Jaguar World | XFR-S First Test Drive
Flick through the fi rst edition of Jaguar Quarterly – JWM’s forerunner – from
25 years ago and it would appear not much has changed. There are tests on
new cars, features on classic cars, industry news and motor sport, while our
love of the cars and the company itself is as strong as ever. Then there’s Paul
Skilleter. As the man who started the whole shebang, he would become our
fi rst editor and continues to be associated with the magazine to this day.
Yet look closely and you’ll notice one big difference –Jaguar itself. In 1988
the fi rm was still recovering from being on the brink of closure in the early
1980s. Although by the time of Jaguar Quarterly’s fi rst issue in the autumn of
1988, Jaguar’s comeback was well underway, culminating in a Le Mans victory
earlier that year, it was still tiny and massively underfi nanced. Producing just
two cars (three if you include
the ancient XJ12 that was built
in tiny numbers), Jaguar’s sports
car – the XJ-S – was by then 13
years old while its new saloon (the
XJ40) wasn’t without its critics.
With such limited offerings,
it’s hard to believe the company
survived beyond the 1990s. Yet
Jaguar’s appeal has never been just
about the cars – it’s the potential
the British fi rm has always offered.
This was the reason behind Ford and Tata's takeovers in 1989 and 2008, respectively. Thanks to some much needed investment, over the last quarter of a decade the company has realised that promise, culminating in its position today as an innovative and class leading car manufacturer with an impressive line up of modern automobiles. This has been further strengthened by the unveiling of the C-X17 SUV concept plus the announcement of a BMW 3-Series rival by 2015. As you’ll see from the feature on page 73 that celebrates our silver anniversary, one magazine has dutifully reported on this incredible transition. No one knows what the next 25 years will bring Jaguar, yet one thing is for sure – JWM will be here to report on whatever happens
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Articles in this issue
Below is a selection of articles in Jaguar World XFR-S First Test Drive.