New generation big cat sharpens its claws and fights for luxo sedan supremacy.

WHAT IS IT? Jaguar’s second-generation XF medium sedan. It has a new lightweight chassis, new engines, and the potential to out-handle and out-ride the proven German luxury mid-sizers.

WHY WE’RE TESTING IT To see if the Jaguar XF can live up to its on-paper promise. It’s lighter, by a whopping 190kg, smaller on the outside yet bigger on the inside, and uses the same aluminium-intensive architecture as the brilliant XE. But is it really a match for the Mercedes, BMW and Audi?

MAIN RIVALS Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Lexus GS

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PLUS: Balanced, engaging handling; ride quality; oodles of rear space; sweet 2.0-litre diesel MINUS: lacks class-leading tech; interior good rather than great; expensive options

THE WHEELS REVIEW JAGUAR isn’t holding back in its battle with the Germans for luxury sedan supremacy. The brilliant Jaguar XE has only just arrived, and now the British brand has launched a new version of its bigger brother, the XF, on Aussie soil.

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There’s new suspension too, nicked straight from the XE, which comprises double-wishbones up front and a sophisticated multilink link set-up (Jaguar calls it ‘Integral link’) at the rear.

And the results, when you throw the XF’s handsomely chiselled nose at a corner, are impressive. Far from being a wallowing luxo barge, the XF corners with an eagerness and composure that belies its size and (despite the weight loss) still hefty circa 1700kg kerb weight.

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Every XF can be optioned with adaptive dampers for $2400, though the passive set-up is convincing enough to save the cash.

Yet as good as the XF’s ride/handling compromise is, the dynamic highlight is the steering. It’s the same electric set-up as (you guessed it) the XE, only with added meatiness courtesy of a tweaked calibration. The result is one of the most communicative tillers currently on sale. The XE’s steering is sharp, smooth and provides a silky sense of connection. It’s good. Great even.

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It’s a convincing suite of engines with no obvious weak spot, though the highlight is the sweet and refined 2.0-litre Ingenium diesel. Every XF is rear-wheel drive and paired with an intuitive eight-speed ZF gearbox.

As for pricing, the XF range starts at $82,800 for the entry-level 20d and taps out at $128,200 for the V6 petrol powered XF S. More powerful, and more expensive, RS and SVO variants will follow.

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What’s lacking is the same level of tech wizardry and autonomous systems featured on the new Mercedes E-Class (due here in July), which can drive itself on roads without clear lane markings and can change lanes autonomously. Jaguar admits it’s a step behind its rivals here.

So just like its XE sibling, the XF’s strength lies in its engineering prowess, which begs the question: is its handling class-leading? Today, on these roads, it feels it, but that verdict will have to wait for a Wheels comparison test and thorough back-to-back testing. And as good as its new XF is, Jaguar knows the Germans aren’t mucking about either. Bring it on.

SPECS Model: Jaguar XF 25t R-Sport Engine: 1999cc 4cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power: 177kW @ 5500rpm Max torque: 340Nm @ 1750-4000rpm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Weight: 1590kg 0-100km/h: 7.0sec Fuel economy: 7.5L/100km (EU combined cycle) Price: $89,800 On sale: Now