Jaguar's new XF Sedan is one of the most desirable luxury sedans in its price class, thanks to its sensuous styling, authoritative power and the ease with which all of its technology can be operated by the driver.

Everywhere I went, people wanted to stop and take a look. A woman in a Land Rover followed me around a grocery store parking lot, finally stopped me, and gushed: "I just had to have a closer look. Your car is absolutely gorgeous."

The XF replaces the S Type series, and other than the emblem, the two have just about nothing in common. The S Type was traditional and heritage bound; the XF is surely contemporary.

The XF stirs the blood because it seems to be on its haunches as it moves down the road, graced by its huge aluminum wheels, semifastback roofline and flowing profile.

The cat I'd liken it to would not be a jaguar but a black panther with diamond collar -- sinister looking and sensual.

Even the driving experience is sexy. When you get in, you'll see a pulsating red starter button. Press it, and you'll see a big, chrome knob on the center console rise up and fit snugly into the palm of your hand. This is the gear selector, and it's surprisingly easy to use, despite its novelty.

Then the air vents rotate open, as though the car is coming to life. The whole process from start to finish is a jolly good show. It's one more thing that makes the car fun to drive.

Prices for the new XF range from $49,200 to $62,700, and there are several trims available, starting with the base Luxury trim, to the Premium trim and finally, the Supercharged version.

The Luxury is equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless ignition, a sunroof, leather upholstery, a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, auto-dimming mirrors, full power accessories, 10-way power front seats, rear parking assist, Bluetooth connectivity and a premium sound system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack.

Want more? Try the XF Premium Luxury. It provides you with 19-inch wheels, heated 16-way power front seats, upgraded leather, a navigation system with voice activation, and keyless ignition/entry. The Supercharged adds a more powerful engine, 20-inch wheels, larger brakes, an active suspension, a power rear sunshade, cooled front seats, bi-xenon headlights, front park assist, a rearview camera and an upgraded audio system with six-CD changer and satellite radio

Power comes from a 300-horsepower, 4.2-liter V-8 or a 420-horsepower, 4.2-liter supercharged V-8. Both are backed by a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel is rated at 16 mpg city and 25 on the highway.

The healthy growl or purr that you hear turns into a full-fledged roar when you ask for it. The Jaguar handles flawlessly, hugging the road.

The interior pampers you with more room and comfort than its S Type predecessor -- although the back seat is still a bit cramped.

I had only one complaint about the car: The color of the markings on the dashboard and center stack are so faint you can't tell what they do easily. Other than that, there's only one word for the XF: superb.