13 Most Striking Jaguars Ever Made
British carmaker Jaguar has a troubled past, but the company has always built stunning cars.
As good-looking as the average Jag is, some of its creations stand out from the rest.
We’ve gathered the 13 most jaw-droppingly gorgeous models to ever emerge from Coventry, UK, and as an added bonus, they’re fast, too.
Jaguar XK120
Jaguar introduced the XK120 in 1948 as its first sports car since the SS 100 production ended in 1939. The XK120 remained in production until 1954 and was highly successful in racing and rallying.
With a 3.4-liter inline-six engine producing between 160 and 220 horsepower, the XK120 was fast, too. In fact, it was the fastest production car of its time, setting multiple world records for speed and distance during its production run.
Jaguar C-Type
Jaguar produced the C-Type between 1951 and 1953. Technically, it was a racing version of the XK120, but there was much more to it than that. The XK120’s steel chassis and ash wood framework were replaced by aluminum body panels and a new lightweight tube frame chassis. It won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, and Stirling Moss won the Reims Grand Prix in 1952 behind the wheel of a C-Type.
It’s also one of the most influential cars in automotive history, as it was the first race car fitted with disc brakes to win a race, and soon, every other manufacturer followed suit. The C-Type’s streamlined looks matched its performance — which was taken care of by a 3.4-liter straight-six with over 200 hp.
Jaguar Mark II
The Jaguar Mark II looked stunning, with elegant lines and a stylish and extravagant interior. With a 3.8-liter straight-six engine under its hood, it packed a serious punch, too.
In fact, it was so fast that it could outrun any police car during its era, which led to the Mark II becoming the vehicle of choice for bank robbers in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Jaguar XKSS
The Jaguar XKSS was a limited-production model that rolled off the assembly line in 1957. It was based on the D-Type race car, which won the Le Mans 24-hour race. The original XKSS was fitted with the same Le Mans-winning-spec XK engine but didn’t have the racer’s fin behind the driver. It did get some basic weather protection and a slightly more sophisticated interior.
Jaguar built 25 units of the XKSS, but nine were destroyed in a fire, leaving only 16. In 2017, Jaguar built nine “continuation cars” to replace the ones lost in the fire. Each sold for more than $1.2 million and was built to the exact same specifications as the original cars.
Jaguar E-Type
Most gearheads have heard that Enzo Ferrari called the E-Type the most beautiful car he’d ever seen. While we can’t confirm that it actually happened, it’s hard to disagree with that statement.
Jaguar built the E-Type from 1961 to 1975, spanning three generations in coupe and convertible form. The Series 1 cars are the most sought-after, thanks to their clean design. They were powered by a 3.8-liter straight-six engine, which was followed by a 4.2-liter straight-six and, finally, a 5.3-liter V12 in the Series 3 cars.
Jaguar XJ220
Jaguar introduced the XJ220 in 1992, and as amazing as it was, buyers were underwhelmed, as it wasn’t the car Jaguar had promised. It was supposed to be a V12-powered AWD supercar, but the final product had a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 and RWD.
Still, it looked striking, and that engine produced a very respectable 542 hp and 475 lb-ft, pushing the XJ220 to a top speed of 212.4 mph, making it the world’s fastest car until the McLaren F1 arrived.
Jaguar XJR-15
Before Jaguar built the XJ220, there was the much rarer XJR-15. Only 53 XJR-15s were made, so it’s no wonder that most car enthusiasts have never heard of it.
The XJR-15 was the first road car made entirely from carbon fiber, and if you think it resembles a Le Mans racer, it’s because it’s mechanically based on the Le Mans-winning XJR-9, but with a taller and wider cockpit.
X358 Jaguar XJ
The Jaguar XJ from the mid-2000s is easily among the coolest luxury sedans ever made. It was now re-engineered and boasted a brand-new design, and in 2007, the XJ was given a facelift that made it look more sinister than ever.
It was the car of choice for many VIPs and politicians, and it made them all look like Bond villains as they arrived.
Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake
Something about fast station wagons makes them so much cooler than their less practical siblings. Jaguar took the already good-looking XF wagon and dropped in a massive 5.0-liter supercharged V8 to create the XFR-S Sportbrake.
With over 540 hp and an eight-speed gearbox, it could reach a top speed of 186 mph, making it faster than Audi and BMWs fast wagons. If you ever need to cross a continent in style and comfort with tons of luggage, the XFR-S Sportbrake is the perfect vehicle.
Jaguar XKR-S
For years, Jaguar had suffered an image of making mildly performance-oriented luxury cars for middle-aged buyers, and the XKR-S signaled a move away from this.
With aggressive styling, air vents, and a wing, the XKR-S certainly looked the part. Thankfully, Jaguar ensured what was under the hood would back up any statements made by the exterior. Its supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine sent close to 550 hp to the rear wheels.
Jaguar F-Type
In 2014, Jaguar introduced the gorgeous F-Type two-seater sports car as a spiritual successor to the legendary E-Type.
The F-Type could be ordered with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a supercharged V6, or a supercharged V8 in its top trim version. In V8-spec, the F-Type sounded like a howling banshee armed with a machine gun when it was driven hard.
Jaguar Project 7
Based on the F-Type, the Project 7 launched Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations department. It produced around 570 hp, making it the most powerful road car Jaguar had ever built.
The Project 7 also had upgraded aerodynamics and a stabilizing fin that resembled the one on the legendary D-Type. In essence, the Project 7 was an unrestricted F-Type that paid homage to the great Jags of the past.
Jaguar XE SV Project 8
The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 is a track-focused weapon that happens to be a four-door family sedan. It features aggressive styling designed to increase downforce.
Jaguar fitted a 592-horsepower supercharged V8 under the Jaguar XE SV Project 8’s hood. It’ll scramble from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, and as a testament to its speed and power, it set a new record for sedans around the Nürburgring – seven minutes and 21 seconds.
