of affordability, without compromising the Jaguar premium luxury motoring experience.”

As we reported in June, Jaguar Australia will also launch a special 75th Anniversary 5.0-litre V8 model priced at $128,900 in October, fitted with unique cosmetics, 20-inch wheels, quad exhaust finishers and a full iPod control module.

Further afield, Jaguar is also expected to produce a wagon version of the XF, to rival large German estates from Mercedes, BMW and Audi.

2010 Jaguar XFpricing:
XF 3.0 V6	$93,900
XF 3.0D	$99,900
XF 3.0 V6 Luxury	$105,990
XF 3.0D S	$116,250
XF 3.0D S Portfolio	$138,750
XF 5.0 V8 Premium Luxury	$147,990
XF 5.0 V8 Portfolio	$159,490
XFR	$207,990