Jaguar
Jaguar has been known since its inception for quality luxury vehicles with traditional English refinement. The company was founded in 1922 and originally produced aluminum motorcycle sidecars. The name of the original company was Swallow Sidecar Company. SS Cars changes its logo to the Jaguar in order to not be confused or associated with a Nazi military organization which bore the same initials.
The first vehicle to bear the Jaguar name was the SS Jaguar 100 in 1935. In 1948, Jaguar introduced the XK 120. The name was derived from the top speed attained by the vehicle, which made it the fastest production car of its time. The 1960’s proved to be a very profitable decade for the luxury vehicle maker. Several British celebrities made the culture very popular, which in turn made the Jaguar more coveted. Twenty years later, a V-12 engine was placed in the XJ12, making it the new fastest production car of its day.
By 1990, Jaguar was bought out by the Ford Company. In 1997, the Ford influence on the Jaguar was evident with the introduction of the XK8 sports car. Over the next ten years, Jaguar became a financial burden on the Ford Company. As a result, Ford sold Jaguar to Tata in 2008. Only time will tell if the luxury vehicle manufacturer will rise again.
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