2012 Jaguar XF Facelift Officially Launched In Malaysia

The 2012 Jaguar XF facelift has been launched in Malaysia, now available in three variants: the XF 3.0 V6 priced at RM 488,888, the XF 3.0 V6 diesel S at RM 509,888, and the XFR 5.0 V8 Supercharged at RM 888,888 (Prices are OTR excluding road tax and insurance). Despite the new face and interior upgrades, the pricing of all three variants has been maintained.

The Jaguar XF was introduced in Malaysia back in April 2008, with a lineup that includes the XF 3.0 V6 and XFR 4.2 V8 Supercharged variants. The latter was then replaced by the XFR 5.0 V8 Supercharged, before the launch of the XF 3.0 V6 diesel S in the middle of last year. Sisma Auto, the official Jaguar local distributor, says yet another 2.2-litre diesel variant may arrive before the end of the year.

The facelift exercise is aimed at bringing the Jaguar XF closer to the flagship XJ visually. Still, the changes are minor, starting with a revised grille and redesigned headlamps which are now of the bi-xenon variety. LED daytime running lights are new to the XF, and the LED tail lights have been slightly reworked. The bonnet has received some treatment, as did the front fenders, now equipped with triangular side vents.

The cabin ambience has been enhanced with a new colour scheme for the dashboard, centre console and steering wheel. The information display within the instrument cluster is now a full-colour TFT screen, and the centre dash is more user-friendly thanks to a touch-screen with improved contrast as well as reworked buttons. The Jaguar Satellite Navigation system is new to the XF, and the entertainment sound system has been upgraded from 140W to 400W. Seats, front and rear, have been redesigned with comfort in mind, too.

The base 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine produces 238 HP at 6500 rpm and 293 Nm at 4100 rpm, which are channeled to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission that is standard across the range. On the road, the XF 3.0 V6 dashes from standstill to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds, and hits an electronically-limited 250 km/h. Jaguar claims an official fuel economy of 9.5 km/litre.

The diesel engine not only churns out a stronger performance but is more economical as well. The 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel unit puts out 275 HP at 4000 rpm and a very impressive maximum torque of 600 Nm at 2000 rpm. Those figures easily translate into a century sprint time of 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h—only because it is limited. Delightfully, the fuel economy is rated at 14.7 km/litre.

Needless to say, the XFR 5.0 V8 Supercharged is the star performer, taking just 4.9 seconds for the 0-100 km/h sprint, made possible by 510 HP between 6000–6500 rpm and 625 Nm from 2500 rpm all the way to 5500 rpm. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, which should arrive before 2013, has 190 HP at 3500 rpm and 450 Nm at 2000 rpm.