Glamour and Speed: Get to Know Jaguar’s Finest Sports Cars
What is the greatest Jaguar sports car? This simple question is one of the most difficult to answer, but here’s a list of some great Jaguar sports cars.
Some might look for the most beautiful model, others could suggest the fastest Jag, while others could say it’s the car that won Le Mans three times. This brand has a strong racing heritage, winning seven 24 Hours of Le Mans races; it boasts a car donned the most beautiful car ever made and reaches back to classic models dating back to the 1930s.
Take a look at these amazing Jaguar sports cars.
Jaguar XKSS
When 1956 rolled around, Jaguar chose to resign from sports car racing, but it had a slight problem. Several D-Type race car chassis around the factory hadn’t been used yet. This is how the Jaguar XKSS came about. Using a few modifications, including adding a passenger seat, Jaguar sold the XKSS as a road-going car.
0-60 MPH: 5.2 seconds
Top Speed: 150 mph
Horsepower: 262 hp
Torque: 240 lb-ft
Layout: 3.4-liter 6-cylinder engine
What makes the Jaguar XKSS one of the best sports cars from this brand? In addition to being based on the D-Type racing chassis, the XKSS was only produced in small numbers, with some never leaving the factory. Those left in the factory were lost in the famous fire, making the surviving models extremely valuable.
Jaguar E-Type
The Jaguar E-Type is one of the most attractive cars in history. This car was stylish enough to be called “the most beautiful car in the world” by Enzo Ferrari. When the subject of the best Jaguar sports car models ever made comes up, the E-Type is always included.
0-60 MPH: 6.9 seconds
Top Speed: 150 mph
Horsepower: 272 hp
Torque: 304 lb-ft
Layout: 5.3-liter V-12
Early models of this Jaguar used a 3.8-liter 6-cylinder engine, with the V-12 arriving in 1971. Every version of the Jaguar E-Type is a coveted sports car, but the Series 1 models are the most sought-after by car collectors and enthusiasts. Famous car lovers owned this Jaguar, including Steve McQueen and Frank Sinatra. If the goal is to find one of the classiest and most alluring cars ever made, the Jaguar E-Type reaches the top of the list.
Jaguar D-Type
What makes the Jaguar D-Type one of the most iconic cars in Jaguar sports car history? This car is notable for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans race three times. Considering the brand has won the race seven times, the three for this single car are impressive.
0-60 MPH: 5.7 seconds
Top Speed: 160 mph
Horsepower: 250 hp
Torque: 240 lb-ft
Layout: 3.4-liter 6-cylinder engine
The lightweight Jaguar D-Type brings revolutionary construction to the sports car world using a magnesium alloy for the monocoque. This build created the necessary strength and low weight to make the D-Type fast. It’s easy to see how this Jaguar sports car model fits in this list of the best Jaguar cars, especially with the significance of winning the world’s most popular race three times.
Jaguar F-Type
The ultimate expression of Jaguar’s modern sports cars is found in the F-Type. This car has a “look at me” quality with its incredibly loud exhaust. The F-Type R is a tuned-up version that sends 575 horsepower to the wheels and improves upon the sprint time and top speed.
0-60 MPH: 4.0 seconds
Top Speed: 177 mph
Horsepower: 444 hp
Torque: 428 lb-ft
Layout: 5.0-liter supercharged V-8
Regardless of which version of the Jaguar F-Type is chosen, this car brings the classic, smooth, curved bodylines that make it a true Jaguar sports car. The F-Type has become the Jaguar, which stands tall with more performance versions than most other Jaguars in history. The Jaguar F-Type brings a sexy melody with its amazing V-8 engine while adding amazing handling characteristics to give any driver the desired thrills from behind the wheel.
Jaguar Project 7
What is the fastest Jaguar sports car model ever made? The answer is the Jaguar Project 7, which was based on the F-Type. This car is also a limited production model with only 250 examples produced. The Project 7 was made to celebrate how many times the brand won the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
0-60 MPH: 3.8 seconds
Top Speed: 186 mph
Horsepower: 567 hp
Torque: 520 lb-ft
Layout: 5.0-liter supercharged V-8
Jaguar added influence from the D-Type to this car, blending the F and D cars for an incredible performance machine. This blending required a special roof to be built with a unique “hump” design. While not old enough to be a classic Jaguar sports car, the Project 7 is one of the best cars to wear the badge.
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