What a transformation at Jaguar. It doesn’t seem that long ago that the company’s offerings were a little jaded and dated.

No diesels. No estates. And very little flair. But that’s been changed with some aplomb. Jaguar is now the epitome of Cool Britannia.

Tested here is the new 2.2 litre turbodiesel version of the XF, a model which Jaguar expects to be a big seller. In fact, word is that this model could be instrumental in helping the XF to very nearly double its sales.

That’s a pretty ambitious target in tough times, especially when rivals such as BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz are always improving and where Infiniti, Lexus and co are expanding.

But the XFR is a good product, much improved. This new version goes on sale in September and you can bet it will be popular.

The existing 3.0 litre diesel XF is good but comparatively expensive to buy and run. The 2.2 litre version will appeal to younger, sportier and slightly less well-heeled customers.

I drove this model around Skipton on a Press launch. And while it manages 52.3mpg on average, it is a very smooth and powerful car. It reaches 60mph in eight effortless seconds (if you think that’s quick, try the 3.0 litre which does it in six seconds).

It’s a beautiful car. Jaguar has kept changes to a minimum, and rightly so. The exterior is smooth and classy, while the cabin is a delight. Turn on the ignition and the chrome air vents swivel and the switch-style gear selector rises from the console. It’s pure theatre, which has to be seen to be appreciated.

For all the car’s luxury connotations, the XF and its rivals are also promoted as executive expresses in the company car world.

Reflecting the need to keep an eye on the bottom line, the 2.2 litre engine manages 149g/km of emissions. The associated low tax banding the value attracts should keep fleet managers happy, if not the tax man. And no ‘low tax’ engine would be complete without a stop-start system.

Also happy will be the person who gets to drive the new low emissions XF. In the real world the car behaves every bit like its more powerful cousins, with enough on tap (190bhp) to make motorway journeys uneventful and ensure that keen drivers don’t feel cheated when on their favourite backroad.

Sure, the 3.0-litre cars feel and sound quicker, but the 2.2-litre variant is no slouch despite its obvious economy bias.

Like the other diesels, the four-cylinder car gains a new eight-speed auto gearbox as standard to further enhance its fuel-sipping credentials. The result is super-smooth shifts plus the ability to do it yourself when the mood takes you.

Mechanically, then, the regular XF range is now capable of meeting the competition head-on in all the key areas – economy, emissions and performance. The latter was never in doubt but the arrival of the four-cylinder diesel finally plugs an important gap in Jaguar’s sales for business customers.

Aside from all the new stuff, one constant throughout the XF’s life has been its bold styling. The car’s sleek exterior has helped win it many awards. Thankfully, Jaguar has resisted the urge to radically change things, although the XF’s bonnet, front lights, bumper and air intakes have been subtly changed to enhance the car’s already streamlined look. In particular, the headlights gain a bold daylight running light design while the new rear cluster is no less distinctive when in use.

Move to the car’s interior and on the surface it appears to be business as usual. Look closely and there’s a new touchscreen interface and sat-nav system, plus some of the minor controls have been tweaked slightly. There’s also a new secondary display between the car’s main dials plus a more sophisticated array of entertainment options, including rear seat displays and connected headphones.

Don’t think that the other cars in the range have been rendered obsolete overnight, though. The two 3.0-litre diesel variants continue to deliver real world high-end performance, with the 275 horsepower version in particular more than capable of giving the hot XFR variant a run for its money on the right road.

Already riding high on the back of impressive sales figures and buoyed by the increased financial support of its new owner, Tata, Jaguar has once again showed that there’s more to the executive car market than the big three German firms. This revised XF is all the proof you need.

Jaguar XF 2.2 litre diesel Portfolio:- PRICE: £43,050. Range costs from £33,950.

ENGINE: A 2.2 litre diesel engine generating 190ps via rear wheel drive.

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 140mph and 0-60mph in eight seconds.

COSTS: 52.3mpg average.

EMISSIONS: 149g/km.

INSURANCE: To be announced.

WARRANTY: Three years’ unlimited mileage.

Steve’s ratings: Performance: 4/5 Economy: 5/5 Ride/Handling: 4/5 Space/Practicality: 4/5 Equipment: 4/5 Security/Safety: 4/5 Value For Money: 3/5 OVERALL: 4/5