Jaguar's 90+ Year Journey | Classic Models Reviewed

In the early 20th century, as gasoline-powered automobiles were in their infancy, another seedling that would profoundly impact the automotive industry was quietly emerging - Sir William Lyons, the founder of Jaguar. Born in 1901 in Blackpool, northwestern England, William Lyons was the son of a musical instrument shop owner. However, it wasn't music that captured young Lyons' interest; rather, it was Blackpool's industrial environment that cultivated his deep passion for mechanics.

After graduating from secondary school, Lyons apprenticed as an electrical engineer at Crossley Motor in Manchester, while also attending technical school in his spare time, laying the foundation for his future automotive career. In 1919, at the age of 18, Lyons' destiny became intertwined with automobiles when he returned to Blackpool as a car salesman. It was there that he met William Walmsley, a motorcycle shop owner who would help reshape his future.

Two 'Williams' who shared a passion for mechanics instantly bonded, and in 1922 they established the 'Swallow Sidecar Company,' manufacturing motorcycle sidecars. This was the predecessor of Jaguar. William Lyons firmly believed that automobiles would become the primary mode of transportation, leading to two company name changes. In 1927, it was renamed 'Swallow Coachbuilding Company' (SCC) and decided to fully transition into automobile production.

Although SCC had motorcycle expertise, this didn't significantly help with car manufacturing. Therefore, SCC partnered with British Austin Motors to obtain chassis and Cyril Holland for body supplies, while SCC handled assembly. This collaboration led to their first car, the 'Austin Seven Swallow.' With a price lower than competitors, they successfully sold 3,500 units, boosting William Lyons' automotive ambitions. Notably, the Austin Seven Swallow's hood ornament was a swallow, not yet the famous jaguar.

SCC continued this successful 'assembly car' formula, launching various models. In 1929, with help from another British manufacturer, Standard, William Lyons produced their first own automobile, named 'SS' (Standard Swallow). While SS established SCC as a genuine car manufacturer, William Lyons and William Walmsley disagreed on future development directions. Eventually, William Walmsley left SCC, and the company was renamed 'SS Cars Limited' (SS).

After William Lyons gained full control, SS launched the SS Jaguar 2.5L Saloon in 1935, marking the first appearance of the 'Jaguar' name in their lineup. When World War II broke out, SS switched to military aircraft production, but William Lyons never stopped automotive research. The wartime manufacturing experience proved valuable, leading to the development of the beloved XK straight-six engine after the war. Following World War II, to avoid any association with the German SS (Schutzstaffel), the company officially changed its name to 'Jaguar Cars Limited' in 1945, marking the birth of the Jaguar brand.

According to official accounts, the name 'Jaguar' was chosen for the SS Jaguar 2.5L Saloon to reflect its characteristics - symbolizing the grace and elegance of feline creatures while embodying a perfect balance of power and agility that is characteristic of the jaguar.

After officially becoming Jaguar, the company underwent several ownership changes. In the 1960s, as part of the British government's automotive industry consolidation, Jaguar was merged into the British Motor Corporation (later renamed British Motor Holdings). In 1968, it merged with Rover, Standard Triumph, and others to form Leyland, which was later renamed British Leyland Motor Corporation.

In 1984, Jaguar regained independence from British Leyland, but was acquired by Ford five years later. In 2008, Ford sold both Jaguar and Land Rover to Indian automotive group Tata, forming what is now known as 'Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC.'

In November 2024, the company launched a new promotional campaign to reinvent its brand image and transition to an all-electric car manufacturer. They introduced a new logo and unveiled the new Type 00 concept car. The youthful new direction marked a dramatic departure from their traditional image, drawing significant criticism. The company announced it would discontinue all current models by 2025, with new vehicles launching in 2026. This bold transformation fully embraces founder William Lyons' 'Copy Nothing' philosophy.

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The XK120, equipped with the XK engine, was launched in 1948 and was the first model released by the manufacturer after the war. The vertical ribbed oval grille at the front became a classic feature of Jaguar. With its extremely streamlined design and impressive performance reaching speeds of 192 km/h, the XK120 was truly remarkable over 70 years ago, instantly shocking the automotive world and quickly becoming a dream car for many. Considering the post-war economic downturn, the XK120's strong sales can be considered a savior for the manufacturer.

The C-Type evolved from the XK120, with the model number XK120C, and was born to be a competitor, as the XK120C was a racing car. In addition to being equipped with the powerful XK engine, it featured a lightweight body and disc brakes, which were introduced in cars for the first time at that time. The results lived up to expectations, with the XK120C successfully winning the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race in both 1951 and 1953. Although the XK120C was not mass-produced, it had a profound impact on the manufacturer's later development work, with many design concepts of classic models stemming from the XK120C.

As the successor to the C-Type, the D-Type placed greater emphasis on aerodynamic design, undergoing extensive wind tunnel testing. This resulted in features such as an oval air intake, a streamlined engine cover, and semi-enclosed rear wheel fairings. However, the most signature design element is undoubtedly the large vertical tail fin inspired by aircraft design. The D-Type also introduced a monocoque structure, creating a 'cylinder-shaped' cockpit, with the main mechanical components mounted within the front and rear subframes. This attention to detail paid off, as the D-Type dominated the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race, winning three consecutive championships from 1955 to 1957, establishing itself as a powerhouse on the racetrack.

The Mark 2 is highly representative of Jaguar, serving as the company's first four-door sedan, carrying significant responsibilities. This new model incorporated the most advanced features of its time. For instance, it replaced heavy metal door frames with sleek chrome trim and increased the size of the front and rear windshields. The powertrain was a modified XK engine derived from the XK120, with a maximum displacement of 3.8 liters, producing 220 horsepower and achieving a top speed of 201 km/h. At that time, it was even used by the British police as a patrol car. The elegant design of the Mark 2 also set the standard for later Jaguar sedans, featuring elements like four round headlights and an egg-shaped grille, which can also be seen in the S-Type released in 1999.

In the 1960s, the Jaguar E-Type emerged like a shockwave, captivating the world. With its streamlined shape inherited from the D-Type, its elegant lines exuded a unique charm. It was praised by Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari as 'the most beautiful car in history' and was included as a permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1996. At that time, the E-Type was equipped with a 256-horsepower XK engine, a 4-speed transmission, and rear-wheel drive, achieving a top speed of 240 km/h and accelerating from 0 to 96 km/h in about 7 seconds, making it the fastest production car of its time. The E-Type was sold for 14 years, with over 72,000 units sold worldwide.

The Jaguar XJS, considered the successor to the E-Type, was sold from 1975 to 1996, making its sales period a total of 22 years, the longest for any model from the manufacturer. The XJS was developed from the XJ sedan. Although it is also a two-door sports car, the design of the XJS is vastly different from the earlier D-Type and E-Type, featuring a long, flat design and rectangular headlights that replaced classic oval ones. Over the years, the XJS underwent several updates, divided into three generations, including full coupe, Targa, and convertible versions, with engine options ranging from a 3.6-liter inline-six to a V12 engine, achieving total sales of 115,000 units.

Although its production period was only a few short years, the impact and intrigue of the XJ220 remain a topic of conversation to this day. The XJ220 debuted in 1988 as a concept car, boasting a V12 engine and all-wheel drive, with a top speed of 352 km/h. Its gullwing door design immediately shocked the automotive world. However, the officially sold version in 1992 was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, switching from all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive. Despite this, with 542 horses under its hood the XJ220 achieved a record lap time of 7 minutes and 43.37 seconds at the Nürburgring, making it the fastest production car lap at the time. In 1993, the XJ220C won the GT class at the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race.

'XK' represents years of racing heritage for Jaguar. Following the XK8 launched in 1996, the XK, released in 2006, returned to its roots with design elements inspired by the E-Type, such as the oval grille and prominently arched rear. The XK's aluminum alloy body contributes to a lightweight of just 1,595 kg. The first generation featured a 4.2-liter V8 engine with 300 horsepower, allowing the XK to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.2 seconds. In 2009, a facelifted version was introduced, switching to a 5-liter V8 engine, increasing power to 385 horsepower and delivering 514.8 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm, significantly improving acceleration to 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.

Since the E-Type was discontinued in 1975, the all-new F-Type has re-emerged as the most historic sports car series from the manufacturer, nearly 40 years after its predecessor. When the F-Type was first launched, it was only available as a convertible, but in 2014, a hardtop coupe version was added. In 2019, a minor update introduced LED headlights, a 12.3-inch central display screen, and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. Over the years, the F-Type has released various models with engine options including inline-four, V6, and V8 versions, with displacements ranging from 2 liters to 5 liters and horsepower from the entry-level 300 hp to the top-of-the-line 575 hp. However, mid-year, the manufacturer announced the discontinuation of the F-Type, likely as part of a shift towards fully electric vehicles.

Over the past decade, electric vehicles have gradually become mainstream in the automotive industry. Jaguar has also entered the electric vehicle market, unveiling its first electric car, the I-PACE, in 2018. Designed based on the company’s concept supercar, the C-X75, it boasts a drag coefficient of just 0.29 Cd, while still incorporating the essential sports car elements that define Jaguar. As the manufacturer’s electric vehicle 'show flat,' the I-PACE features several high-tech elements, such as the Amazon Alexa voice control system. However, as the company transitions, all models will be phased out by the end of this year, and the I-PACE is no exception.