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Jaguar has marked the launch of its second generation XF saloon with a spectacular high wire stunt across East London's Victoria Dock.

With the skyscrapers of Britain's financial centre in the background, the car drove steadily across the grey expanse on two 34mm carbon fibre trapeze wires.

But Jaguar didn't get just anyone to perform this impressive feat – they hired veteran British stuntman Jim Dowell, whose CV includes work on the Indiana Jones, Jason Bourne and James Bond film franchises.

So what's a hazardous high wire stunt got to do with this new Jag? The firm says it highlights the agility of the new XF, which uses a largely aluminium body in the same vein as the XJ limo and the more diminutive XE.

As well improving the car's performance and handling, the new body architecture will help the car deliver an impressive 70mpg, according to JLR.

And if owners wish to undertake a dangerous high wire stunt, the XF won't 'let them down'.

While the background is arguably one of the UK's most dramatic and underlines Jaguar’s British heritage, JLR will perhaps be hoping that some of the thousands of well-salaried office dwellers in those gleaming towers will put their name down for the flashy new Jag.

Jaguar have big ambitions for the coming years, with a number of new models penciled in. As well as a new flagship sports car for 2017, Jaguar plan a new XJ for 2018 and an XJ coupe for 2019. In 2020 we may see the firm enter the lucrative supermini market, too. You can watch the XF doing its high wire stunt below.

Watch the stunt here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISbmXzdH-4M