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SELDOM
does a major car distributor launch a new show room and
a new car to boot. So, when one does, expect a lot of
hoopla and fireworks.
That’s what happened when Willy Soong
inaugurated its head-turning Jaguar show room on May 9
in Makati complete with all the trimmings of a grand
party. What made it more fabulous was the launch of its
newest car in town—the XF, which created a big ripple
among the circle of the rich and famous who graced the
daylong event.
“This is a double celebration actually,
since this is our 11th year in the business. We started
in this building in 1997 when I started Jaguar here in
this country. It’s but proper that our customers would
see a new show room which we are all proud to present,”
said Soong, chairman and president of Jaguar
Philippines, who was joined by his sons Marc and Jason
in welcoming the members of the media in a hearty lunch
in the morning and the elite guests in the evening.
It was really a special night for Jaguar
as the whole stretch of the road at the back of the
showroom was closed to traffic so that guests, numbering
more than 200, would have no problem in parking and
showing off their cars, especially their Jaguars.
Situated on the ground floor of the
Enzo Building on Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia),
the almost 1,000-square-meter show room was renovated
meticulously for a record seven months. It was Soong who
designed the layout and the result is a magnificent
venue for the cars that have been followed by local
buyers through the years.
It was also an appropriate tribute to
the 85th anniversary of Jaguar cars, which was founded
by Sir Williams Lyons on his 21st birthday in September
1922.
The Jaguar XF, considered a sports
saloon, is a proud successor to the XK. After having its
grand entry during the Frankfurt Motor Show in September
2007, the XF has clawed its way around the world and
mesmerized its loyal buyers with “the heart of a sports
car, the looks of a grand tourer and the fusion of
seductive style with power and performance.”
The XF has a “ready-to-pounce look” that
suggests “latent power and energy that is ready to wake
up and come to life.” Its muscular and dynamic character
is defined by four key elements—its sweeping silhouette,
its powerful grille, dramatic side-window profile and
its muscular “shoulders.”
Twenty-five different grades of steel
were used in the XF, including boron, which is
900-percent stronger than normal mild steel and offers
the best torsional stiffness in its class. A strong,
lightweight aluminum suspension was also adapted along
with a braking system that is designed to give the car
dynamic characteristics.
The XK’s V8 powertrains were also
adapted to the XF. The normally aspirated 4.2-liter
petrol V8 develops 298 hp, while the supercharged
version powering the new XF SV8 delivers a muscular 416
hp. The supercharged SV8 storms to 60 mph in just 5.1
seconds, while every engine will be coupled to a
six-speed ZF automatic transmission—already renowned as
one of the best in the world and already proven in the
XK and XJ.
The cabin offers exceptional space and
while the XF roofline may say “coupe,” the headroom says
“saloon.” And just as the XF’s exterior defines a new
design direction, its interior moves from traditional
themes to contemporary, sporting luxury. This is
emphasized by “surprise and delight” features, such as
that rising JaguarDrive Selector, the use of
sophisticated new materials, and by cool new interior
lighting systems. The XF’s Jaguar Selector throws off
convention to set a new standard for automatic
transmission control. Its rotary action is light,
positive and intuitive. Many features remain hidden
until they are actually needed—the XF’s automatic
climate-control system includes rotating vents that roll
quietly and smoothly out of sight when not in use.
The new XF balances traditional
craftsmanship with the latest technology with features
such as JaguarSense. When you want to turn the light on
inside the car, just press or switch to flick and it
instantly turns on. Want to open the glovebox? Just tap
the small circle on the dashboard and it pops open.
Safety is a major factor in the
development of the Jaguar XF. All models feature
Jaguar’s Pedestrian Contact Sensing system with an
automatically deployed bonnet that was first introduced
in the Jaguar XK. It also comes out with two-stage
driver and front passenger airbags, side and curtain
airbags and Seat Occupant Sensing systems to help ensure
the airbags work precisely and only as needed.
The Jaguar XF V6 is priced at P4.5
million and P5.35 million, the V8 at P5.8 million and
the SV8 at P7.8 million. |
