The XK8 and XKR have brought Jaguar back to the heart of the luxury sports car market with a series of elegant Coupes and Convertibles which have proved consistent best sellers throughout the world, and in particular in the US, where over 50 percent of the first 50,000 cars have been sold. Powered by a silky smooth four-litre V8 engine, they have set new standards in performance, refinement and comfort and have proved that under Ford ownership, Jaguar is once again a respected manufacturer of top-quality sports cars which uphold the famous XK tradition. This MRP autoguide examines the XK heritage through to the famous E-type and then traces Jaguar's return, after a foray into the GT market with XJS, to the design and development of the cars which have been the company's flagships since 1997.