What is it?
 
Under the disguise, which hides some subtle cosmetic updates across the whole Jaguar XF range for the coming model year, it's the new bargain XF which will cost from around £30,500 and account for a massive 60 per cent of all future XF sales. That's because it is powered by a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine, the sort of engine that most people in this sector actually want.
 
 
Technical highlights
 
The engine is fundamentally a Ford/PSA Duratorq unit as seen in Mondeos, S-Maxes, Freelanders, Peugeot 508s and more, but here it has been re-engineered so it can sit longitudinally and drive the rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. Jaguar hasn't confirmed the outputs yet, but the Mondeo version produces 197bhp and 310lb ft of torque (332 on overboost). Revised camshafts and water-cooling for the turbocharger point to a different calibration for the XF and more power.
 
There's also an 'intelligent' stop-start system which allows quick (0.3sec) restarts thanks to a quick-acting crankshaft sensor and a fuel rail able to hold its injection pressure. The 'intelligent' part ensures the engine is instantly brought back up to idle speed if the driver releases the brakes before the engine has stopped, useful in an automatic otherwise it would be stopping inconveniently often.
 
 
What's it like to drive?
 
Very pleasant indeed. Active engine mounts, a two-layer bulkhead and lots of sound insulation around the engine make for a very quiet cabin with only distant aural evidence of diesel power. The engine pulls with enough vigour to make the XF feel remarkably light, while cruising in eighth gear sees the engine spinning at just 1600rpm at 70mph. Such tall gearing helps towards a tax-friendly 149g/km of CO2.
 
This four-cylinder engine is lighter than most other XF engines, which makes this XF feel particularly crisp and agile in its cornering. It feels like a car from the size class below, and combines great handling feel with a quiet, supple, brilliantly-controlled ride. This is a wonderful chassis. And other road users were intrigued by the paint job (actually a plastic curve-disguising film).
 
 
How does it compare?
 
It brings the XF right into many company executives' user-chooser list where Audi's A6, BMW's 5-series and the Mercedes E-class have long held sway. It does all that their four-cylinder diesel versions can do, with arguably more warmth and style. As a choice of the heart it has them beaten.
 
 
Anything else I need to know?
 
Orders taken from April, when the visual and specification changes to the whole XF range will be announced. Deliveries start in September.