[Image Source: MotorAuthority]

By Gunnar Heinrich

Pretty in concept but ghastly in follow-through, the M.Y. 2009 Jaguar XF that's set to officially premiere at the Frankfurt Auto Show may just be the underwhelming mid-range exec-mobile that hopelessly failed in its charge to save Jaguar.

Or perhaps people will take in the new powerplant and ignore the terribly watered-down looks from the gorgeous original C-XF that set the automotive world aflame earlier this year.

Comments on CAR got straight to the somber point.

"Oh dear, Jag gets it wrong again. This is mainstream and undistinguished from the mob. Exceptional eye-appeal is what USED to make a Jag. Not this one."

and

"As a former Jag owner who vowed never to own another - if they couldn't get the basic mechanicals to be reliable, there's no chance that the exotic electronics will work for more than weeks at a time. It looks ok, but I have to say I'm disappointed. It looks like a Lexus IS from the side."

Over at MotorAuthority remarks were dimmer still.

"I am simply aghast, the rear view was acceptable if not evocative. The front is a mesh of absolute incoherency and simply put severely underwhelming. If the front resembled anything like the RD-6 I would have done away with my 2006 A6, and ready to buy. I have always hoped and believed that this time it was different at Jaguar. I now say, let it die, let it simply die."

and

"What on earth have they done[?]"

And the jackals over at Jalopnik had their two cents worth for Jag's new design, too.

"Toyota called. They want their Camry mold back."

and

"What a disappointing car. Now Jaguar gives us a Mondeo body on a Jaguar chassis - the exact opposite of the old X-Type. Also, why does Jaguar feel the need to use 2 different insignia ('growler' on hood and steering wheel and 'leaper' on the trunk lid)? Stick with the growling cat."

This is a sad day for Coventry.