1996 Jaguar XK8 Photos, engines & full specs

Jaguar introduced the XK8 in 1996 at the Geneva Motor Show, and the beautiful British coupe stole the show with its elegant lines and, most importantly, what it had under its hood.

Jaguar considered replacing the aging XJS model that was introduced by the British automaker more than two decades before, in 1975. It even developed a platform and an engine for the replacement model back in the ‘80s. But then, in November 1989, Ford bought Aston Martin and Jaguar and postponed the car’s launch. The new owner considered that the already developed car should appear on the more expensive Aston Martin, and only afterward was Jaguar allowed to release its big coupe grand tourer. As a result, its sporty sibling company, Aston Martin, launched the DB7 in September 1994. After a year and a half, in March 1996, Jaguar pulled the wraps off the XK8.

The new model appeared during the bio-design era, and the XK8’s front fascia followed those lines. It featured an oval-shaped grille crossed by a chromed horizontal slat. The badge was above it, while on the lower side of the bumper, the automaker added a discreet spoiler. Jaguar installed new, swept-back headlights and placed the fog lamps below them. The longitudinal power dome on the hood confused clients, who thought that the car featured an inline powerplant, albeit it was a V8 in the engine bay.

From its profile, the elegant lines penned by Ian Callum offered a timeless design to the vehicle. Thanks to the long hood and the short rear deck, the XK8 resembled the legendary E-Type from the ‘60s. The raked windshield opened the way for the low-slung greenhouse. At the back, the automaker installed a sloped window followed by the trunk lid. On the rear fascia, the designer installed rounded taillights that flanked the trunk opening, while underneath the bumper, the automaker placed a pair of chromed exhausts on the sides.

The leather-wrapped interior boasted a high level of elegance and luxury. Jaguar placed walnut trims on the dashboard, the center console, and on the door cars. The recessed dials fronted the driver, while the center stack housed the HVAC controls and the stereo. Jaguar offered the XK8 with a cassette player and, as an option, a nine-speaker sound system with a CD changer in the trunk. A pair of comfortable bucket seats with available lumbar support for the driver was at the front, while in the back, there was hardly any room left for two passengers.

The XK8 came fitted with a 4.0-liter all-aluminum, twin-cam V8 engine under the hood. It was a first for a Jaguar, and the automaker paired it with a five-speed automatic transmission only. Power went to the rear wheels, and the independent suspension in all corners helped the car stay planted on the road while offering a comfortable ride as well.