Is it just me or the new Jags (XE; XF; F type) are ditching wood for fancy plastic & leather?

What is stunning that most other car makers are doing the opposite... They are adding more wood. Take a look at BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, even Cadillac & Lincoln.

I mean honestly... which interior looks more at home in 60K car?
Volvo s90 has better interior



2017 Volvo S90: A New, Swedish Flagship Sedan

Or Jaguar XF


Even the XJ is behind the A8 or S-class. Jags were all about great styling and great interiors... What happened?

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It is called penny pinching to keep down costs. However I take exception regarding the XJ, it still outclasses Audi and Mercedes vehicles of equal cost, by far.

 

The XF and XK interiors have always left me cold.
The XJ interior, on the other hand, makes me smile.

The German cars have higher tech content but feel more impersonal, like driving a gadget lab. I prefer old-school knobs and buttons in the XJ. More wood is not better. It's all about the design and placement of the wood panels. The previous model X350 has acres of wood and looks lovely, but the same wood would look tacky inside the X351. Similarly, I find the wood in Volvo S90 photo tacky and not 'blended-in' (maybe it's the color).

Speaking of tacky, I saw a black XJ today with a gold leaper. Eww



Cheers,
Wolfy

 

My only gripe about the current XJ interiors is that there is no longer any option to have wood picnic tables in the rear. That to me is a loss as they are (were) a quintessential XJ styling cue. Bring'em back JLR!

All the high-tech gadgetry in the world cannot touch the elegance of a classy interior design. There isn't a day I drive my car when I do not appreciate how special the current XJ interior is and how it makes me feel.

 

In the previous XJ models (the 8's and 6's), wood picnic trays were also standard in the VDP and Super V8. I think the new XJ 'Ultimate' has them.

 

The XJ 351's had them until MY 2014. Sadly, they've since been dropped from the option list across the entire line-up. And the wood selection gets more and more grim too. A sign of the times.

 

XF interior is like ford's lincoln or something, its pretty bad, id never buy the XF thats my opinion.
I had a chance to sit in the Volvo S90 and yes its pretty damn awesome a but then again, id take the new model X tesla any day over anything today.

 

What is sad is that the "OLD" XF had way nicer interior. Why did they cheapen it?

 

Food for thought : the other day I was at the Jaguar dealer, talking to the chief mechanic about some creaking noises I had.

He sorted them out and when I was picking to the car, I was talking to him and I said :

"sorry if I was a bit ****, but it was driving me nuts"

and interestingly, he said :

"no problem sir, we have 2 or 3 out of 100 XJ owners that come in and report this and we usually know where to look, yours did made an annoying noise. what is driving me crazy is the new XF and XE... specially the XE.. those things have big tolerances and the build quality is ... lets say, different - out of 100, only 3 or 4 owners, do not come in ranting.... hold to that pretty XJ of yours quite a while "

and he blinked and went away.

 

I know a luxury car rental business in Los Angeles that has an older Rolls-Royce Phantom in their fleet. Very reliable, no issues outside of normal maintenance, still-immaculate interior, no squeaks or creaks. Apparently, the modern Rolls (2003+) have ZERO tolerance for imperfection. Check out the RR factory on youtube, very impressive!

Cheers,
Wolfy