1996 Jaguar XK8 Photos, engines & full specs

After Jaguar introduced the XK8 Coupe at the 1996 Geneva Motor Show, the British automaker unveiled the convertible version of it shortly after that.

Jaguar struggled financially in the 80s, but its management knew that the XJS was already an old vehicle. As a result, it developed a new platform based on the one it already had but improved in several areas. Then, in November 1989, Ford Motor Company bought Jaguar, Land Rover, and Aston Martin. The new owner appreciated the already developed platform and considered it a better fit for a new Aston Martin, which was the more precious brand with even older and outdated models. As a result, the sportier car manufacturer introduced the DB7 in 1994, and Jaguar had to wait more than a year to launch its XK8. After the introduction of the coupe version, the convertible came as the next logical step, especially since the automaker said that the new car followed the same principles as the legendary E-Type from the 60s.

Ian Callum was leading Jaguar’s design department, and he penned the XK8 in the ‘80s. But still, its ideas were right, and the final product came with the flowing lines of the bio-design era of the mid-90s. The car’s front fascia featured a wide oval-shaped grille adorned by a chromed horizontal slat. Jaguar installed a set of swept-back headlights, and the round fog lamps were underneath them.

From its profile, the XK8 Convertible featured a long hood followed by a raked windshield. There were no safety arches behind the A-pillars, making the car look like a proper successor for the E-Type. At the back, the designer created a short deck, and the retractable canvas roof could be retracted at the touch of a button in about 20 seconds at speeds of up to 10 mph (16 kph). Finally, on the rear fascia, Jaguar mounted rounded-shaped taillights that flanked the trunk lid. Underneath the bumper, the automaker installed a pair of chromed side exhausts.

Jaguar knew how to create great interiors, and the XK8 was no exception. It installed walnut trims all over the cabin: on the dashboard, the center stack, the center console, and on the door cards. There were three recessed dials in front of the driver and three smaller gauges on the center stack. The front bucket seats were covered in expensive Connely leather and were heated. In the back, the automaker installed a bench seat profiled for two due to the tall transmission tunnel. There was very limited legroom in the back, so most customers used the XK8 as a two-seat vehicle only.

The 1996 XK8 Convertible was available with the same 4.0-liter all-aluminum, twin-cam V8 engine under the hood as its coupe sibling. The automaker paired it with a five-speed automatic transmission only. Power went to the rear wheels, and the independent suspension in all corners helped the car stay planted on the road while offering a comfortable ride as well.