Jaguar XF R-Sport Black launched

Jaguar has launched the Jaguar XF R-Sport Black edition and added plenty of standard equipment to all XF models in a bid to boost the car’s appeal as it nears the end of its production run.

Jaguar employed a similar tactic in the months before it ended production of the Jaguar XK coupe last year and it will hope the enhanced 2015 XF range will tempt potential buyers before the introduction of a new XF model in autumn this year.

The new XF R-Sport Black edition is only available with a 197bhp 2.2-litre turbocharged diesel engine and features 20-inch black 'Kalimnos' alloy wheels, a 770w Meridian surround sound system, 'bond-grain' leather upholstery and 18-way sports seats with memory function.

Jaguar says that the additional equipment on the special edition is worth £8,770 on top of the standard XF R-Sport, but the car only commands a premium of £2,100 more.

The special edition XF will be available in five different colours, including a 'Kyanite Blue' option that will be limited to a total of 100 cars, and costs £38,350 as a saloon or £40,850 in Sportbrake form.

Jaguar has dropped the SE, SE Business and Premium Luxury trim levels from the XF range and added more equipment to the remaining ones, meaning an entry-level XF is now the Luxury model and is very well equipped.

All models across the XF range are now fitted with the Winter Comfort and Parking Packs, which together include heated seats and windscreen, front parking sensors and a rear-view camera.

The price of Portfolio spec XF has been reduced by £3,500 despite the addition of Blind Spot Monitor, 19-inch alloy wheels and a 380w Meridian sound system. All other models in the range get a variety of uprated alloys, trims and media systems as standard.

As well as the three discontinued trim levels, Jaguar has also dropped the 3.0-litre V6 petrol and the 237bhp version of the 3.0-litre TDV6 diesel engine. This means the XF is now only available with a choice of three diesel engines or the hugely powerful 503bhp or 543bhp 5.0-litre V8 petrol engines in the XFR and XFR-S.