Features

Mind you, it's not all flawless. The touch-screen is a little overloaded. Sometimes, to get from, say, changing albums on your iPod to returning to the navi display, you need to prod the screen more times than you'd hope, or bark a few too many commands into the voice-activation. A couple of shortcut keys would do the trick.

Still, every XF does at least have such niceties. All models, even the 2.7 diesel, have the colour touchscreen navigation, plus the six-speed auto with paddles, and leather. Each of those would cost upwards of £1,500 on a German rival.

I haven't had a go in the 2.7 diesel or 3.0 V6 petrol yet, but the V8 petrol is sweet, with a soft-edged engine woofle right to the red line and performance enough to be getting on with. Though it doesn't have adaptive damping,and mine was on 19-inch wheels, the suspension character isn't alot different.

For 300bhp, it's beautifully judged. It's a symptom of the power race that although this XF has more power than the old S-Type R, it's not called R. The proper hot one, with a 500-plus horsepower direct-injection engine, is due next year.

Hmmmm. By then, Audi will have had direct injection for several years on nearly all its engines. BMW counters with Valvetronic. Mercedes is developing its Diesotto variable-compression engine. Lexus has hybrid. So though the Jag V8 is a lovely engine, it's a long way from the bleeding edge. This doesn't make it any the less fun to use, but the higher-tech opposition can get the same result on less fuel. That matters to people squeezed by consumption and carbon-derived tax.

Such problems will face Jaguar and Land Rover more and more in the coming years, after their imminent separation from Ford. High technology will be harder to come by, because it's insanely expensive to develop. Jaguar's rivals are all part of much bigger car companies, giving them the R&D heft to lash out on the very latest in powertrains, safety systems, driver aids and so on.

Which means Jaguar will have to shift its pitch. It won't be able to rely on expensive technology. It won't be able to claim rational left-brain dominance. Instead Jaguars will have to be cars you just can't stop yourself from wanting.

For that, they need to be beautiful. Modern-looking. Distinctive. And fast, with perfectly matched ride and handling. Now, Jaguar should be able to do this stuff because, to be honest, it isn't madly expensive. It simply relies on having a core of designers and engineers with vision, supernatural skill and gyro-stabilised focus.

Luckily, two days with the XF proves that they have those people. This car isn't complicated, but it's remarkably consistent. It drives like it looks. All the controls are quick and beautifully progressive, so it's easy to be smooth and get the generous best from it, whether you're tiptoeing through town or charging over the hills.

It simply feels like it's the product of talented people who loved it. They didn't have to make a car that ticks every single box. But they made one that will please a lot of people who are prepared to be led by the heart. Count us in.