When it comes to aerodynamics and power, you’d never have thought we’d be comparing one of Britain’s finest luxury cars with a full sized haulage truck. Aside from the name, they seem worlds apart, but in actual fact, there are some things that they have in common, which really highlight the way the automotive industry is evolving. They are both available with around 400 horsepower, but that’s not the main reason we’re interested in them. When Jaguar first decided to replace the S-Type, they faced the challenge of updating the Jaguar image into something that would appeal to the modern car driver.
Jaguar
One of the main things people look for these days is efficiency, and let’s be honest, Jaguars were never known for being frugal. As a result, the XF was designed to be competitive. With large engines and a luxurious sporting appeal, the range was never going to be considered economical, but nobody can deny that Jaguar have improved considerably. One of the major changes was in aerodynamics. The XF does in fact have a lower drag coefficient than one of the most famous racing Jaguars of all time; the XJ220. This has allowed cars such as the XFR to achieve impressive economy figures when their immense power is taken into account.
This brings us on to DAF’s XF. DAF trucks have received critical acclaim for reaching the highest possible standards of efficiency in the sector, thanks in no small part to excellent aerodynamics. There are a whole host of other pieces of technology that work to make the XF an extraordinarily economical vehicle. As fuel prices squeeze hauliers, it could be the most economical trucks that win contracts.
It’s very interesting to see that even in vehicles that are never going to be truly green, manufacturers are putting a real focus on reducing fuel consumption. It could be that large, flat grilles will soon be a thing of the past, with both retail and commercial vehicles putting aerodynamics right at the top of their design criteria. It makes you wonder what trucks of the future might look like.