JAGUAR X100 XK8 (1996-2004)
ome purists might’ve worried when Ford acquired Jaguar, but the Blue Oval proved itself worthy of managing the Coventry firm in a few short years, and having invested £50 million to revitalise the XJ-S into XJS (minus the hyphen), work began on its successor. The XJ41 project that was supposed to replace the XJ-S was canned by Ford in the late-1980s when it discovered what a complex, costly proposition it had evolved into. The XJS’ platform would be retained for the new car, clothed in a fresh Geoff Lawson design – a curvaceous coupe (and convertible) that was unashamedly retro, sporting E-Type-esque curves and details, with just enough modernity in its features so as not to appear a dated pastiche. Elegant, classy and timeless,
