Jaguar XF Sportbrake (2019): towed on skis, driven on snow, tested beyond limits

In 2017, the brand new Jaguar XF Sportbrake was launched with a stunt that concerned skier Graham Bell being towed alongside behind the automotive to set a Guinness World Record velocity of 117mph. Now it was our flip. We have been invited to expertise the take a look at behind the up to date 2019 Sportbrake XF earlier than taking the automotive out on the icy roads of the French mountains. Our fingers survived sufficient to kind this, however did the legs truthful so properly? And how did the automotive maintain up driving on snow so deep normally solely skidoos dare courageous it?Image 1 of 3Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Image 2 of 3Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Image 3 of 3Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)While there have been a couple of variants on the automotive, the fashions we frolicked with all had all wheel drive in addition to a 2.0 litre diesel or petrol engine. That meant as much as 300PS of pure energy intelligently pushed by way of the 4 wheels to verify the automotive clung to the snow and ice.The R-Sport trim meant greater wheels and a physique equipment on prime of the usual choices, which is why it appears so good within the pictures. There have been additionally spiked tyres for the snow and ice street tyres for the remainder of the time. So how did the automotive deal with the snow?You can ski uphillSo, it seems, you possibly can ski uphill. After establishing a towing system that did not look a like completely different to that discovered on a wakeboarding boat, the automotive was rolled out onto the La Plagne ski slopes early within the morning earlier than the lifts opened for the day. Yup, that meant it was chilly; -17C chilly. Also, we have not skied in years and have been about to be pulled alongside at round 50mph on icy, arduous snow. While we have been nervous, the automotive was seemingly unperturbed by the scenario. Despite pointing uphill, regardless of towing and regardless of being pushed quick, the Sportbrake pulled away as if on the street.Image 1 of 4Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Image 2 of 4Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Image 3 of 4Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Image 4 of 4(Image: © Luke Edwards)After taking on the slack of the road we have been holding on and sitting in, the towing started. The automotive was throwing up plenty of snow so we needed to transfer to the facet to see forward. We held on till the marker flags earlier than letting go solely to see the motive force keep on midway up the mountain for a photoshoot. The automotive was at such an angle it virtually regarded unimaginable that it wasn’t sliding down. We have been already impressed and we hadn’t even been behind the wheel but. But it is one factor to deal with snow with spiked tyres and fairly one other on the icy roads with much less succesful rubber holding on.Handling and performing as a Jaguar ought toThe roads we took the Jaguar XF Sportbrake on have been difficult to say the least. The mountain climbs have been lengthy, winding and steep with sheer drops and many the u-turn formed corners. So the automotive was underneath plenty of strain with harsh braking, floored acceleration and sharp turning. Being a Jaguar, it took all that in its stride whereas inspiring a sure degree of confidence that leaves you feeling like you possibly can push it just a bit bit additional on every flip. You virtually really feel emasculated as if the automotive is saying, “Hey, it’s not be slowing down, I can handle it, you’re the one wimping out”.While which may say extra about this driver’s psyche than the automotive itself, it does reveal that Jaguar hasn’t held again when cramming within the efficiency skills that the model is thought for. We pushed it till we might scent the transmission burning and it saved begging for extra.Image 1 of 4Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Image 2 of 4Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Image 3 of 4Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Image 4 of 4Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Features like all wheel drive, Dynamic Stability Control, electrical power-assisted steering, rear self-leveling air suspension and torque vectoring all made for a efficiency that not solely felt expansive but additionally barely secure.On one specific nook, for instance, the ego received out and the automotive was pushed past what was secure. Thankfully it corrected the ability distribution to remain on the street. A small skid and coronary heart beat skip later and we have been urgent onward and upward, with barely much less want to check the automotive’s limits or our personal.Can you be too comfortable inside a automotive?Heated seats, heated steering wheel, acoustic layer home windows, warmth insulation glass, ambient inside lighting and two-zone local weather management all make for a really luxurious expertise, even when it is -17C and snowing outdoors. The drawback is you then do not wish to get out into the chilly at your vacation spot. But that is not at all times such a problem because you’re properly catered for within the automotive too. There’s the Touch Pro infotainment system with 10-inch touchscreen to maintain you entertained. That means InControl Apps so you possibly can take heed to Spotify if the DAB radio, USB or Bluetooth linked gadgets get outdated. And it was all pumping out of a 125W sound system making for an immersive drive – not that you would hear the ice tyres as a lot as anticipated inside that cabin.All that mentioned, the navigation nonetheless type of fails. While we acquired the place we would have liked to go there have been a couple of glitches which might be typical of in-car sat navs. Now that we’ve got telephones to match them too they simply appear to be missing nonetheless. Smart driving programs work on ice tooThankfully the XF Sportbrake is full of good driving programs in order that once you get off a winding street the place you have been tiring your self and the automotive, you possibly can loosen up alongside the motorways whereas the automotive does nearly all of the be just right for you. Features like Lane Departure Warning and Emergency Autonomous Braking assist to set you comfy as you waft alongside.Image 1 of 2Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)Image 2 of 2Photo credit score: Luke Edwards(Image: © Luke Edwards)The cruise management with a velocity limiter mixed with the site visitors velocity recognition cameras imply you do not actually need to fret about velocity limits wherever – making this nice for exploring new areas and even new nations. The automotive will not steer itself however there are different helpful autonomous options. The self parking smarts helps right here as it is a lengthy automotive and when paralleling parking in a metropolis, the assistance is most welcome. Jaguar XF Sportbrake (2019) verdictThis automotive is constructed for many who need all of the house and performance of an property automotive however with out sacrificing the enjoyable of driving it. The smaller engine choices can be found for people who need pure effectivity and the bigger engines cater for people who do not wish to be quick on energy when a transparent street affords enjoyable available. There are loads of choices in between the 2. Luxury consolation inside comes as normal however for that additional sporty look on the skin and leather-based seats contained in the R-Sport trim is an honest possibility.The Jaguar XF Sportbrake (2019) R-Sport begins at round £40,495 (about $53,000, AU$74,000) on the street.