Jaguar Cars facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jaguar (marque)

Owner	Jaguar Land Rover (since 2013)
Country	United Kingdom
Introduced	September 1935; 89 years ago (1935-09)
Related brands	Land Rover
Markets	Worldwide
Previous owners	Jaguar Cars Limited
Tagline	"The Art of Performance"

Jaguar is a famous British car brand known for making awesome sports cars and luxury cars. It's part of Jaguar Land Rover, a big company based in Whitley, Coventry, England. The company that used to make Jaguar cars was called Jaguar Cars. Its work joined with Land Rover on January 1, 2013, to create Jaguar Land Rover.

The company started way back in 1922 as the Swallow Sidecar Company. Back then, they made sidecars for motorcycles! Later, they started building bodies for passenger cars. The name Jaguar first appeared as a model name in 1935. After World War II, in 1945, the company officially changed its name from SS Cars to Jaguar Cars. This was because the old name, "SS," had become linked to a group from the war.

Over the years, Jaguar joined with other car companies like British Motor Corporation and British Leyland. In 1984, Jaguar became an independent company again. Then, in 1990, Ford bought Jaguar. Ford also bought Land Rover in 2000. In 2008, Ford sold both Jaguar and Land Rover to an Indian company called Tata Motors. Tata Motors then created Jaguar Land Rover to manage both brands.

Since Ford owned them, Jaguar and Land Rover have shared design and engineering centers. Jaguar cars are built in plants like Castle Bromwich and Solihull. A big announcement came on February 15, 2021: all new Jaguar cars will be fully electric by 2025!

Jaguar cars bonnet mascot

History of Jaguar Cars

How Jaguar Started

The Swallow Sidecar Company was started in 1922 by two friends who loved motorcycles, William Lyons and William Walmsley. In 1934, Walmsley decided to leave. To buy the business, Lyons created a new company called SS Cars.

The name "Jaguar" first appeared in September 1935. It was a model name for a sports car called the SS 2½-litre saloon. Another sports car, the SS Jaguar 100, also used the name.

On March 23, 1945, the company officially changed its name to Jaguar Cars Limited. William Lyons, the chairman, said the name "Jaguar" was unique and wouldn't be confused with other names.

After World War II, there were many people who wanted to buy cars. But it was hard for Jaguar to make them because materials like steel were in short supply. Jaguar became very good at making their own engines.

1953 Jaguar C-Type

1956 Jaguar D-Type

Jaguar became famous for making amazing sports cars. These included the Jaguar XK120 (1948–54), Jaguar XK140 (1954–57), Jaguar XK150 (1957–61), and Jaguar E-Type (1961–75). William Lyons believed in offering "value for money." These sports cars also did very well in international races, which helped show how good Jaguar's engineering was.

For many years, Jaguar's sales slogan was "Grace, Space, Pace." This meant their cars were elegant, roomy, and fast! Cars like the MK VII and XJ6 were very popular and showed off this idea.

A big reason for Jaguar's success after the war was their special twin-cam straight six engine. Engineers designed it even while they were on fire-watching duty during the war! This engine was very advanced for its time.

This powerful engine was used in many famous Jaguar cars. It powered the XK 120, the E-Type, and even some military vehicles! It was known for being very reliable and lasting a long time.

Jaguar had some very proud moments in racing. They won the famous Le Mans 24-hour race in 1951 and 1953. They won again in 1955, 1956, and 1957.

Even with all the racing success, William Lyons always wanted to build the company by making world-class luxury cars. Jaguar became known for its elegant saloons (sedans) like the Mark VII and XJ6. These cars were seen as great value, offering comfort, good handling, high performance, and amazing style.

Jaguar E-Type Convertible

XK engine in a Jaguar E-Type

Jaguar's achievements after the war were amazing. They managed to do all this even with shortages of materials in Britain.

Jaguar's Ownership Changes

In 1960, Jaguar bought another car company called Daimler. This Daimler is not the same as Mercedes-Benz! From the late 1960s, Jaguar used the Daimler name for its most luxurious cars.

In the mid-1960s, Jaguar merged with the British Motor Corporation (BMC) to form British Motor (Holdings) Limited. This happened because Jaguar needed more resources and William Lyons was getting older. Later, this company merged again to become British Leyland in 1968. This big company faced many problems.

Jaguar XJ, a luxury sedan

In July 1984, Jaguar became a separate company again. This was part of the British government's plan to sell off state-owned businesses. Sir John Egan helped Jaguar become very successful after this. He focused on improving car quality and cutting costs.

The Ford Years

1997 Jaguar XK8 Coupe 4.0

Ford bought Jaguar in 1990. In 1999, Jaguar became part of Ford's new group of luxury brands called the Premier Automotive Group. This group also included Aston Martin and Volvo. Ford also bought Land Rover in 2000, and it became closely linked with Jaguar. Even though Ford owned Jaguar for many years, Jaguar didn't make a profit during this time.

Ford expanded Jaguar's car range with new models like the S-Type in 1999 and the X-type in 2001. Jaguar and Land Rover shared some parts and even some dealerships.

In 2007, Ford decided to sell Jaguar and Land Rover. Many companies were interested in buying them.

The Tata Motors Era

Jaguar F-Type

On January 1, 2008, Ford announced that Tata Motors, a big company from India, was the top choice to buy Jaguar and Land Rover. The sale was completed on June 2, 2008, for about £1.7 billion.

Tata Motors created a new company called Jaguar Land Rover to own both brands. On January 1, 2013, Jaguar Cars Limited and Land Rover officially merged into one company, Jaguar Land Rover Limited. This company is now in charge of designing, making, and selling both Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.

Where Jaguar Cars are Made

The Swallow Sidecar company started in Blackpool in 1922. In 1928, they moved to Coventry because they needed more space. The "Jaguar" name started being used while they were in Coventry.

In 1951, Jaguar moved to the Browns Lane factory in Coventry. This factory used to be a wartime "shadow factory" run by The Daimler Company. Browns Lane stopped making cars in 2005. Today, the Browns Lane plant has been taken down and is being redeveloped.

Jaguar also has engineering centers in Whitley and Gaydon. These places are where the cars are designed and developed.

In 2000, Ford gave its Halewood plant to Jaguar to make the new X-Type model. Later, Land Rover also made cars there. Jaguars stopped being made at Halewood in 2009.

Today, since Jaguar Cars and Land Rover merged, they share many facilities. Most of these places work on both Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.

Current Jaguar Cars

Jaguar E-Pace

Jaguar E-Pace 2017–present

The Jaguar E-Pace is a compact SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). It was first shown on July 13, 2017.

Jaguar F-Pace

Jaguar F-Pace 2016–present

The F-Pace is a luxury crossover SUV. It's Jaguar's first-ever SUV! It was shown at a big car show in Frankfurt in September 2015.

Jaguar F-Type

Jaguar F-Type 2013–present

The F-Type convertible was launched in 2012. Many people see it as a modern version of the legendary E-Type. It's a two-seat sports car. Sales started in 2013 with different engine choices.

Jaguar I-Pace

Jaguar I-Pace 2018–present

The Jaguar I-Pace is an all-electric SUV. It was officially revealed on March 1, 2018. This is Jaguar's very first electric car!

Jaguar XE

Jaguar XE 2015–present

The XE is a compact luxury car. It's built using Jaguar's new lightweight aluminum design. This means it can have either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It was first announced in 2014 and sales began in 2015.

Jaguar XF

Jaguar XF (X260) 2015–present

The Jaguar XF is a mid-size luxury car. It was introduced in 2008 to replace the S-Type. The XF has won many awards, including "Car of the Year." It comes with different engine options, including powerful V6 and V8 petrol engines.

Jaguar R and SVR Models

2020 Jaguar F-Type R 575 Coupe

2023 Jaguar F-Pace SVR AWD

Jaguar started making "R" models in 1995 with the XJR. The first XKR came out in 1997. Jaguar R, R-S, and SVR models are super high-performance versions of their regular cars. They are made to compete with fast cars from brands like Mercedes-AMG and BMW M.

Historic Jaguar Car Models

1948 Mark V drophead coupé cabriolet

After World War II, Jaguar continued making cars similar to their pre-war models. These cars are sometimes called "Mark IVs."

The first big new car after the war was the Mark V in 1948. It looked a bit more modern and had better suspension and brakes.

The 1948 XK120 was a breakthrough both for Jaguar and post-WWII sports cars.

A huge moment for Jaguar was the launch of the XK120 sports car in 1948. It had a brand new, powerful 3.5-liter engine. This engine was designed by engineers working at night during the war! The XK120 was originally meant to be a limited edition car, but it was so popular that Jaguar made many more.

1950 "Grace ... Space ... Pace – Jaguar" Mark VII

Another big success was the large Mark VII saloon in 1950. This car was designed especially for the American market, and Jaguar received tons of orders. The Mark VII and its later versions were highly praised. In 1956, a Mark VII even won the famous Monte Carlo Rally. The XK120 was followed by improved versions like the XK140 and XK150.

1960s Mark 2 became one of the most recognisable Jaguar models ever produced.

In 1955, Jaguar released the "Mark 1" saloon. This was Jaguar's first car built with a single body structure (monocoque). It was fast, reaching 100 mph. In 1959, an updated version called the Mark 2 came out. The Mark 2, especially the 3.8-liter version, was very popular with British police because it was small and fast.

The Mark X of 1961 was a completely new, large luxury car. Then came the iconic E-Type in 1961.

1963 open two-seat E-Type

The XJ series, launched in 1968, became one of Jaguar's most important luxury cars. It was made for many years and went through several updates. The most luxurious XJ models were called Vanden Plas or Daimler. In 1972, a powerful 12-cylinder engine was added to the XJ.

The XJ220—the world's fastest production car in 1992

In 1992, Jaguar introduced the amazing XJ220. This was a super-fast sports car with a powerful V6 engine. It was confirmed as the world's fastest production car at the time, reaching speeds of 217 mph!

For many years, Jaguar cars had a famous chrome "Leaping Jaguar" mascot on the front. This iconic symbol is now rarely seen on new cars due to safety rules.

Jaguar XJ Supersport - Jaguar XJ available 2009–2019

The Jaguar S-Type was made from 1999 to 2008 and was replaced by the Jaguar XF. The Jaguar X-Type was a smaller luxury car launched in 2001, but its production ended in 2009.

The Jaguar XK was a luxury sports car made from 2006 to 2014. It had a lightweight aluminum body.

Jaguar F-Type R 575 coupe

The Jaguar XJ luxury car was made from 1968 until 2019. The newer XJ models, especially from 2009 onwards, had a very modern and sleek design. They were known for being very fast and luxurious.

List of Historic Models

Jaguar Global Sales

1988 - 49,494
1992 - 20,000
1998 - 50,220
2008 - 65,000
2012 - 54,000
2013 - 77,000
2014 - 81,570
2015 - 83,986
2016 - 148,730
2017 - 178,601
2018 - 180,198
2019 - 161,601
2020 - 102,494
2021 - 86,270
2022 - 61,661
2023 - 64,241

Jaguar Concept Cars

Jaguar C-X75 Concept Car 2010

Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo SV, Concept Car 2020

Concept cars are special cars built to show off new ideas and designs. They often look futuristic!

• E1A (1957) – An early idea for the E-Type.
• E2A (1960) – Another E-Type concept that even raced.
• XJ13 (1966) – Built for racing, but never competed.
• Pirana (1967) – Designed by Bertone.
• XK 180 (1998) – A cool roadster based on the XK8.
• F-Type (2000) – A smaller roadster concept.
• R-Coupé (2001) – A large four-seat coupe.
• R-D6 (2003) – A compact four-seat coupe.
• Advanced Lightweight Coupe Concept (2005) – Showed what the second-generation Jaguar XK would look like.
• C-XF (2007) – A preview of the Jaguar XF car.
• C-X75 (2010) – A hybrid-electric sports car, planned for production but later cancelled.
• B99 (2011)
• C-X16 (2011) – A preview of the Jaguar F-Type.
• C-X17 (2013) – Jaguar's first-ever SUV concept.
• Project 7 (2013) – A limited edition sports car based on the F-Type.
• Future-Type (2017)
• Jaguar Vision Gran Turismo SV (2020) – A concept car made for the Gran Turismo video game.

Jaguar Engines

Jaguar has designed many of its own engines over the years. Here are some of the main types:

• XK6 – An inline-6 engine.
• V12 – A powerful V12 engine.
• AJ6/AJ16 – Another inline-6 engine.
• AJ-V6 – A V6 engine (Ford helped design this one).
• AJ-V8 – A V8 engine.
• AJ126 – A V6 engine.
• AJD-V6 – A V6 diesel engine (also Ford designed).
• Ingenium – A modern family of inline-4 engines.

Jaguar in Motorsport

The Jaguar XJS won the 1984 European Touring Car Championship

Jaguar XJR-9 - Le Mans winning car, 1988

The Jaguar R5 Formula One car being driven by Mark Webber in 2004—the team's last season in F1

Jaguar Racing - Formula E World Championship, 2023

Jaguar has had great success in sports car racing, especially at the Le Mans 24 Hours race. They won with the C-Type in 1951 and 1953. Then, they won again in 1955, 1956, and 1957 with the D-Type.

In the 1980s, Jaguar teamed up with Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR). Their XJ-S cars won the European Touring Car Championship in 1984. TWR also designed powerful Jaguar V12-engined cars for the World Sports Prototype Championship. These cars, known as the XJR series, won Le Mans in 1988 and 1990!

In 1999, Ford decided that Jaguar would be its team in Formula One racing. They bought the Stewart Grand Prix team and renamed it Jaguar Racing. However, the Jaguar F1 team didn't have much success, only getting two podium finishes in five seasons (2000-2004). At the end of 2004, the F1 team was sold to Red Bull and became Red Bull Racing.

On December 15, 2015, Jaguar announced its return to motorsport in Formula E. This is a racing series for electric cars. Jaguar has committed to Formula E until 2030 and has won many races.

In 2018, Jaguar Vector Racing broke the world speed record for an electric boat! Their boat, the Jaguar Vector V20E, went an average speed of 88.61 mph.

Notable sports racing cars:

• Jaguar C-Type (1951–1953)
• Jaguar D-Type (1954–1957)
• Jaguar Lightweight E-Type
• Jaguar XJ13
• Jaguar XJR Sportscars
• Jaguar XJR-9 (1988)
• XJ220 (1988)
• XJR-15 (1990)

See also

• List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom