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Jaguar XK8 - English cuddly cat with everyday qualities

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Created on April 11, 2017

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

40

Daniel Reinhard

40

Jaguar XK8 (1997) - the air opening should remind of the E-Type

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Jaguar XK8 Coupé (1997) - fast cuddly cat

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - still good for high average speeds today

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - with a width of 1.83 meters, the XK8 was not a compact sports car

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - when daytime running lights had not yet been invented

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - the clarity in the Jaguar is better than in some modern compact cars

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - a little more V8 roll would perhaps be appreciated today

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - yesterday an expensive luxury coupé, today an affordable youngtimer

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - easy and relaxed to drive

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - somewhat underchallenged at country road speed

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - you can hardly tell it's 20 years old

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - cw value 0.35

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - stopped at a top speed of 251 km/h back then

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - was considered a very elegant creation at the time

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - long snout, short tail, that's how you build sports cars

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - with a length of 4.76 meters quite large

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - the rear was too clumsy for some critics at the time

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - sports equipment, the Classic version had a wooden steering wheel

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - two airbags were on board right from the start

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - clearly drawn dashboards, no information overflow

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - less important instruments were placed in the center console

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - typical Jaguar gearshift backdrop for the automatic transmission

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - sporty but comfortable seats that can be adjusted electrically

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - you can read what you're sitting in as soon as you get in

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - four overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - the AJ-V8 was used for the first time in the XK8

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - the V8 4-liter engine weighs just 200 kg

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - gentle hump on the hood

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - Jaguar sign on the nose

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - carefully integrated headlights

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - Windshield wipers with aerodynamic aids

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - airy cabin

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - recessed door handles

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - curves wherever you look

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - 17-inch wheels were standard, 18-inch wheels were also available for an extra charge

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - comparatively dainty rear lights

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Jaguar XK8 (1997) - Type lettering on the rear

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Summary

From 1996 to 2006, Jaguar built the XK8, which was technically based on the XJ-S platform, but with a new V8 engine and a completely different design to its predecessor. The XK8 was a luxury-oriented Granturismo aimed at the American buyer, which also meant significant advantages for local drivers. This driving report takes a closer look at the coupé, which has now matured into a youngtimer, and shows it in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Gradual introduction
Stylistically in the tradition of the E-Type and XJ220
Compromises in the structure
Aimed at the US market
A masterpiece of an engine
Reasonably priced
Unobtrusive elegance
Further information

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Jaguar XK8 has not yet arrived in the classic car world. Perhaps this is because it is still frequently seen on the road. Perhaps the reason is also that it rolled off the production line new until 2005. However, the first XK8s are already over 20 years old, making them veritable youngtimers, as the sports car was launched back in 1996. In March 1996, the successor to the XJ-S, which had been built for over 20 years, was presented as a coupé at the Geneva Motor Show, followed a month later by the convertible in New York. However, it was another four months before the first customers were able to take delivery of their XK8, as the first vehicles were not delivered until October 1996.

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