Tata's Jaguar XF wins 'car of the year' award

Since its launch in March 2008, the Jaguar XF has won the fourth top car award. This time it is the 'Car of the Year' award  in the 'Best Executive Car' category from auto journal Auto Express for new cars, beating arch rivals BMW 5-Series, the Mercedes CLS and E-Class, the Audi A6 and the Lexus GS. (View the Jaguar | Land Rover picture gallery)

The Jaguar, owned till recently by Ford Motor's Premier Automotive Group, is now part of Tata Motors. (See: Tata Motors confirms Jaguar, Land Rover deal with Ford for $2.3 billion

Jaguar XF"I am absolutely thrilled Auto Express - the UK's biggest selling weekly motoring magazine - has awarded the XF with its top accolade," said Geoff Cousins, managing director of Jaguar Cars.

"This has been a fantastic year for Jaguar with the XF leading the success of our revitalisation plan. In July, total Jaguar sales were up 29.2 per cent versus the same month last year and we now have over 7,000 orders for XF in the UK and more than 22,000 worldwide - we couldn't be more pleased with the reaction it has received."

Jaguar design director Ian Callum, who collected the trophy at a dinner attended by major figures from the British motor industry, Tuesday night, declared, "The Jaguar is back."

Auto Express editor Dan Strong said, "Jaguar's XF is a machine that has proved the doubters wrong. It's a car that impresses on every level, from design to drivability, practicality to price. But that's not the only reason why our judges chose this car. Our winner has raised the standards in a class where excellence is considered the norm. It's a home-grown package, designed and developed in the UK and built by a highly skilled workforce."