I was always quite intrigued by Mercedes-Benz so vehemently billing its four-door coupe CLS 'the Jaguar Hunter'. As much as I wondered how Jaguar would ever respond to that reverse compliment as the rest rush CLS-like cars to market following that Merc's runaway sales success.

Truth is none of those cars are actually CLS-like. If CLS takes a Jaguar as its inspiration, then surely those cars are rather all Jag-like?

Suppose the fact that Ford shoved the brand onto the backburner as it flogged it off made folk forget the real inspiration ? after all, Jaguar has been the carmaker to build these things since before I was a boy.

Quietly on the side, through all the troubles and budget constraints, Coventry has been at it building a car only it knows how to. And through no fault of its own, now that Merc has made a niche out of the market once limited to Jaguar by bringing in a car with all that apparent Stuttgart cred and all the sassiness of a Jag, the real Jaguar is going to have to fight for its slice of what has now become a pretty in-demand pie.

An old economics lecturer of mine once explained how if you are first into a particular market, you should be able to pretty much control it. Will Jaguar be able to command a market Mercedes-Benz seems to believe it now has to itself?

Well, if the new Jaguar XF is anything to go by, Mercedes has more trouble than it ever expected from the company it copied to create its Jag Hunter?

The Jaguar XF is quite a car ? we had the chance to drive it around Monte Carlo and Nice at its February world launch and I already came away impressed. Although I initially considered starting-up repertoire to be a bit cheesy ? vents fall open, the gear knob pops out and the rest ? its brilliant styling and a new, more modern spring in its step, left me looking forward to really driving the car.

I did finally spend a lazy weekend with XF SV8, impressing my pals with the stealthy black sedan with its toffee-brown cabin and all the tricks. It looks very much the part too ? reminds me a bit of an Aston Martin. Well except for those dodgy Bangle-like headlamps, that is.

I was also most impressed when I extinguished that overpowering nanny DSC and the car just came alive. It handles well, pulls like a bastard and does everything just as the gentleman would expect when he asks his Jaguar to do it.

And the flipside is all cool too ? oh-so-easy in everyday-about-town mode with a user-friendly cabin that has everything working off a few knobs and buttons, that cool touch screen and the multifunction wheel. Spacious and multi-adjustable too, the chic, stylish cabin does exactly what a Jaguar must. Albeit in a now much more modern manner?

Then we took it to Kyalami for our Hot Laps. And it proved beyond any doubt that no matter what Mercedes may think about making a 'better' Jaguar itself, the XF S-V8 will kill a CLS 500 in any dynamic discipline one can toss them at.

While the Jag matches that car pretty much exactly in a straight line, the Merc falls short when you need to turn the steering. XF S lapped Kyalami in 2 minutes 12.9 seconds versus the 2m 15.5 the Merc ? that is supposed to be the hunter ? managed.

Look at the finer figures out on track and you'll quickly notice that no matter how quick the CLS is in a straight line, it can never come back at the Jaguar, which comes out of the corners so much faster than its sloppy copy.

On the track, the Jag feels planted ? if it does something it's because you asked it to do it. The Merc still likes to do its own thing ? causing the driver to react to it rather than to simply drive fast.

XF was stunning on track. Even though it was slowed by a DSC that interferes at the limit when we'd prefer it not to, this Jaguar is actually better than a 5-series on track. And XF is stunning everywhere else too ? it's a brilliant piece of work in every respect.

Like an expensive wristwatch that is quite difficult to differentiate from a cheap copy, the Jaguar has a distinct advantage over its wannabe pretenders. It is the original?

WE LIKE
Brilliant Jaguar saloon moves Merc's 'hunted' goalposts
WE DON'T
Expensive, odd front looks, heavy consumption

SAFETY (Euro NCAP)
Adult Occupant (5): n/a
Child Protection (5): n/a
Pedestrian (4): n/a
Airbags: Front, side and curtain
Safety Equipment: ABS, EBA, EBD, DSC, CBC, Traction Control
CIA Security Rating (5): 4

WE SAY
"Great to see that Jaguar has finally broken out of its antique styling mould and barring the Korean headlamps, this is one stylish beast with real presence. Don't like the bland Japanese-like dash design, but the details and materials are spot on. XF also drives like a Jag should to. Finally a Jag saloon that doesn't feel like granddad's car." -Jason Woosey
"I love the XF because it says the driver is a little different from the lemmings. I hate the XF because it looks like someone squeezed its nose. The interior, with its pop-out fold up stuff is gimmicky, however good wins over bad though as the real motoring stuff ? the power, comfort, agility and class ? are out the top-drawer." -Stuart Grant

AT A GLANCE
Engine: Strong, smooth, supercharged = 9
Chassis: Surprisingly brilliant = 8
Transmission: Among best autos = 8
Brakes: More than sufficient = 7
Safety Waiting for NCAP = 8
Handling: Pity about the DSC = 7
Specification: And the kitchen sink = 9
Cabin: Better than the Merc = 8
Styling: Nose spoils great looker = 8
Fun Factor: That?s entertainment = 8

Total: What more do you need? = 88

VERDICT
Quick, dynamically brilliant, good looking and splendidly equipped, XF SV8 is the real coupe four-door.