Can Jaguar claim 2015 as the “Year of the Cat”?

The jaguar is one of largest cats in the world, with an exceptionally powerful bite compared to its even larger counterparts—the tiger and lion.

As if taking after its namesake animal, the Jaguar XF is not at the top of the food chain among luxury or sports cars, but it delivers a formidable bite—with a powerful engine and an innovative design.

I took one of these cats out…not for a walk but for a drive.  Specifically, I drove the 2.2-liter diesel variant of the Jaguar XF.

The Jaguar XF 2.2 is equipped with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission that can execute gearshifts in just 200 milliseconds. This allows acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in 10 seconds.  While I am not aware of any Philippine road which would have legally allowed me to reach the Jaguar XF’s top speed, it gave me a sense of empowerment to know that I could have driven it up to 209 km/h.

Like the sleek and lean feline jaguar, the Jaguar XF 2.2 offers a refined yet muscular power delivery.  As a female driver, I found the handling of the XF 2.2 to be smooth, light and responsive.  This, for me, is experiencing in practical terms the 2.2-liter inline-4 turbocharged diesel engine with a peak torque of 400 Nm at 2,000 rpm and horsepower of 163 ps at 3,500 rpm.

Surprisingly, the XF’s diesel engine does not sound like one.  It is unusually quiet for a diesel-fueled car, as if it were designed to stay true to the Jaguar animal’s character—a predator having the ability to unexpectedly pounce on its prey by approaching swiftly yet quietly.

The use of lightweight and compact aluminum components avoids weight penalty, resulting in high fuel efficiency. At highway speeds or continuous driving, the XF 2.2 promises fuel economy of 5.1 liters for every 100 km. Fuel economy is retained amidst traffic congestion.  The XF 2.2’s Intelligent Stop/Start design causes the engine to automatically shut down when the car stops even for short intervals, such as while waiting at stoplights or while stalled in bumper-to-bumper traffic. CO2 emissions are at an impressively low of 135 g/km. It’s no surprise that the Jaguar XF 2.2 broke the Australian National Fuel Economy Driving Records in The 2012 Australian Book of Records.

While the XF 2.2’s engine is ideal for sports cars, the car itself has the look and feel of a midsized luxury sedan.  The interior is a combination of elegant and minimalist designs using leather and wood materials. Unique to the XF 2.2 is that riding it gives it the sense of a living being. The whole car seems to “wake up” from sleep when the engine is switched on, as the gear control emerges to reveal itself from an all-flat panel. Like eyelids opening, the air conditioning vents fold out only when the AC is turned on.

However, those who intend to use the Jaguar XF2.2 as a luxury, chauffer-driven sedan might be disappointed by the lack of legroom in the rear passenger seats.  Compared to other luxury sedans, the XF 2.2 does not have pull-up screens in the rear windows to block the passenger from the sun or from being viewed outside.  The light beige-colored suede leather interior also screams “high-maintenance” as the material is easily susceptible to marks and stains.

The Jaguar XF 2.2 reminds me of a hybrid animal—a combination of a wild jungle cat and a domesticated cat. It has a powerful engine that can outrun most cars and a luxurious interior that, to some extent, requires tender loving care.

The lunar calendar marks the coming of the “Year of the Sheep” this February 2015.  But if Jaguar continues to innovate with its upcoming new models, as it did with the 2014 XF2.2, the year 2015 and succeeding years might be proclaimed as the “Year of the Cat” for automobiles.

Karen Jimeno is a junior partner at Jimeno Cope & David Law Firm and a law professor in various law schools. She is also a TV host for LegalHD on 9TV. She graduated from UP Law School and Harvard Law School and is licensed to practice law in the Philippines and in New York. She is currently the Director for Communications & External Affairs of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation & Recovery of Yolanda-affected areas.