HEARD the one about the Jaguar that does over 52mpg? Probably not because this is certainly no joke. The company now fields a version of its award-winning XF executive range equipped with a 2.2 four-cylinder turbo-diesel that rockets this brand into a sector of the market that is hungry for cars that hate fuel pumps. As a former owner of a Jaguar that was a profound guzzler I found this car a revelation because it combines its economy with a very rapid sprint factor of 0-60mph in just eight seconds with a maximum (electronically limited) speed of 140mph. It is certainly an indicator of how far things have progressed when you compare it to the 3,442cc petrol engined MkII model of the 1960s which, although capable of 120mph could only achieve 16 to 23mpg. Although the XF has been around for a while it always impresses me when activating the ignition how the transmission selector silently rises rises out of the centre console and the climate control vents almost magically appear on the dash. It is almost thatrical – as if the car is making a grand entrance. What is not theatrical is this model's impressive stance in the highly competitive world of business motoring. It is up against some fearsome competition, especially from German marques and is hacking it very well indeed. But in this sense it is business as usual for Jaguar because the Big Cat brand does it all in its own way which is quite inimitable. The company has been through turbulent times with various ownerships but now in the hands of the massive Indian Tata corporation it seems to be flourishing and the 2.2 diesel is one of the major achievements of the whole deal. Although a diesel this is still very much a sports saloon even though it pays homage to modern economy measures with such items as engine start-stop technology. This means it is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the Jaguar line-up, boasting a combined cycle figure of 52.3mpg and 149g/km of CO2. Transmission is an eight-speed electronic auto with sequential shift technology allied to winter and dynamic driving modes. And on the road it all translates into the sort traditional Jaguar driving experience that managagment types crave for. With a bodyshell that is one of the stiffest in its class, endowing a classy ride and premium handling it has everything going for it. FAST FACTS Jaguar XF 2.2L diesel Premium Luxury Price: £37,950 Mechanical: 190bhp, 2,179cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving rear wheels via 8-speed automatic gearbox Max speed: 140mph 0-60mph: 8.0 seconds Combined mpg: 52.3 Insurance group: 43 CO2 emissions: 149g/km BiK rating: 20% Warranty: 3yrs/unlimited miles | 
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