The new-for-2009 Jaguar XF is a striking addition to the venerable British brand. Replacing the old S-Type, the Jaguar XF boasts contemporary body lines and a well-furnished interior that takes Jaguar styling to a new level. Terry Baker, a sales consultant at Jaguar, Land Rover, Porsche of Chattanooga, says the XF series’ enhanced performance and muscular new body are attracting younger buyers. “It’s less traditional,” he said. “XF customers are generally younger. We expect the car to do very well.” The XF comes in three trim levels, including a top-of-the line supercharged version with 510 growling horsepower which does 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and whose price approaches $80,000. Our tester, a base XF Luxury with a more sedate 4.2 liter 8-cylinder engine making 300 horsepower, hits a price point just below $50,000, which puts it in a sweet spot with other mid-level luxury models. With cold-weather package and satellite radio added, our tester’s MSRP was $51,150.

DRIVING IMPRESSIONS: The Jaguar has the well-balanced driving dynamics you’d expect from an 8-cylinder, rear-drive luxury car. The steering is light and responsive, and the normally aspirated engine is plenty stout for most driving situations. I drove the XF on several road surfaces, a smooth patch of Interstate 75, a stretch of Shallowford Road and a bumpy side street in Tyner near the new VW plant. The XF, rolling on handsome, 18-inch, six-spoke wheels, handled every surface with proper English manners. A special foul-weather setting limits downshifting by the six-speed automatic transmission and adds weight to the steering to reduce chances of oversteer in slick conditions.

On our tester, which had about 5,000 around-town miles, the cumulative gas mileage average was 21.2 mpg, according to the car’s computer.

STYLING: The XF really shines on the inside. A keyless ignition button mounted on the center stack gets the show rolling. Start the XF, and a rotary shifter rises to meet your right hand. The heat and air vents swing open on cue, and the throaty V-8 comes to life. It’s a dramatic wake-up. The interior is filled with two-tone padded surfaces. Burl walnut trim, a Jaguar tradition, accents the dash. Soft-touch switches turn on the map lights and open the glove compartment with the gentle swipe of a finger.

BOTTOM LINE: Strong JD Power initial quality scores, tasteful modern styling and strong V-8 performance should make the Jaguar XF a solid choice for discriminating luxury car buyers. If Jaguar has never been on your shopping list before, it might be time to take a look.

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