- Jaguar, by its official name "Jaguar Cars Ltd", is a British sports and luxury car manufacturer founded in Blackpool (England) in 1922 by William Lyons.
- The company is today integrated into the Jaguar Land Rover group.
- In 2017, Jaguar broke its sales record with 178,601 vehicles sold (up 20%), and its partner Land Rover reached 442,508 sales (up 2%). The most significant growth is seen in Germany and the United States1.
- History
- Hood, grille and emblem of a Jaguar XK 150.
- SS Jaguar 2½-litre sports saloon.
- 1963 two seat E-Type.
- 1948 XK120.
- Founded in 1922 as the Swallow Sidecar Company by William Lyons, the company became S. S. Cars Limited in 1934, whose initials were SSC. During World War II, the company did not produce any cars, as it participated in the war effort. In 1945, it was finally able to start producing again for private customers and took the name Jaguar so as not to evoke the German SS of sinister memory2,3. The company remained independent until it was nationalized in 1966. In 1984, the company was spun off on the stock market—one of the privatizations of Margaret Thatcher's government—until it was taken over by the American manufacturer Ford in 19894.
- In 1999, it became part of the Ford Premier Automotive Group division with Aston Martin, Land Rover, Volvo, Lincoln and Mercury. Shortly after leaving his position as development director at BMW and becoming director of Premier Automotive in 1999, Wolfgang Reitzle (de) offered to buy the manufacturer Alpina, BMW preparer, to make it the performance division of Jaguar5. The offer of 200 million Deutsche Mark is refused by Alpina5.
- Jaguar owns the automobile manufacturer Daimler (DMC) (not to be confused with the German company Daimler-Benz), bought in 1960. Daimler is now only a small brand affixed to the most luxurious models coming out of Jaguar factories.
- Of the models, the most notable is the Jaguar XJ (produced since 1968), which remains for many the ultimate Jaguar. Since 1968, the series I of the until the X308 powered by a V8), and 2003 (the X350), and finally the new Jaguar also produces more accessible cars, such as the Jaguar S-Type (1999-2008) and even smaller, the Jaguar X-Type (2001-2009).
- Jaguar has produced many sports cars: Jaguar XK120 (1948-1954), Jaguar XK150 (1955-1960), Jaguar E-Type (1961-1975), Jaguar the main post-war sports models.
- Other rarer Jaguars exist, such as the Jaguar XJ450, the Jaguar XJ220 (1988) or the Jaguar XJR-15 for racing. Jaguar models are designed in Great Britain by Scotsman Ian Callum, head of design for the brand.
- On 18 January 2008, Tata Motors established Jaguar Land Rover as a wholly-owned subsidiary registered in Britain and used as a holding company for the acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover. On March 26, 2008, as part of the dismantling of its Premier Automotive Group, the Ford group sold Jaguar and the off-road vehicle manufacturer Land Rover to the Indian company Tata Motors which integrated them into Jaguar Land Rover6. The sale price communicated by the Ford group is 2.3 billion dollars. The acquisition was completed on June 2, 2008.
- On January 1, 2013, the two English brands were united in a holding company forming a group, Jaguar Land Rover Limited was renamed Jaguar Land Rover (commonly called Jaguar Land Rover or JLR), a subsidiary of the Indian automobile company Tata Motors, which has its headquartered in Coventry and producing luxury saloons, specialist sports cars and off-road vehicles.
- Sales in 2013 amounted to 76,668 units, an increase of 42% compared to 2012. The most significant growth was seen in Germany and the United States7.
- In 2020, the former general manager of the French firm Renault, Thierry Bolloré, replaced Ralf Speth as director of Jaguar Land Rover8.
- In 2021, the manufacturer announces that it will not launch a new model until 2025. The company claims to be focusing on the development of a purely electric range9.
- In 2022, Adrian Mardell, financial director of Jaguar Land Rover, becomes the new interim boss of the company and replaces Thierry Bolloré10.
- Formula 1 and Formula E
- The brand has enjoyed great success in motorsport, particularly during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which it won seven times. Jaguar won in 1951 and 1953 with the Jaguar C-Type, then in 1955, 1956 and 1957 with the Jaguar D-Type.
- Jaguar abandoned this prestigious event until the mid-1980s when Tom Walkinshaw of the TWR team began preparing prototypes powered by Jaguar V12s for European races. In 1983, Group 44 Racing launched the XJR-5 with the help of Jaguar and decided to race in the United States in IMSA. In 1985 with the help of TWR, the team wanted to establish itself as a reference at Le Mans and in endurance. Jaguar won the title of World Sports Car Champion in 1987 and 1988, then won the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans against Porsche. In 1990, Jaguar launched the XJR-12 which won the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans and finished second in the World Sports Car Championship behind Mercedes.
- In 1991, Jaguar launched the XJR-14, and won the 1991 world sports car championship, but lost to Mazda at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1993 and 1994, with the return of GTs to endurance racing, Jaguar was present with the XJ220. Subsequently in 1999 and 2000, Lister used a Jaguar engine which won the FIA GT championship in 2000. Jaguar entered Formula 1 from 2000 to 2004 and experienced disillusionment.
- Formula 1
- Main article: Jaguar Racing.
- Eddie Irvine, here during the 2002 United States Grand Prix, would achieve Jaguar's only two podiums in Formula 1.
- During the 1950 Italian Grand Prix, Italian Clemente Biondetti raced at the wheel of a Jaguar-powered Ferrari 166 S, then, in 1955, Jaguar supplied the engine to the Emeryson team.[ref. necessary]
- In June 1999, Jackie Stewart sold his Formula 1 team, Stewart Grand Prix, to Ford, which renamed it Jaguar Racing to compete in the Formula 1 world championship from the 2000 season. The team was managed for a time by Bobby Rahal then by Niki Lauda. In November 2002, the team was reorganized: Lauda and 70 other members were removed.
- From 2000 to 2004, the period of its involvement in Formula 1, the Jaguar Racing team saw drivers such as Eddie Irvine (former Ferrari driver), Mark Webber, Pedro de la Rosa, Christian Klien, Johnny Herbert, Antônio Pizzonia, Justin Wilson and Luciano Burti. In 85 Grands Prix, she only scored two podiums (two third places with Eddie Irvine at Monaco in 2001 and at Monza in 2002) and, in qualifying, her best result was a second place. Equipped with an aging Ford Cosworth, it is most of the time relegated to the middle or even the back of the pack and never fights with the best teams.
- After three consecutive failures in seventh place (which will remain its best ranking among manufacturers), Ford threw in the towel and after a period of doubt, the team was sold for a symbolic price to the magnate of the Red Bull energy drink, Dietrich Mateschitz, who joined in 2005 under the name Red Bull Racing.
- Formula E
- Logo of the Formula E team.
- 2022 Jaguar Formula E Type-3.
- On December 15, 2015, Jaguar announced its participation in the 2016-2017 FIA Formula E Championship11.
- The team presents its Jaguar I-Type 1 on September 8, 2016 and confirms Mitch Evans and Adam Carroll as drivers. Ho-Pin Tung is appointed reserve pilot12. In the first race in Hong Kong, Carroll finished twelfth while Evans retired. Jaguar finished the season in tenth and final place in the constructors' championship with 27 points and a fourth place in the race (Evans in Mexico) as its best result. During the summer of 2016, Mitch Evans took part in Formula E pre-season testing with the new Jaguar Racing team. On September 8, Jaguar presented its livery and formalized Mitch Evans as regular driver alongside Adam Carroll12. He had to wait until the fourth race of the season to score his first points at the Mexico ePrix, where he finished 4th despite a collision in the final laps. He scored a total of twenty-two points and ranked 14th in the championship. He continues with Jaguar for season 4 and his new teammate is Nelson Angelo Piquet.
- Jaguar begins its season by reaching its umpteenth podium in Hong Kong, then obtains its first pole position during the Zurich ePrix13. Mitch Evans finished 7th in the championship with 68 points, while Nelsinho Piquet scored 51 points.
- Still a Jaguar driver, Mitch Evans begins the 2018-2019 season with a fourth place in Riyadh. His first part of the season was marked by great consistency, as he scored six points in the first six races. During the seventh race, in Rome, on a drying track, he obtained his first victory in Formula E against André Lotterer14. He also finished 2nd in Bern, as well as in New York, and ranked 5th in the championship.
- In 2020, Mitch Evans took pole position in Santiago then won the Mexico ePrix, which allowed him to lead the championship after four races15. Ultimately, he finished the season in 7th place.
- In 2021, for his 5th season in Formula E. He will finish 4th in the World Championship with 90 points and five podiums but without winning a race.
- In 2022, he remains with Jaguar Racing for his 6th season in Formula E alongside Sam Bird as in 2021, the livery is revealed at the beginning of November and he will hope to play in the Championship and win races.
