2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged

Jag's new XF suffers from a serious case of multiple personality disorder. When we rolled up to the hipster-ific Roosevelt in L.A., our fave valet welcomed us back with a hearty, "Dude, nice new Mercedes!" In addition to the Benz bones he spotted, you can also see some Maserati Quattroporte and Beemer 6 in the profile and a lot of Bentley GT in the grill.

With that many influences, it's surprising Jag has produced a ride with such classic lines and excellent proportions. It may not scream classic Jag as you roll down Hollywood Blvd., but the fact that you’re behind the wheel of something sleek and exclusive is loud and clear.

Once you get past the body, things only get better. We tested the 420-horse, V8 Supercharged XF, which goes for about $15K more than the 310-horse base. Power and poise were excellent in auto transmission mode, but when you switch over to manual using the paddle shifters you realize you have two cars in one. A once docile ride becomes downright pugilistic as you punch through the six-speed gear box and let the motor get its snarl on.

Interior? In a word—Jag. Our top-of-the-line tester was smooth and sedate inside, with a stylish atmosphere created by a mix of black leather with muted gray and stainless accents. Other highlights included superior room for back seat passengers and a giant touch screen control system that doubled as a huge reverse-view camera. The coolest aspects, though, were Houdini-like vents that disappear when you shut off the engine and a small joystick controller in the center console that shifts the transmission. This "dial a gear" gadget is truly a clever touch.