Jaguar introduced this nameplate in 2007 as the spiritual successor to the S-Type, with the car first shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show before customer deliveries began in the UK in March 2008. It marked a major shift in Jaguar’s modern design language: the styling was cleaner and more contemporary, but still clearly rooted in the brand’s traditional sporting-saloon identity. Early cars established the model as Jaguar’s core executive sedan, positioned between the smaller entry luxury segment and the flagship XJ, while high-performance derivatives and later updates helped broaden its appeal.
The original generation became one of Jaguar’s most visible modern cars and was followed by steady development through the early 2010s, including performance-oriented variants and the addition of a wagon body style in some markets. In 2015, Jaguar unveiled a thoroughly redesigned second generation built around lightweight aluminum construction. That redesign preserved the model’s fastback-like silhouette and driver-focused character while moving the car upmarket in refinement, packaging and technology. The new generation also expanded the range with the Sportbrake estate and further performance and all-wheel-drive options.
Today, the nameplate remains part of Jaguar’s sedan lineup and represents the brand’s long-running effort to combine British luxury with a distinctly athletic character. Among enthusiasts, it is significant both as the car that helped define Jaguar’s modern design direction and as one of the company’s most important contemporary business saloons.