The all-new Jaguar XF has been revealed during a dramatic ‘high-wire’ water crossing in the heart of London’s business district.
Expert British stunt man Jim Dowdall, veteran of Hollywood movies including Bond, Bourne and Indiana Jones, drove the all-new Jaguar XF a full 240 metres across a high-wire to demonstrate its lightweight aluminium-intensive construction. The new XF is 80kgs lighter than its closest competitor, resulting in best-in-class efficiency (over 70mpg) and CO2 (104g/km).
The car was fitted with specially grooved wheels and a safety “keel” on its undercarriage for the crossing, which sat perched on two 34mm carbon-fiber cables. Jaguar claims that the feat, which had the car suspended as much as 59 feet above the water’s surface, was the world’s longest high-wire drive, clocking in at just over 787 feet from end to end. The full video can be seen here.
Some industry analysts remained confused over the stunt, with BBC stating, “we’re not, in truth, exactly sure why the second generation of Jag’s 5 Series-battling saloon was unveiled on a high-wire over the River Thames. Something, we assume, to do with highlighting the MkII XF’s new, lighter, even-more-aluminium-intensive structure, rather than a pitch for a new rival to the Emirates Air Line.”
The feat took place high over the Royal Dock in London’s Canary Wharf. Footage of the drive can be viewed here: jaguar.com/newxf
The all-new XF brings an unrivalled blend of refinement, fuel economy, dynamics and design to the business car segment. It will make its global motor show debut in New York on 1 April.
Full technical details, images and film of the all-new XF will be available on 01 April at 00:01 BST from www.media.jaguar.com
