VIDEO: A Jaguar Quite Unlike Any Other — The XJR-15 In ACTION In Tennessee

There are few cars that really speak to my youth. But the few that do bring an instantaneous surge of nostalgia. 

I love when it happens, every time. 

One of the cars that do that is the Jaguar XJR-15. But, there's so few of them that I never have seen one. Nor heard one. And, honestly, I didn't know much about it because it's just not a critical car. Especially when compared to the XJ220. 

Its legacy is eerily similar to the Ferrari F50. It followed up on a motoring legend, is more raw and pure than its predecessor and it's not as well liked.

But the folks at Petrolicious distributed a video this week and I am thinking it may be one of their best yet. 

Take a peek below and weigh in.


In this week’s Made to Drive episode we fold ourselves into the cockpit of Jasbir Dhillon’s 1991 Jaguar XJR-15 to experience one of the rarest and rawest supercars built in the 20th century. Aimed at transferring the Le Mans-winning XJR experience to the road, just 53 examples of the XJR-15 were produced with the help of Tom Walkinshaw under the banner of Jaguar Sport, and only 27 were optioned for road use. Powered by a beautifully shrill six-liter V12, it’s a lesser known but no less sexy staple of 1990s supercardom, and one of the finest examples of a “race car for the road,” of any decade.

t_bone - 1/27/2018 1:00:49 PM

+3 Boost

I miss clean, simple design like this.

MDarringer - 1/27/2018 1:36:38 PM

-4 Boost

I find it generic looking an totally devoid of any Jaguar DNA.

Agent00R - 1/27/2018 6:31:16 PM

0 Boost

That makes two of us, @t_bone!

I also hear you, Matt, but did the XJ220 really resonate with Jaguar? I think not...

The cool thing about the XJR-15 is that it still looks pretty relevant even today. That greenhouse reminds me of the Pagani Zonda and all-new McLaren 720S. Still looks great!

MDarringer - 1/27/2018 6:43:20 PM

-4 Boost

@Agent00R I don't think the XE, XF, XJ or the Pace crossovers have any jaguar DNA in their styling. The F Type has a "moment in history" look the the E Type did in its day.

Agent00R - 1/28/2018 11:40:53 AM

-1 Boost

Completely agree, Matt!

The Jaguars of yore don't exist any longer, which may be a good thing considering how bad they were — reliability wise.

One day I'd love to have a 2001 XJR 100 and have it fully cleaned up, top to bottom. Here's to wishful thinking!

MDarringer - 1/28/2018 12:07:34 PM

-4 Boost

@00R you say that as if Jaguars today are reliable. They aren't. Granted they are not as problematic as an Alfa Romeo, but lease rather than buy.