Today marked the beginning of a crucial period for Jaguar as the first XF saloon rolled off the production line at the carmaker’s Castle Bromwich plant. The XF is described as a ‘make-or-break’ model for Jaguar and could potentially be the last car ever to carry the Jaguar title.

The first production car, a Vapour Grey 4.2L SV8 has been donated to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust collection and will go on display alongside some of the UK’s other historic automotive greats such as the oldest surviving Daimler, the 1897 Grafton Phaeton, and the stunning 1974 E-Type – the last ever built.

More than 500 employees from the plant gathered to watch the grandson of Sir William Lyons (Jaguar’s founder), Michael Quinn, drive the car off the end of the Trim and Final production line.