A villain’s car is usually the more interesting purchase, and the Jaguar XK8 is a good example. In Die Another Day it is Zao’s car, set against Bond’s Aston Martin, and the real thing is now one of the more approachable grand tourers of the late 1990s. The Jaguar XK8 is out of production and sold second-hand, at prices that would surprise most people who remember it new.
In the film
Zao, the henchman played by Rick Yune, drives the Jaguar in Die Another Day (2002), where it is set against Pierce Brosnan’s Bond and his Aston Martin. One point of care: the car on screen is generally described as the XKR, the supercharged version of the XK8, and it was heavily modified for the film. We link the XK8 because it is the car you can actually find, and the closest match we can identify to the original.
The details of the Jaguar XK8
A new engine. The XK8 arrived in 1996 as the replacement for the XJS and was Jaguar’s first eight-cylinder car since the Daimler 250. Its 4.0-litre, 32-valve AJ-V8 was all new, with 290hp (216kW) at 6,100rpm and a top speed limited to 156mph. Hemmings gives the 0 to 60mph time as 5.2 seconds.
Coupé or convertible. Both body styles were built at Browns Lane in Coventry between 1996 and 2005. Underneath, the XK8 shares its platform with the Aston Martin DB7, itself a development of the XJS floorpan.
Standard and supercharged. The more powerful XKR joined in 1998. You can tell the two apart by the XKR’s rear spoiler, mesh front grille and bonnet louvres, and by its 18-inch wheels, which were standard on the XKR. The XK8 came with 17-inch alloys, with larger sizes available at extra cost. A 4.2-litre engine replaced the 4.0 in later cars, and a six-speed automatic gearbox arrived in 2002.
Owning it now
This is an old car, and the honest approach is to buy it as one. The strongest cars are the ones with a documented history, and a later 4.2-litre car with the six-speed gearbox is, in our view, the one to look for if you plan to drive it regularly. Hemmings treats the XK8 as a modern classic, and we agree with the label for the better-kept examples.
Coupé or convertible? The coupé is the tidier shape and is closest to the car in the film. The convertible suits a summer weekend. Either is a car for the open road rather than the commute.
What it costs. At the time of writing, in October 2026, Cars.com lists a US average asking price of US$11,575, with cars starting at US$2,999. Those figures vary widely with condition and mileage, and the cheapest cars will need money spent on them. A pre-purchase inspection by a Jaguar specialist is worth the fee.
Where to look. Because the car is out of production, we link to a search on eBay Motors rather than to a dealer. Specialist classic dealers and Jaguar clubs are also good sources.
Specifications
| Model | Jaguar XK8 (X100) |
|---|---|
| Production | 1996 to May 2005, Browns Lane, Coventry |
| Body | Two-door coupé or convertible |
| Engine | 4.0-litre AJ-V8 (1996 to 2002); 4.2-litre AJ34 later |
| Power | 290hp (216kW) at 6,100rpm; 393Nm (4.0-litre) |
| Top speed | 156mph, limited (4.0-litre coupé) |
| Gearbox | 5-speed ZF automatic; 6-speed ZF automatic from 2002 |
| Length / wheelbase | 4,760mm / 2,588mm (1996 to 2004) |
| Wheels | 17-inch alloys standard; larger sizes optional |
| Price | Second-hand only; US average asking price about US$11,575 (October 2026) |
Questions
What car does Zao drive in Die Another Day?
Zao drives a Jaguar, generally identified as an XKR, the supercharged version of the XK8. The car was heavily modified for the film.
Is the Jaguar XK8 the same as the XKR?
No. The XKR is the higher-performance version, introduced in 1998, with a rear spoiler, mesh grille, bonnet louvres and 18-inch wheels. They share a body and platform.
Is the Jaguar XK8 still made?
No. Production ended in 2005, and the car is found second-hand.
How fast is the Jaguar XK8?
The 4.0-litre car makes 290hp and has a limited top speed of 156mph. Hemmings quotes 5.2 seconds from 0 to 60mph.
The wider story is on the Die Another Day page, with more cars in Vehicles and the actor’s era at Pierce Brosnan.
