Jaguar has thrown down the gauntlet to the German giants that have long dominated China's premium car segment, as the British premium brand unveiled the all-new Jaguar XFL in Shanghai on Monday.

The car, the first Jaguar model from Chery Jaguar Land Rover, has been tailor-made for China's young business elite, a new generation of younger, more open-minded consumers who are willing to consider alternatives to the traditional premium brands, said Murray Dietsch, president of Chery Jaguar Land Rover.

"We offer Chinese consumers world-class quality products with a pure British lineage with the latest technologies, global unified standards and world-leading facilities," Dietsch said.

The model, built with the concept of "Long, Luxury, and Latest Technology", competes with Audi's A6L, BMW's 5 series and Mercedes-Benz's E class.

The model, which the automaker said is the most dynamic business sedan on the market, is available with a choice of three different powertrains and eight specifications, and will go on sale from Sept 12 with an official price starting from 388,000 yuan ($58,108).

Chris Chen, deputy president of Chery Jaguar Land Rover, believes the all-new Jaguar XFL will bring something different to the established premium market and set a new standard for medium and large sedans.

"It is true that German brands have been dominant in the segment for quite a while, but people's understanding of business and life is changing too," Chen said. "I believe the car will give them a different experience."

Mark Bishop, president of Jaguar's integrated marketing, sales and service, said the new Jaguar perfectly interprets the art of performance in the brand's DNA.

Calling it "a car your dad won't drive" at the press conference, Bishop said: "It breaks into this established market and offers a new compelling choice for consumers."

The car is the first model in the segment to apply intelligent aluminum architecture to ensure a light, stiff and strong aluminum-intensive structure, with materials and components used "identically the same" as those made overseas, said the automaker.

At 3,100 millimeters, the wheelbase of the all-new Jaguar XFL is 140 mm longer than the standard XF wheelbase.

Passengers in the back row will enjoy 203 mm of leg room, 116 mm more than in the XF. The extra length has been perfectly integrated into the streamlined car body, thus ensuring the elegant sporty profile of the XFL.

The Jaguar XFL also features a contemporary interior design with clean and simple lines, which is enhanced with the choice of gloss figured ebony and "Thames Silver" veneers.

Premium comfort for rear seat passengers is provided by seats that can be heated or provide a massage. The seats have Windsor leather facings, foldable rear tables, and entertainment systems, and there is a twin aperture panoramic roof with sunblind as well as electronic side and rear window blinds.

The car is also equipped with a world-class infotainment system that features a super-fast and easy-to-use 260 mm touchscreen.

The XFL also boasts a four-zone climate control system, and its Nanoe? Cabin Air Ionisation technology is a first for this segment.

Another feature making its debut in the XFL is Clear Exit Detection - a technology that makes it safer for rear seat passengers to step out of the car by alerting them to traffic approaching from behind.

The new model also features a 17-speaker sound system, adaptive LED headlights, laser head-up display, and All-Surface Progress Control (ASPC) system.

James Hu, deputy president of the company's integrated marketing, sales& service, said the Jaguar brand has entered a new chapter in China with the launch of the XFL.

"We believe the all-new Jaguar XFL is the most dynamic business sedan and it will appeal to young successful people across China," he said.

New chapter for Chery Jaguar Land Rover

Now that the XFL has rolled of the assembly line, Chery Jaguar Land Rover has become the first automotive company to produce two luxury brand vehicles in China and has opened a new development chapter in dual-brand operation.

Having launched three localized models under the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in just 18 months, Chery Jaguar Land Rover successfully entered mainstream premium car segments.

The XFL uses industry-leading aluminum technology that is manufactured in China's first purpose-built aluminum body shop, which Chen said leads the development of lightweight technology in China's automobile industry.

"The launch of the all-new Jaguar XFL demonstrates Chery Jaguar Land Rover's new strategy of making cars that are tailor-made to meet the demands of China's market, and inspiring excellence in the market segment with competitive value and price," he said. "Our ambition is to launch at least one new model per year by 2020."

With three years of development, Chery Jaguar Land Rover has gone from strength to strength. Half of its 2016 sales in China have come from locally produced vehicles, demonstrating that their products are widely accepted by Chinese customers.

With efficient operation management and exceptional talents, Chery Jaguar Land Rover will consistently introduce the latest technologies and products to provide Chinese customers with more diverse options, and will inspire excellence in China's premium auto market, Chen said.

lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/02/2016 page13)