[4] The X308 kept much of the same exterior styling as its predecessor, the Jaguar XJ (X300), carrying its rounded four-headlamp bonnet, low roofline, sloping tail, and wrap-around rear light clusters.

The rectangular instrument binnacle gave way to three deeply recessed dials similar in style to the recently introduced Jaguar XK8.

The new fascia also allowed for the restoration of a proper glove compartment, which had been lost when the original XJ40 dash had been retrofitted with a passenger side airbag.

[6] The base XJ8 came standard with more equipment than had been fitted to entry-level XJs in the past, including leather upholstery, alloy wheels, and air conditioning.

[10] For the home market in September 2000, Jaguar began badging the XJ8 model as XJ Executive, and fitted as standard rain-sensing wipers, a CD player, cruise control, and rear parking sensors.

[12] It offered stiffer suspension, sportier seating and interior colour combinations, and wider, larger wheels than the XJ8.

[13] The Sovereign represented the highest luxury specification for Jaguar models, sitting next to the XJR, which provides the ultimate performance.

The suspension setup was biased towards touring and the wheels were normally 16 or 17 inches to provide high-profile tyres for additional ride quality.

Like the Sport model, the XJR has a body-coloured radiator grille surround; it is with a stainless-steel mesh insert rather than the normal vanes.

This included 18 inches BBS wheels, larger Brembo brakes with cross-drilled rotors, and re-tuned suspension.

In 2001, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Sir William Lyons' birth, Jaguar produced five hundred examples of a special-edition model named the XJR 100.

Only available in the Anthracite exterior colour with charcoal leather upholstery, the interior is trimmed with contrasting red stitching and birdseye maple.

In the United States market, this combination was available only as a special order through 2001, with these cars identifiable by their Vanden Plas Supercharged rear badging.

[22] In 2018, Motorious said that the X308 provides the most luxurious ride of any car ever produced due to its status as the "last steel-bodied XJ and the first to feature a modern V8 drivetrain, the perfect concoction of classic and contemporary Jaguars".

"[23] Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear remarked that the X308 is "faster, in the real world, than a Ferrari F355 ... fastest saloon I've ever seen", and the epitome of luxury, beauty, and performance.