With its muscular sporting lines, the XF Sportbrake is arguably the most beautiful estate on the road and reinforces the belief Jaguar have some of the world's most talented designers.
It is based on their XF saloon, so you also know it will outdrive any estate. I saw, too, how practical it is as an estate.
It should launch Jaguar on a roll of urgently-needed new cars over the next four years.
The C-X16 sports car is due within 12 months, followed in late 2014 by the C-X75 supercar and less than a year later by the all-important new small executive Jag.
Designers and engineers are working flat out to deliver the models on time and end a decade of frustration for Jaguar as they have trailed rivals. While German giants BMW, Audi and Mercedes have doubled and tripled sales by growing their model ranges, Jaguar have fought them with just three.
It would be like Mercedes competing with only the E-Class, S-Class and SL instead of their mighty 18-model army.
The result has been that Jaguar sales fell from 130,000 in 2002 to 50,678 last year while they failed to replace their biggest seller, the X-Type, and delayed rolling out other new cars.
Jaguar have suffered from indecision and lack of investment, failing to build momentum with new models. In fairness, current owners Tata are now investing heavily in the brand. But they are also having to plough cash into Land Rover.
Adrian Hallmark, the global brand director, believes Porsche will be a more realistic rival for Jaguar than BMW and that the Sportbrake is the start of big things over the next five years.
He said: "Under Tata ownership we have a clear vision of what Jaguar should be. But it takes money, vision and time to get to the long-term goal and that is exactly what's going on. If we could do it all tomorrow, we would do, but we prefer to do it right and that takes a little longer.
"We will not risk our quality or our reputation to rush models. They have to be just right."
Hallmark predicts the sporty C-X16 early next year will have a huge impact — although it will be a relatively small niche seller, it will have a halo effect.
Jag fans were first shown a two- seat sports car concept in 2000 and have been waiting ever since. Now the car is almost ready for the road, with a price tag starting at around £55,000.
I predict Jaguar will give the green light for the C-X16 within the next two months and that they have decided not to call it the new E-Type.
But the model Jaguar desperately need to secure a long-term future, as their major seller, is a BMW 3 Series-sized car.
This has been sorely lacking since the X Type was not replaced. Hallmark knows its importance to the company's fortunes. He said: "This model is our No1 priority and we are carrying out a full business case at full speed, covering everything from the engineering costs to price. It is absolutely critical for Jaguar's growth plans."
He also revealed the firm's new small executive model will come with a full family of models.
Hallmark said: "There will be several body styles and engines. This will not be a one-trick pony."
He won't talk about when the car will arrive in showrooms but I believe it will be 2015.
Hallmark also confirmed Jaguar are looking seriously at developing their first ever SUV/crossover.
He said: "The sector is clearly growing in importance on the world scene. But if we do make this model it would have to be the best-driving SUV in the world." I don't expect a Jaguar SUV before 2016. Meanwhile, the C-X75 supercar concept is the ultimate piece in the Jaguar jigsaw.
Here is a car which has earned rave reviews at motor shows around the world over the past two years. Hallmark told me the firm are on target to deliver the C-X75 but with 200mph electric/petrol hybrid power instead of the concept's jet turbine.
I expect prototype testing to start this year and for a model to go on sale in late 2014 or early 2015, at a supercar price.
There is no doubt Jaguar have brilliant designers and engineers — the XK Coupe, XF and XJ saloons are all top-grade cars.
All they have needed is the chance to bring out more models to make the brand more competitive.
Now, it would appear that at long last Jaguar have the owners and bosses willing to push the accelerator pedal to the floor metal to achieve this major step forward. Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk
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