Retro Reviews: Jeremy Clarkson on the 1996 Jaguar XK8
Clarkson’s review of the Jaguar XK8 is a great reminder of just what a huge deal this big cat was.
Right now, we’re in a bit of a black hole regarding the future of Jaguar. In a nutshell, the plan is for the company to go all-electric, sell less cars, and make more money. As the kids say, it’s a bold strategy, and it’s not hyperbole to state that the very existence of the marque hangs on its success. Now obviously, I hope it works. That said, the lack of info makes this a perfect time to look back at some classic moments from Coventry’s storied history — and what’s more classic than a review from Top Gear’s biggest, loudest Jaguar fan?
In the clip below, we have Jeremy Clarkson opining on the then-new XK8, and it’s a gem. As fans of the show know, Clarkson loves Jaguars, even if he almost unfailing characterizes their owners as an unsavory lot that’ll raid your liquor cabinet, wear too much cologne, and steal the towels from every hotel they ever stay at. I say “almost unfailingly,” however, because this is one of the few clips where he discusses Jaguar and doesn’t disparage the people who actually buy them. That alone makes it worth watching, even if the recording looks like it’s spent the last 25 years at the bottom of a well.
Now, there are lots of great moments here, but two stand out in particular. The first? That’s where Clarkson says that the XK8 would have been a better-looking car if the designers hadn’t made the trunk able to accommodate two sets of golf clubs. And with this, I agree wholeheartedly. Just as with the latest generation Corvette (which was also designed to hold two golf bags) a shorter tail section would have improved the lines of this big cat dramatically. Then, there’s the interesting info about the 4.0-liter V8 lurking under the hood.
Because it’s not, as many people have claimed it to be, a warmed-over unit from the Ford parts bin. In fact, the only bits it actually has in common with its distant American cousins are the drain plug and the anti-theft chip that lives in the key. So if you’ve ever thought that the Blue Oval had too much input regarding the design of this beautiful grand tourer, that news should come as a welcome surprise. Watch the clip below, and let me know if you think the end of internal-combustion Jaguars means 1990s-era cars will start to appreciate.
Photos: YouTube