1998 Jaguar XKR Convertible Photos, engines & full specs

Jaguar tried its best and offered a supercharged version of the beautiful XK8 that it launched in 1996 at the Geneva Motor Show, and in 1998, it brought the XKR as the spiced-up cousin of its open-top grand tourer.

When Ian Callum penned the XK8, he had the E-Type in mind, so the result was a vehicle that sent shivers down the spines of Jaguar’s fans. While the car was designed in the late ‘80s, its new owner, Ford, didn’t agree to sell it to the public before being offered as an Aston Martin, a brand that the blue-oval company also owned. As a result, after the DB7 was released, the XK8 came alive in 1996. But there was something missing from it, and that was the performance. After all, the British brand was known for its racing pedigree, and the regular, naturally aspirated XK8 just couldn’t provide. As a result, the automaker added a supercharger to the V8, improved other technical parts, and unveiled it in 1998.

The new version featured a slightly different front fascia than its non-supercharged brother. Ian Callum installed a metallic mesh on the oval-shaped grille that stretched on the lower side of the bumper. Above it, the front-hinged hood (or bonnet, to keep it British) featured a pair of exhaust vents that helped release the hot air from the engine compartment. A pair of stretched-back headlights with standard Xenon lighting was also installed on the car.

From its profile, the XKR boasted its 18-inch alloy wheels that featured a unique design with ten spokes. But still, the car was quite subtle in its appearance to an untrained eye. It featured thick A-pillars that also served as protection in the event of a rollover crash, and that was the only structure that raised above the elegant flowing waistline of the bodywork. Behind the cabin, the automaker placed the storage area for the retractable roof, and customers could conceal it with a leather cover. Out back, the automaker installed a tiny lip spoiler on the trunk lid, which was flanked by a set of rounded taillights. Under the rear bumper, the car featured a set of side exhausts with chromed tips.

Inside, the high level of craftsmanship, expensive Conelly leather, and wooden dash caught the customers’ eyes. Fronting the driver was the instrument cluster with three recessed dials, where the speedometer took center stage. In addition, the center stack housed another two gauges and an analog clock. The sound system featured a cassette player and a CD changer, the latter being installed in the trunk. A set of bucket seats mostly designed for comfort hugged their occupants and kept them in place for long journeys. In the back, not so, since there was very limited legroom or headroom, especially with the ragtop up. Driver could open or close the canvas roof in about 20 seconds while driving at speeds of up to 10 mph (16 kph).

Under the hood, the automaker installed its newly developed 4.0-liter all-aluminum V8 engine. While the naturally aspirated version didn’t reach the 300 hp mark, the XKR reached up to 370 hp (375 PS). Jaguar paired the engine with a five-speed automatic gearbox that sent all the oomph to the rear wheels. But still, despite its more powerful engine, the XKR was mostly a grand tourer with more power, not a sports car.