Modified X-Type Jaguar is Shockingly Capable And Fun Off-Road
You may have to completely ruin one, but mud is no foe to the off-road X-Type.
It was never meant to be this way. When the X-Type debuted many years ago, the all-wheel drive feature was not at all intended to, hinted at being, or suggested for off-road use. But some ideas are too good to pass up, and with X-Types being incredibly cheap, “why not?” is a question often asked.
Alex Kersten from Car Throttle contemplated that exact question when he wondered if there could be something done to make the X-Type actually work in the rough stuff. After an eight week long transformation, here’s what was changed: a lift kit was custom-built, adding 70mm to the ride height. Off-road mudder style tires were added, but to have them actually fit, the fenders and wheel arches needed to be cut and trimmed. To keep the engine safe, a snorkel was fitted to protect it from water, and to protect it from harder items, a sump guard and brush bar were also part of the build. In order to have it work off-road, all the diffs were welded and locked in place. And what crazy build isn’t complete without some loud exhaust pipes?
So how does it all work? It works so well, even we were shocked. Kirsten was amazed as well, bouncing around an off-road park and climbing impossibly steep hills saying, “it just went up like butter!” It actually works so much better than expected, that an impromptu paintball fight between the X-Type and a modified Subaru was invented. After all, why not have fun if everything works?
Kirsten comes away from the experience in awe that un-tested ideas actually were effective. “I’m amazed and proud at how well a crazy idea a few weeks ago turned out. And happy to say that yes, Floyd, one of the worlds most unlikely off-road cars performs incredibly,” he says. We just hope more people come up with crazy ideas, and go for them.
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