This is the 1998 Jaguar XK180 prototype and its the first of just two XK180 prototype cars ever built, both being roadsters, one being left-hand drive and the other being right-hand drive. The XK180 was built to demonstrate the talent of the Jaguar stylists, craftsmen and engineers, while also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the XK. Of the two cars built, one was a right hand drive and the other was a left hand drive as mentioned, and this example is the right-hand drive XK180 with a light cream/green colored interior, while the other showcases a mixture of brown. The two prototype cars did differentiate a bit with some slight detail modifications including a new wheel design, a revised shade for the exterior color, a switch in the hue of the interior leather and minor modifications to better display the lines on the lower body section. Crafted inside Jaguar’s elite SVO engineering division, the XK180 made its debut under the presentation of Jaguar’s then head executive, Nick Scheel at the Paris Motor Show in 1998. The mechanicals remained unchanged from both cars as they both utilized the same engine. Constructed atop a trimmed-down XKR framework, it packed a force-fed 4.0L eight-cylinder engine pushing out 450 horsepower, coupled with a five-gear transmission system supporting both manual engagement and automatic shifting. The model was designed by South African automotive designer, Keith Helfet, who was already well-known for his work on Jaguar’s XJ220 model. Both the first and second XK180 cars were hand-built in Coventry, England. A striking fusion of heritage and innovation, the Jaguar XK180 embodied the spirit of performance wrapped in a sculpted silhouette.
How many made? 2
Engine: supercharged and intercooled variant of the AJ-V8, modified to achieve an output of 450 horsepower.
Debut: The first RHD variant of the XK180 debuted at the 1998 Paris Motor Show, with the LHD variant debuted at the 2000 American International Auto Show.
Top Speed: approximately 180mph
O-60mph: approximately 4.2 seconds
Photo credit: @kojak_with_a_kodak
Research: @rarecarsonly
1998 Jaguar XK180
18.03.2025
Jaguar