Each significantly quick Jaguar since 2008 – ranked!

There aren’t any actual losers on this pecking order, as you are about to see. All are powered by subtly completely different flavours of the identical engine, and when new all registered someplace on the ‘good’ scale. That’s Jaguar’s means. Or it was for all of the years previous this one. It launched its first ‘R’ mannequin within the late eighties, however for the sake of brevity we have restricted ourselves to what might euphemistically be referred to as its fashionable period – i.e. from 2008, when Tata took management. After all, the XK was a legacy automotive, and it props up this listing largely by dint of it being the oldest (and suspicion of its age was already prevalent when Jaguar launched the S model of the facelifted XKR in 2011). However only a few folks questioned the appeal of the supercharged 5.0-litre V8, which, coincidentally, is one other useful start line for our story, the AJ unit having launched in 2009. It developed 550hp within the S and already went just like the clappers. A limited-edition GT by-product adopted, however they’re foolish cash. A well-kept XKR-S will value you round £40k. Cut price. 

As ever, individuals are welcome to debate the deserves of the previous XK versus the F-Kind that (finally) got here to switch it because the sports activities automotive in Jaguar’s lineup, however let’s not neglect the excitement surrounding the latter, which appeared to have been gestating for what appeared like an epoch. The sooner model ranks decrease just because it obtained higher over its lifespan, although it is price mentioning that on the time its maker claimed the SVR model was nothing much less than a 200mph supercar chaser, due to a 575hp model of the V8 that made it essentially the most highly effective sequence manufacturing Jaguar ever on the time. (Even an XJ220, keep in mind, mustered simply the 550hp.) It wasn’t simply straight line shove that marked out the flagship, both, with damper modifications, anti-roll bar tweaks and sturdier suspension {hardware} to profit from the potential on street or observe. Cheaper and extra charismatic than a 911 Turbo, we referred to as it again in 2016, although rear-drive made it a handful on the restrict. You possibly can have one at present for half the unique value, too. 

This place is just not a mirrored image of the XFR as a complete (as we’ll come to in a second). Neither is it a mirrored image of the leisure worth on supply within the facelifted flagship: with one other 40hp over inventory, stiffer springs, F-Kind influenced steering and a gearbox recalibration, it was undoubtedly a hoot. In addition to rowdy to take a look at in a means the R by no means was, with some correct wind tunnel verification to again up the looks of the bodykit. It’s, and can doubtless stay, essentially the most collectable XFR – and in the event you favor your automotive to be the coveted model, then by all means take into account eighth place poppycock. However we’re minded to assume the S was extra of the identical at exactly the second when the flagship XF wanted to up its sport. Within the years between the XFR and the facelifted S, a completely new era of M5 had arrived and a very contemporary V8 had appeared within the E63. Thus Jaguar’s benefit had gone, by no means to be retrieved. An awesome automotive regardless, positive – however a child step when one other nice leap was required.  

Usually quick Jags are recognized for his or her subtlety and discretion, much less overt than some rivals whereas no much less highly effective. That each one modified with Mission 7, now a dozen years previous however nonetheless with an impression like no different. Jaguar understandably wished to shout in regards to the arrival of its new two-seat sports activities automotive, and nothing fairly ensures consideration like a retro-themed restricted version with a thunderous V8. The principle attraction of the particular version was the raked roadster aesthetic and epic soundtrack, however there was some correct engineering concerned as effectively, which in the end made the P7 sooner than an F-Kind R Coupe across the Nurburgring. Not only a Jaguar for posing then, however undoubtedly there was nothing higher if that was the duty at hand. After they pop up on the market today, the asking value isn’t removed from what was initially requested – a minor miracle by fashionable supercharged Jag requirements, and maybe the best achievement of the Mission 7. 

Jaguar most definitely saved the very best till final when it got here to the XJR. Although the X351 was by no means a smash hit super-saloon when it comes to gross sales or legacy, its sheer high quality and charisma ensured it a stable mid-table end right here amongst ostensibly extra glamorous options. Earlier XJRs had been fabulous issues to drive, in fact, whether or not with six or eight cylinders. That was by no means the issue; the issue was that they by no means actually appeared the half, at all times a bit too conventional to mirror the trendy engineering achievements beneath. The dramatic X351 modified all that in 2013, combining up to date model and atmosphere with old-school Jaguar V8 efficiency. The fabulous 575 was a becoming farewell, although the common 550hp model was greater than as much as the job of constructing you are feeling like an absolute hero. An early one received’t be way more than £20k, both…

Clearly not a Jaguar, however we felt compelled to incorporate the earlier Vary Rover Sport for 2 causes: a) it was Particular Car Operations’ one undisputed industrial mega-hit, a best-seller, and b) there is no such thing as a commensurate listing of quick Land Rovers it might be included in (though it’s the solely automotive right here with a successor). Additionally, and there actually isn’t any disputing this, it was a rolling enjoyable manufacturing facility to drive. No different mannequin produced by JLR, save maybe the present Defender, has so squarely hit the nail on the pinnacle when it got here to giving the client exactly what they wished – even when that included a questionable picture (or, certainly, due to it). The SVR drove with pomp and pliancy, seemed like a low-flying Spitfire, would effortlessly crest a muddy knoll and made the Porsche Cayenne appear po-faced. Right here was a cad in wellies holding a firework, extra Jaguar in spirit than Land Rover. Reputation and a excessive asking value made for pretty savage depreciation, that means you possibly can have one now from £30k. Take into account it a gift to your inside little one. 

Is the later, slitty-eyed F-Kind higher wanting than the unique model? Who can say – that debate will rage on for so long as there are secondhand examples to rage about – however we will say that the facelifted mannequin was higher to drive. Maybe not within the sense of it being an enormous stride ahead, however enough for it to appear very comfy in its personal pores and skin. We might proceed arguing about which of the later variations was really finest, too – not least as a result of the mid-tier P450 was a really beautiful factor – however the R variations, with as much as 575hp, had been undeniably fruitier and nonetheless boasted the engine that differentiated the F-Kind from nearly all different sports activities automobiles on the time, not least the Porsche 911. Moreover, commonplace four-wheel drive made it simpler to handle, and whereas a few of the acquainted caveats remained, the feel-good issue, at all times an F-Kind attribute, was now simple. Which is certainly one thing to consider when you possibly can have a virtually new one for lower than £70k. 

For those who’d fairly poke out your eyes than favour a chintz’d up SUV over a svelte Jaguar sports activities automotive, then we get that. However with our goal hat on, the F-Tempo SVR was a much more aggressive automotive in its class than the highest spec F-Kind ever managed to be – it was additionally the mannequin that Jaguar completely wanted to construct on the time, even when it got here too late and never fairly big-selling sufficient to steer the ship away from a wholesale wager on battery energy. The facelifted model, out there from 2021, was the complete ticket: massively quick, charismatic, conventionally handsome and (for the primary time) impressively plush inside. In different phrases, it felt precisely like what a decidedly fashionable tackle a Jaguar-branded quick automotive needs to be – even when its presence within the broader lineup helped nix the concept that it was price doing a saloon-based SVR. Both means, you possibly can have a really good one for lower than £50k – not unhealthy for a automotive that was arguably the final combustion Jaguar that gave its rivals one thing to consider. 

Some may sneer at Mission 8 being thus far up the mountain – not least as a result of Jaguar didn’t have the best time promoting it, nor discovered a approach to make it right-hand-drive – however it’s unequivocally deserving of each accolade as a factor to drive. As a result of it was a monster – the kind of self-consciously developed, spare no expense, take no prisoners effort that quantity producers hardly ever log out. In that regard, it is usually SVO’s shining technical achievement, and urged that the division is likely to be able to rivalling any skunkworks division, had been it given its personal head. Sadly, that wasn’t to be: there was no Mission 9 and with a much-publicised electrical future practically upon us, Jaguar has successfully re-merged what was left of the group again into the primary engineering effort. Nonetheless, the Mission 8 stays a bonafide 600hp mega-saloon and on the premise of its comparative and never-to-be-repeated rarity, is price each penny of the £100k-odd you would wish to spend buying one. 

Why is the XFR primary in our e-book? Effectively, definitely not simply because it was the automotive that famed Jaguar chassis guru Mike Cross declared his favorite when he finally called it a day – however his reasoning does fairly converse to its place in historical past. That is the one fashionable efficiency automotive that Jaguar launched that didn’t simply appear charming or idiosyncratic, it was additionally basically higher and lovelier than the German options on the time – and when you think about the hassle and funding its a lot bigger rivals put into their flagship saloons, that was (and is) a surprising accolade. The tragedy, in fact, was that Jaguar couldn’t construct on the second – or not at game-changing quantity anyway. Nonetheless, in addition to the reminiscence of what may need been, we’re at the least left with the automotive – and because of its age (and dated inside) you possibly can decide one up for little greater than pocket change. Or a very nice, low-mile, one-owner instance for round £20k. A future traditional? Nope – it was a traditional on day one, and at all times will probably be.