5 minute read
Motoring
JAGUAR XF SPORTBRAKE
To you and me it’s an estate car, to Jaguar’s marketeers it’s a Sportbrake. Whatever you choose to call it, it’s an exceptional drive for the price, writes Bob Hickman
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From the front, the XF Sportbrake is pretty much identical to the saloon it is based on. The difference is at the rear, where the designers have excelled in creating a shape that befits the sleek, stylish Jaguar brand. Inside, high windows and wrap-around dashboard give the feel of a sporty derivative, yet the cabin seems to cocoon you. Some might find it a little claustrophobic, but for me it the XF provides
an extremely pleasant driving environment.
The seats offer good support and are easily adjusted. The bulk of the controls are contained either within the steering wheel or the 8in colour touchscreen; the infotainment system is a marked improvement. The rear seat is a 40/20/40 split and drops to give an impressive load capacity. The rear is on the low side, but does make it easier if you’re transporting something awkward like a golf trolley or all-terrain pushchair.
The driving dynamics of the Sportbrake are sensational: positive, quick and responsive. As I’ve mentioned before, ex-Jaguar designer Ian Callan once told me the only time you should know you’re in an estate is when you look over your shoulder at the acres of room, and this was the case with the Sportbrake. The two-litre test car produced a maximum 204bhp, sufficient to give a top speed of 143mph and a 0-60 gallop in 7.5 seconds. The combined mpg was astounding at 49.5mpg, and on a lengthy run to Wales followed by a lot of around town driving I actually eclipsed this, achieving 50.4mpg, exceptional for a vehicle of this size.
The Sportbrake comes with all the standard features you’d expect for this market: DAB radio, satnav, dual climate control, heated front seats, cruise control, leather upholstery. The list of extras is extensive, some novel and possibly even useful: a lockable cool glove box, for example. Keyless entry at £625 I thought excessive, and heated memory door mirrors at £400 are fun but hardly essential. I can certainly live without the 19in, seven-spoke wheels at £800.
The basic D200 has an on-the-road price of £37,415; a plethora of extras bumped up the price of the test vehicle to £43,320. All in all, it’s phenomenal value for a vehicle that looks the part, drives the part and would be a pleasure to display on your drive.
Verdict: a sensational driving experience
“The combined Bob is a devoted car and mpg was astounding motorcycle fan. After a 30-year career as a police motorcycle patrol at 49.5… officer and latterly as a
I actually eclipsed this” sergeant, patrolling the motorways of the Midlands, retirement beckoned and he embarked on writing about his love of transport. Bob is a member of the Guild of Motor Writers and the Midland Guild of Motor Writers. In his spare time he rides a Royal Enfield Continental GT and drives a 1994 MG RV8. FACTS AT A GLANCE • • • • • MODEL TESTED: XF SPORTBRAKE D200 R-DYNAMIC S AWD PRICE: £37,415 ENGINE: 1997 CC 4-CYLINDER PETROL MAX SPEED: 143MPH 0-60MPH: 7.5 SECONDS
he embarked on writing Bob is a member of the Guild of Motor Writers and the Midland Guild of Motor Writers. In his spare time he rides a Royal Enfield Continental GT and drives a 1994 MG RV8. MODEL TESTED: XF SPORTBRAKE D200 ENGINE: 1997 CC 4-CYLINDER PETROL
Beauty
Cosmetic tattooing – your questions answered
With the beauty industry in full swing offering a magnitude of ‘tweakments’ on your local high street, aesthetic treatments really have become accessible to all. Over the coming months, I will be talking you through the options – from vitamin injections to fillers, a new set of eyebrows, PDO thread lifts and profhilo facials. I look forward to offering you insight on how the industry has advanced and hopefully informing your outlook. I think it is only right to start with my own specialist area of treatment – the Emma Turner cosmetic tattoo, often referred to as SPMU (semi-permanent make-up). Modern cosmetic tattooing is streets ahead of the early incarnations of SPMU. I qualified in the health and beauty industry in 1999 and remember the heavily lined lips and one-size-fits-all solid block brows that were the best that was achievable at the time. Not the most flattering!
Fortunately the new wave of advanced artistic practitioners –myself included – have better inks and much improved equipment, while the advancements in needle types and sizes and the advent of microblading allow us to create the most natural, beautiful hairstroke brows and pigmented lips that are bespoke to every client. Cosmetic tattooing is a complete game-changer for somebody wanting to sharpen and freshen their look.
Let’s look at the simple but effective art of lip blushing. For those who want a fuller lip with added symmetry and no harsh lines, with a soft hue of colour, this is your go-to treatment. Lips naturally thin with age, so when blushing we start by framing the lip with a natural youthful outline, before blending and diffusing the colour inwards. Clients have the option of plumper-looking lips without the need for injectable fillers. However, without a doubt, a small amount of well-placed filler prior to lip blushing can have incredible results.
Lip blushing is suitable for clients over the age of 18, but as with any beauty procedure, choose a qualified therapist and share any health concerns. A follow-up is recommended after six to eight weeks to secure the longevity of the treatment. Emma Turner is owner of Corser House Cosmetic Studio in Whitchurch
www.corsercosmetic.co.uk
Lip blushing defines the lip shape
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