Jaguar-Land Rover hangs like a millstone around Tata Motor’s neck. The balance sheets of these British brands are awash with red ink and with no financial help form the British government forthcoming, the Tata Group may have to sell its family jewels to bail out what it saw as a prized piece of the industry not even a year ago. With domestic sales having gone pear-shaped, Tata Motor could well do without the gigantic drag of jaguar-Land Rover. However, as they say, hindsight is 20/20 vision and not many could have imagined this unprecedented meltdown of economies that is crippling the world. This global recession has even caught out Ratan Tata, a visionary who always dared to dream and usually came out the better for it. So what made Tata pay US$ 2.3 billion to previous owner Ford, for these two icons which may be worth half that amount days? Global ambition, the chance to catapult Tata motors onto the world stage and the opportunity to own two icons of the automotive world are the obvious reasons. But the less obvious ones are those that the outside world wasn’t privy to at the time of sale.

What tempted Tata (and early bidder Mahindra too) was a raft of exciting models Ford spend many years and billions developing, which were reaching fruitions. These models had the potential to change the company’s tumultuous history and put it on the road to prosperity.

Proof of this is the Jaguar XF, launched just over a year ago to universal acclaim. Though the XF was launched amid the uncertainty of Jaguar’s future, it didn’t deter customers from buying a car capable of beating the best that Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz could offer.

For Jaguar to outclass these German giants was a staggering achievement. XF sales were rocking soon after launch and even in this deep recession, the breakthrough XF is managing to prop up the company’s sales. Jaguar has to now bravely hang in there, explore new market with the hope that good products will eventually prevail.

Hello Tata

Under new Indian ownership, it was only a matter of time before Jaguar found its way into India and Land Rover increased its presence (the SUV brand has a lone distributor for the entire country). But tin spite off all the doom and gloom. Jaguar is all set to make its debut in India with a bang. It has too. Not only because Jaguar’s ultimate bosses reside here but also because it make commercial sense. India is one of the few countries where the luxury car market has grown significantly. Beside with zero presence here, the Jag  brand can only grow. And under Tata’s wing, Jaguar-Land rover has serious clout which it is taking full advantage of.

Tata has selected Ceejay House, one of the city’s swankiest commercial properties, in Mumbai’s Worli area to be Jaguar (and Land Rover’s) corporate showroom, which will be managed by the company and not a dealer. Swarms of engineers and technicians have been sent to the UK for training and senior executive from other luxury brands have been poached in readiness for the grand launch of jaguar-Land Rover in India, around the end of March.

But even before the official launch, Jaguar has bagged an order from Taj Hotel Group for over 100 cars. No doubt, it’s a case of one Tata Group company helping another but this is an order Audi, BMW and Merc would die for. It’s a brilliant sampling exercise as well. The Taj’s VIP customers (read potential buyers) get to enjoy the Jaguar experience in either an XF or an XJ.

Will all this be enough for Jaguar to make a dent in the luxury car segment which the German brands have completely dominated? Jaguar’s early history in India has been lost for generations (see box), so it can’t bank of its strong heritage and pedigree. Curiously, it might be the latest chapter in the company’s history – its acquisition by an Indian conglomerate that could inspire people to covet the Jaguar ‘leaper’ instead of the ‘Star. However, jaguar’s success, like any other car maker, will finally depend on how well suited its cars are to Indian tastes and conditions.

Jaguar plans to launch the XF and XJ saloons, which will be direct import from the UK. The XF will be the core model but the plan is to initially bring in top-end variants of the XF, notably the 5-litre petrol V8 followed by the bread-and-butter V6 diesel.

Hitting The XF Spot

We got our hands on the XF 2.7D that goes head to head with the Mercedes-Benz E280 CDI and BMW 530d. Later in the year, a 271bhp 3-litre V6 diesel is likely to be introduced.

Driving the XF on Indian roads puts it in the right perspective and answers (if a bit prematurely) all the questions owners would ask. How does it drive owner potholed roads? Is the ground clearance enough? Is it comfy at the back? This import we drove for a good two days on Mumbai’s roads may not have the final spec of the showroom cars but gave a good indication of what to expect.

Against the backdrop of Mumbai’s car parc which is dotted with econo hatches at one end and a sprinkling of Japanese and European luxury cars at the top end, the XF stood out like a million bucks. The Styling, under the direction of Ian Callum, is simply beautiful and a breath of fresh air after the functional and simpler lines of Mercs and Audis. There’s lots of historical influence in the XF like the aluminium window surrounds, a throwback to the 1959 Jag MkII, or the distinctive meshcored oval grill that is influenced by the original XJ of 1968. The ‘power bulge’ on the bonnet is inspired by the E-Type and looks brilliant even from inside the car. Indian buyers may not recognise these historical cues but what’s clear is how well the designers have blended the old with the new to fashion a shape that will remain timeless. The coupe-like roofline adds to the grace of the car (but not to the headroom) and the overall poise of this Jag simply reeks of class, which will be reason enough for many to buy it.

Welcome Inside

If the exterior isn’t convincing enough, then the interiors will have you completely hooked. In fact, it’s the drama of the interiors that truly sets the XF apart from anything else. Nothing comes close.

The start-up procedure, which the company calls the “Jaguar handshake’, is a theatrical experience owners will never tire of. Press the engine start button and it light up and pulses like a heartbeat. The vents swivel open and a polished metal rotary knob (which is the gear lever) rises out of the flat console between the front seats. Twirling the deliciously weighted knob selects P R N D S while manual control over this six-speed auto is offered by way of paddles behind the steering wheel.

It’s not just the way the SF’s interiors come ‘alive’ that will entice owners. The cabin is exquisitely crafted with soft stitched leather, fine woods and superbly finished aluminium. The detailing is terrific. The cool blue lighting is utterly unique as is the way it lights the power window switches. The cluster is not backlit but swathed by light from above and looks brilliant at night. Other superb bits are the feather-touch switches that turn on the interior lights and open the glovebox. The functional info display unit is a touch-screen as well. The overall quality and ambience of the XF’s cabin make a 5-series and E-class feel as personal as a hotel lobby. But there is one flaw. The rear seat is just not generous enough for the XF’s chauffeur-driven clientele. It’s seriously short on headroom, while legroom and under-thing support can’t match either the E-class or 5-series. It would be a good idea for Tata to monitor passenger feedback from Taj’s chauffeur-driven XF fleet.

Smooth And Sublime

Performance is not the diesel XF’s forte. It’s heavier than its rivals and less torquey and powerful too. It doesn’t leap forward like the shatteringly quick 530d but eases ahead in a somewhat urgent manner that suits the Jag’s elegant manner. What it lacks in outright punch, it makes up in linearity and the engine is delightfully smooth and silent. The paddle shift works reasonably well but this is a car that felt best left in ‘D’ to amble along in Mumbai’s traffic. Ground clearance is a bit low and tall speedbreakers do pose a problem but otherwise, the Jag felt completely at home. The ride is simply outstanding; rarely have we come across a car that smoothens Mumbai’s decrepit roads as well as this one. The XF’s ride is far more supple than an E-class and the 5-Series feels like granite in comparison.

The perfectly weighted steering and the overall poise of the chassis keep the driver relaxed at all times. When Jaguar officially announces the prices for the XF, we don’t expect it to be cheap. As an import, it will have a cost disadvantage against the locally assembled E-class, 5-series and A6. It may not match the functionality of the Merc, the excitement of the Bimmer or the avante-garde appeal of the A6. But it more than makes up with its subtle charms. The soothing refinement, the masterful cabin and the sheer elegance that only the Jag offers is sure to find many takers, especially with those looking for something different and special.