Jaguar introduced the supercharged version of its flagship model XJ in 1994, and the customers were delighted. So, the British carmaker continued to offer it to the following generations.
In 2003, Jaguar introduced the third generation of its XJ series and, the sportiest version featured the magnificent V8 supercharged engine. But it wasn't just the power under the hood that made the car great. It was the whole package with aluminum bodywork, aluminum arms and struts, and the air-suspension.
For starters, the XJR sported a different grille than the rest of the range. Its silver mesh-grille mimicked the look of the older glorious Jaguar racing cars. The new headlights featured lens-projectors that made the vehicle looks modern. Unlike the rest of the pack, the XJR front bumper was lowered and aerodynamically profiled to channel the air to the front disc brakes. For the European market, Jaguar had to remove the hood's statue due to new pedestrian protection regulations.
Inside, the carmaker introduced updated materials and combined the wood and aluminum trims, offering a sporty yet elegant look. On the center console, the J-pattern gear selector was kept. Since it was under Ford ownership, it couldn't get rid of the Ford Fiesta buttons that altered the exclusive car's look.
Under the hood, there was the same supercharged 4.2-liter V8 from the non-facelifted version. It provided 100 hp more than the naturally aspirated unit. Jaguar paired that engine exclusively with a 6-speed automatic gearbox.