What's the news?
This is our first proper look at the Jaguar XF Sportbrake - the car that wasn't supposed to be built.
Following the launch of the F-Pace SUV, and a slight mix-up when someone didn't quite accurately report what Jag's design chief Ian Callum said about future Sportbrakes, it was believed the estate XF was redundant.
But here it is in the flesh (metal, rather), having been given its full debut in a big PR stunt over in the UK, involving tennis ace Andy Murray. We'll gloss over all of that and instead tell you what we know at this stage: like its saloon brother, the Sportbrake will come with the option of all-wheel drive and All-Surface Progress Control too, meaning you should find traction whatever the weather; it has a colossal 565-litre boot tacked onto the back of it, with the ability to carry up to 1,700 litres possible; it'll tow up to two tonnes, if you're a lifestyle kind of person, and there's self-levelling rear suspension too; and a panoramic sunroof and Gesture Control are part of the equipment highlights.
It also comes with a range of Ingenium petrol and diesel engines, although (in good news for Ireland, at least) of the five launch motors, four are diesels. Base model is the 163hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor, good for 62.8mpg (4.5 litres/100km) and 119g/km, with 0-100km/h in 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 212km/h, while at the other end of the scale is the mighty 300hp 3.0-litre V6 S, rocking in a 0-100km/h time of 6.1 seconds, a 250km/h top whack, 49.6mpg (5.7 litres/100km) and 149g/km CO2. The solitary petrol is a 250hp four-pot motor of middling stats, so as yet there are no interesting petrol S, R, R-S or SVR loons to talk about.
Nevertheless, we might as well not be telling you all this, as estates aren't popular in Ireland and the Sportbrake is likely to command around a €3,000 premium on the equivalent XF saloon. Handsome wagon, though, isn't it?
Anything else?
Mr Callum himself said of the XF Sportbrake: "The iconic Jaguar posters of the 1950s promised customers grace, pace and space. The XF Sportbrake re-imagines this offer for 21st-century active families, with stunning looks, sports car performance and a load space fit for active lifestyles."
Orders are being taken now for the Jaguar XF Sportbrake and the first cars should be with customers later this year.