THE Jaguar XF is one cool cat with excellent manners - it even offers a 'welcoming handshake' when you get into the car.
This is centred on the transmission's alloy rotary gear selector which rises from the centre console when the stop/start button is pressed, while four air vents mounted on the dashboard rotate to the open position.
It could be something out of James Bond and gives the first glimpse of the class contained in every fibre of this Jaguar's chassis.
The neighbours' reaction to the car was also illuminating. The XF I drove is priced at just over £44,000 - a tidy sum I grant you but plenty of cars have sat on the drive worth more money and attracted far less attention.
There is no doubt that pound for pound the XF offers an incredible amount of 'wow' factor - people regularly stopped to have a look and one woman even wandered round the car seemingly transfixed until I came out to check she wasn't going to steal it.
The exterior then is the lure that attracts attention - but the interior is the real star of the show where this luxury sports saloon is concerned.
It is quite simply beautiful combining wood, aluminium and leather in a modern design that excels where comfort is concerned and cossets all in a cocoon of luxury.
For the driver there is full electronic adjustment for a ventilated heated and cooled seat that ensures the perfect position behind the steering wheel.
All the controls look fantastic and are where you expect them to be - which considering the amount of equipment included with the Portfolio model is just as well.
Passengers are also guaranteed plenty of space and even the coupe-like roofline doesn't put much of a dent in the amount of headroom in the rear.
As far as storage is concerned there are discreet cubby holes strategically placed around the cabin and the XF boasts a big boot which can be enlarged by folding down the rear seats.
Once fired up the 3.0-litre V6 diesel powered car is a joy to drive whether you want to punch it from 0-62mph in a shade under six seconds, or cruise along a motorway on a long journey. It is linked to an excellent six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifts.
The handling is razor sharp and levels of grip legendary so the XF offers the balance and control normally associated with a gymnast. The steering is more sensitive than a politician's expenses claim while the ride is smoother than Terry Wogan.
The only noise to be heard in the cabin is the welcome muted roar from the engine when accelerating hard. Any unwanted wind, road or traffic sounds are effectively repelled.
High performance levels demand top notch safety systems and the XF doesn't disappoint. It is fitted with a range of features to help both prevent accidents and protect driver and passengers should one occur.
It also looks to limit injuries to pedestrians with a bonnet that springs up in the event of a collision.
Jaguar also ensure that security kit is plentiful which is just as well as the XF does attract attention - ask anyone in my street.
FAST FACTS
Jaguar XF 3.0L Diesel Sport Portfolio
Price: £44,200
Mechanical: 275ps, 2,993cc, 6cyl diesel engine driving rear wheels via 6-speed automatic gearbox
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 5.9 seconds
Combined mpg: 42
Insurance group: 18
CO2 emissions: 179g/km
BiK rating: 26%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited miles