Unveiled to universal acclaim at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2007, the C-XF was the work of Jaguar’s Design Director Ian Callum and the Head of the Advanced Studio Julian Thomson. This was their fourth concept car, following the R-coupé of 2001, the R-D6 of 2003 and the ALC of 2005. The sequence of these four cars demonstrates a remarkable transformation of Jaguar design from the style traditionally associated with the marque, to a new, very different, and above all modern and contemporary approach.

Despite the C-XF being a departure from any previous Jaguar, Ian Callum was very conscious of Jaguar’s heritage. In his view, throughout its history Jaguar had created some of the most striking, modern and beautiful saloons. The objective with C-XF was to create a car which in the modern age had an equally great impact, as the Jaguars of the past had in their day. The classic sports saloons such as the Mark II and the original XJ gave Jaguar a unique position, which in Callum’s words, “We’re having back”.

The C-XF still had some Jaguar design cues. The recessed radiator grille was inspired by the 1968 XJ6. The grille in turn defined the rest of the shape, which was more like the XK fastback coupé, than a traditional saloon. The headlamp fairings and the rear side window shape also nodded to tradition. The Jaguar leaper was still found but only on the rear! The interior by Alister Whelan was an equally great departure for Jaguar, creating a minimalist yet welcoming environment. Materials such as wood and leather might be traditional for Jaguar, but their use in the C-XF was near revolutionary.

Even before the C-XF had been revealed, Jaguar had announced that the future replacement for the successful mid-range S-Type saloon, introduced in 1998, would be called the XF. Nor did Jaguar hesitate to confirm that the C-XF was in fact very close to the forthcoming production XF model, which in due course made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007.

Surprisingly little different from the concept car, the production XF was in turn warmly welcomed, as the first new car of Jaguar’s future.