Iconic British marque Jaguar is celebrating its 75th anniversary by exporting a special edition XF V6 to Australia. As befits the tough economic conditions of 2010, this Jaguar XF sells for under $100,000. It has an rrp of $93,900, to which on-road costs have to be added.

While $100,000 may not seem like a budget priced car to most of us, it's pretty good value for a prestigious European machine.

                   

Jaguar Australia’s general manager, Kevin Goult, is keen to point out that this is no stripped down special and still offers style and luxury. Standard equipment includes satellite navigation, 17-inch Libra alloy wheels, leather interior, powered front seats and dual-zone climate control.

Goult went on to say, "We are well aware of the increasing demand for premium luxury motoring in Australia, Jaguar now has an XF that will appeal to a broader range of customers, spark interest and entice new customers with a product offering of less than $100,000 driveaway. Owners will effectively have a motoring experience normally associated with a six-figure outlay, for only five."

The Jaguar XF is all about style, being the first model to feature the futuristic new-generation shape. Yet, while looking ultra-modern, it still carries cues that leave no doubt it's a Jaguar. Just look at the big radiator grille, round headlights that are faired into the bonnet, a coupe-like roofline and a rear end that makes this machine look like a big cat crouching ready to leap.

Then there’s an interior that takes an all-new direction in elegant simplicity. It features air vents that are hidden when the engine is switched off and a gear selector that's more like a computer mouse than a traditional lever.

                   

Power is delivered by Jaguar's 3.0-litre V6 engine with 175 kilowatts of power and 293 Newton metres of torque. The latter is developed at a relatively high 4100 rpm to suit high-speed European conditions, but our previous road test reviews have shown it to also have decent grunt in the low and mid ranges.

Jaguar XF uses a six-speed automatic transmission with Drive, Sport Automatic and Manual modes. The latter is controlled by paddles mounted behind the steering.