Jaguar was originally founded in 1922 as the Swallow Sidecar Company, by William Lyons and William Walmsey, who were motorcycle enthusiasts. The name first appeared on a 2.5 liter saloon in 1935, but after World War II the entire company took over the name because the initials SS reminded people of Nazi Germany.
In the 1950's Jaguar became well known for a series of stylish sports cars and elegant luxury saloons. The company bought the Daimler car company ((no relation to Daimler-Benz) from the Birmingham Small Arms Company in 1960, and used Daimler as the brand for their most luxurious saloons from the late 60s on.
A merger with the British Motor Corporation, owner of the Austin-Morris, in 1966 resulted in British Motor Holdings, which merged with Leyland and Rover and became British Leyland Motor Corporation in 1968, but financial difficulties led to effective nationalization of the company in 1975, and then it became British Leyland, Ltd.
Jaguar was separated again in 1984, taking the Vanden Plas name with it, and was subsequently taken over by Ford around 1989. In 1999 it joined Aston Marton, Volvo and Land Rover (added in 2001) as part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, though it has never earned a profit for the Dearborn-based Ford.
While Jaguar did have a reputation for being unreliable during the 1970s and 80s, it has improved markedly under Ford's umbrella, surpassing Audi and Mercedes-Benz by coming in at number 7 out of 30 in a J.D. Power survey. The s-type model came in at number nine out of 105 in the same survey, the 242-million mile road test.
Today, Jaguar continues to live up to the original vision held by Walmsey and Lyons - to give drivers a unique blend of style, luxury and performance.
2012 Jaguar XK-SeriesWhen it comes to choosing a model of the Jaguar XK-Series, you really can’t go wrong when it comes to performance, with either the 2012 Jaguar XK, the XKR, or the XKR-S. However, starting at $84,500 and going up with the model and specific upgrades, the XK-Series is not for those who are especially concerned with finances. .
In the base model, the Jaguar XK, the manufacturer included a powerful 5.0-liter, AJ-V8 GEN III engine, with 385 powerful ponies under the hood. This also comes standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission, equipped with Jaguar Sequential Shift, making for the smoothest ride possible. The XK is also equipped with Dynamic Stability Control, which automatically detects which wheel(s) are sliding the most and adjust brakes and power accordingly. At 24 highway MPG and 16 in-town, it’s not too bad when it comes to fuel, especially when you consider it’s a V8.
The XKR comes standard with a 5.0-liter AJ-V8 GEN III Supercharged engine, with an impressive 510 horsepower. Coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission with Jaguar Sequential Shift, the XKR is a slightly better, more powerful ride, but just as smooth and luxurious, while obtaining 22 highway MPG and 15 city.
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2012 Jaguar XFDesigned for direct competition with other luxury sport sedans like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the 2012 Jaguar XF sporting a new look that seems to be all about the car's new headlights, which are slim, bi-xenon lamps with daytime running lights (LED, of course) meant to echo the styling of the automaker's poster-child, the Jaguar XJ.
2011 Jaguar XK-SeriesThe 2011 Jaguar XK may not be able to trade on its legendary name to appeal to buyers. It suffers from a tiny cabin, horrible back seat, confusing information and entertainment systems, poor rear visibility, and limited cargo space.
2011 Jaguar XJ-SeriesPrepare to be pampered in luxury and comfort inside the 2011 Jaguar XJ Series. It's the company's top of the line offering and it's loaded with standard amenities! It also delivers a ride that's as smooth as silk and bursting with unhidden power.
2011 Jaguar XFThe 2011 Jaguar XF strays away from its expected design standards, showing off a new breed of Jaguar with four doors and a streamlined, modern look. Invoice pricing ranges widely from $48,300 up to $73,232 with an average market price of $50,690.
