Although it can trace its roots back as far as 1922, the first car to be called a Jaguar was the SS Jaguar 2.5 litre saloon, launched in 1935. Since then the name Jaguar has become synonymous with the development and production of fast, beautifully designed sports and saloon cars. The old company slogan of 'Grace, Space and Pace' could still be said to hold true to Jaguar's current ethos.
The following decades saw Jaguar produce many iconic models, the E-Type and Mark II probably the most fondly remembered, and enjoy some great achievements on the race track. Now, after several changes of ownership over the past few years, Jaguar is enjoying great success again, as part of the Jaguar Land Rover Group, under its new owners, since 2008, Tata Motors of India.
Until the new range of electrified models arrive in 2025 they now just build the F-PACE SUV model at Jaguar's dedicated factory at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. Production of the XF, XE and F-Type models was discontinued in June 2024.
Jensen has been a name in the UK's automotive industry for around 80 years, most well known for the production of highly distinctive GT cars. Perhaps the most iconic of these was the Jensen Interceptor which was originally built from 1966 until the company ceased trading in 1976. There was even an advanced 4WD version called the FF, which was only made in small numbers.
Over the following years, after various changes of ownership and limited car building, Jensen International Automotive (JIA) was formed in 2010, with a majority shareholding from the succesful and highly respected entrepreneur, Sir Charles Dunstone. The new company is beginning to make a name for itself by producing the Jensen Interceptor R, which is basically a 'new' and modernised version of the original GT car. Based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, JIA is taking commissions to build this car in either normally aspirated, supercharged and convertible guise.
In 2017 JIA launched the Range Rover Chieftan, which is a serious re-engineering and re-design of the Classic Range Rover. They are now in the process of building a very limited number of re-engineered FFs, the ultimate Interceptor.
