Was talking to some friends about my new to me XK8 convertible. Does it have a 6 or an 8? What? A 6? Never heard of one. Oh yes,the one they did on Wheeler Dealer was a 6.

 

There was a 3.2L V6 in the XJ8 308 series but I am not aware of that engine being used in the XK8 cars. And the 3.2L was not sold in the US but might have sneaked in via our friends in the great white north.

 

So no 96-06 XK with a six in the states. In England?

 

Remember, it is called the XK8, as in 8-cylinders. No six banger in the XK models I am aware of.

Now the new F-type is another story.

 

X308's all had V8's, including the 3.2L. It wasn't until the later, aluminium bodied X350 that they introduced the V6

 

As far as I know, the only factory XK with a 6 was the project that never made it to production - the XJ41 convertible and XJ42 coupe concept cars which would have been the new XK in the early 1990's.

XJ41 Project


XJ42 Project


XJ41/42 Engine


Although this project was cancelled, the resemblance to the eventual XK8 is unmistakeable.

Graham