By Andrew Ganz
Friday, Jul 27th, 2012 @ 4:40 pm
 
Looking to steal some thunder from Mercedes-Benz and its latest CLS Shooting Brake, Jaguar has released a new video highlighting its own stylish people hauler - the XF Sportbrake.

While wagons represent an ever-diminishing share of the North American market, they are key to a premium brand's success in Europe, where Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have dominated the upper premium segment for well over a decade. But Jaguar has a new trick up its sleeve - and it's called the XF Sportbrake.

Ostensibly, the XF Sportbrake is identical to the XF sedan up until the B-pillar, but from there back it features its own unique styling inside and out, including 60/40 split rear seats, full seating for five, a "soft-close" tailgate as standard, or optional power open/close tailgate as well as features such as a new air suspension for self-leveling when the wagon is crammed full of people and/or gear and Jaguar's Adaptive Dynamics System - which continuously monitors the suspension and can adjust damping rates accordingly up to 500 times a second.

The XF Sportbrake's powertrains mirrors those offered in the sedan, including multiple varieties of diesel motivation for the European market. The 2.2-liter four-cylinder diesel engine is mated to an eight-speed gearbox and Jaguar's Intelligent Stop-Start system. Jaguar's 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine is also offered in one of two power levels, both mated to the same eight-speed gearbox that in all models offers driver control via steering wheel-mounted paddles. The range-topping 'S' model offers 275 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque.

Unfortunately for those on this side of the Atlantic looking for a nice blend of style, utility and performance, Jaguar has already ruled out marketing the XF Sportbrake in the United States.

  

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