Not long ago, JLR chief creative officer Gerry McGovern told investors that Jaguar has “no equity whatsoever”. Can he possibly be right, and how has the marque that introduced us to the XK120, E-Type, Silk Cut XJR-9 and XJ220 lost its way?
That isn’t a question we have space to answer here, but the glories of Jaguar’s past mean it deserves a bright future. Founded as SS Cars in 1935 (then renamed Jaguar, for obvious reasons, after World War Two), the company built several of the defining sports cars and luxury saloons of the 20th century. It also won Le Mans seven times, placing it fourth in the all-time manufacturer rankings behind Porsche, Audi and Ferrari.
In recent years, the most interesting Jaguar for enthusiasts has been the F-Type. From the four-cylinder P300 to the bombastic V8 versions, it’s a credible alternative to the default Porsche Cayman or 911. We also enjoyed the bonkers XE SV Project 8 super saloon, but Jaguar’s mainstream cars and SUVs have struggled to overcome the mostly German opposition.
Equity or not, where Jaguar goes from here will be fascinating – and you can read about its journey on The Intercooler. In the meantime, lose yourself in Andrew Frankel’s drive of the exotic XJR-15, along with designer Ian Callum’s inside story of the C-X75 concept car.
