1999 Jaguar Xj8 L Sedan 4-door 4.0l on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2016 Jaguar F-Type debuts available manual transmission, AWD

If you're like us, you fell in the deepest, darkest sort of love with Jaguar's F-Type the moment its voluptuous form first surfaced. The car's full-bodied engine specs only furthered our ardor, and the droptop Jag sealed the deal before we even turned a wheel - all it took was hearing its engine bark to life.
And yet, even after driving the original convertible and the subsequent coupe, we've never quite shaken the notion that Jaguar erred a bit too heavily on the Grand Touring side of the equation for a proper sports car. That's partially because even the base model comes with a boatload of weight-adding luxury features. But perhaps more importantly, it's because the F-Type has only been available with an automatic transmission. Admittedly, the gearbox in question is a damned good paddle-shifted eight-speed ZF unit, but it's always chafed a bit that Jaguar wasn't committed to offering purists a manual - even if such a model would never be a high-volume proposition.
Apparently we weren't the only ones bothered by three-pedal omission. According to Russ Varney, F-Type Vehicle Program Director,

This Jaguar XK120 costs $20,000, but there's a catch

You read that correctly. This Jaguar XK120 costs $20,000. Sounds like a steal, right? There's a catch. It's 1:5 scale. But if you're looking for perhaps the most bespoke riff on a Power Wheels ever, this could be your new toy. Offered by gift-specialist Hammacher Schlemmer, this diminutive Jag is faithful to the original with its swoopy appearance fronted by a narrow, vertical grille. There's a bit of a power drop, as this XK comes with a 110-cc four-stroke engine that can top out at 38 miles per hour. The 1949 model came with a 3,442-cc six-cylinder that made as much as 180 hp from the factory. This toy car has an aluminum hull, steel box chassis, wishbone suspension, and gas shocks, according to the listing. It rolls on 10-inch aluminum wheels and has hydraulic brakes with Brembo, yes Brembo, discs. The inside has padded leather and a wood-rimmed steering wheel. The car shown is silver – but Hammacher Schlemmer notes that it's available in British Racing Green – or any color you like. Obviously you're not hurting for cash if you have 20 grand to drop on a toy, but it is economical compared to real-life 1949 XK120. The car collecting and insurance gurus at Hagerty say an original is worth $475,000 in concours condition. Hagerty notes this Jag is significant for its design that channels the prewar BMW 328. The starting price was $3,940 in the United States when it was new. Related Video:

Hardcore Jaguar F-Type underway, 600 horsepower possible

Thanks to an already potent range of supercharged engines with some of the best exhaust notes available, the Jaguar F-Type is without a doubt a sublime performer. Still, there's always room to grow, and we are getting another good look from the Nurburgring at what's suspected to be an even more powerful version on the way. Spy shots of what was believed to be the Jaguar F-Type R-S first came out last spring. This time the roadster is practically uncamouflaged, though. The similarities are definitely there, and both test cars wear the same wheel design and quad-tailpipe rear diffuser. The latest one lacks the massive front splitter jutting out but gets a quite large, fixed trunk lid spoiler at the rear. You can also spot some large-diameter ceramic brake discs behind the wheels. The things happening under the bonnet might be even more interesting, though. To befit all of the exterior performance upgrades, Jaguar's supercharged 5.0-liter V8 is expected to nestle between the front wheels, and the mill is likely getting a boost in power to take output to 580 or even 600 horsepower, versus 550hp in standard form. Hopefully, the extra grunt makes the exhaust note even more intoxicating, as well. Featured Gallery Jaguar F-Type R-S Spy Shots Image Credit: CarPix Design/Style Spy Photos Jaguar Convertible Performance jaguar f-type r jaguar f-type r-s