A Concise History of Jaguar

Founded in 1935 by William Lyons, the car company that would be called Jaguar after the Second World War soon became established as a manufacturer of innovative, high-performance sports cars. In this book, motoring expert Ray Hutton reveals the full inside story of Jaguar, not only through its cars but also the personalities and changes of ownership that accompanied Jaguar through the years. From the competitive success of the early SS sports cars and the launch of the Jaguar XK120 car and engine in 1948, through the stunning arrival of the Jaguar E-Type, icon of the swinging sixties, the range of sporting saloons such as the 2.4 and S-Type and the launch of what became the definitive Jaguar for twenty years in the form of the XJ6, Jaguar continued to be a byword for quality and exceptional performance. As this book shows, Jaguar also had to navigate the tight bends of changing ownership against the backdrop of industrial unrest in the British motoring industry. While other famous British car marques were consigned to history, however, Jaguar somehow found a way to renew itself and met the challenges of new markets and tastes. Independent ownership under Sir John Egan in the 1980s was followed by ownership by Ford and the launch of new models such as the X-Type, which broke the traditional design mould. After sale to Tata Motors, Jaguar reinvented itself again with the successful F-Pace SUV. Based on the author's inside knowledge and expertise in the British car industry, this book is an essential companion to Britain's most successful luxury sporting car manufacturer.