2008 Jaguar XKR Portfolio

Finished in the ultra-rare ‘Portfolio’ specification, ‘LJ58 XDX’ is a beautifully curated example of the ever-popular and slightly bonkers Jaguar XKR – and the reason it looks so good, apart from the fact it’s finished in Shadow Grey Metallic with a black leather interior, is that it’s spent the first 17 years of its life in Japan, a country where looking after cars properly has been elevated to an artform.

It's got just 43,000 miles on the clock too, and that mileage is supported by both a Mileage Verification Certificate and the XKR’s service history. Regular followers will know that the latter is rare, the paperwork usually falling foul of the country’s strict adherence to GDPR regulations; we can usually see that a car has been looked after properly, but proving it is generally impossible.

Not here though, thanks to meticulous record-keeping by its only owner in Japan. It’s been titivated to full UK-spec too, so the only way anyone will know that it hasn’t spent its entire life here is because it presents and drives so well. 

It’s a handsome thing, isn’t it? Shadow Grey Metallic (colour code LMR) suits the XKR’s rakish lines to perfection; throw in huge alloy wheels that showcase red Brembo brake calipers, and chrome mesh grilles galore, and the result is one of the most striking coupés of the era.

The seller tells us that this is the original paint and that the car has never been involved in an accident. The coachwork has also been polished and ceramic-coated since arriving back here in the UK, and it looks resplendent in the low winter sun. 

Of course, given all this the shutlines and general alignment are excellent, the flanks are free of ripples and car-park dinks, and the badges and lamp lenses are all bright, colourful, and free of damage. 

The aluminium bonnet also features factory vents, illumination is via Xenon headlamps, the ‘shark’s gills’ on the front wings add to its predatory presence, and rear parking sensors help you manoeuvre the Jaguar in tight spaces. 

Speaking of which, while the 20-inch Selena staggered alloy wheels have been recently refurbished three of them nonetheless show very light marks. So very light though that we can’t imagine many folk would even notice them, much less feel the need to do anything about it.

The tyres are Davanti ProToura Sport in 285/30ZR20 on the rear and 255/35ZR20 on the front. Made in 2024, all have good tread, and, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. 

Our man has crawled over the car with his customary magnifying glass and has identified the following cosmetic flaws: there are marks to the offside rear wing; offside front wheelarch; and the front bumper below the badge.

He also noted very small delamination marks to the front windscreen; light paint cracking and chips to the front splitter; light sanding mark to the nearside door glass; a couple of scratches and areas of paint fading to the roof (which he thinks are from cleaning chemicals); a couple of tiny chips to the offside door and the rear wing near the shutline; and a few microblisters to offside door below the mirror.

It's worth pointing out that we have only mentioned some of these because so many of you bid without seeing the car in person: Our aim to have you pleasantly surprised when you come to collect the car and we know we’ve done our job properly when buyers struggle to find some of the things we’ve mentioned.

The black leather interior (trim code LEG) features contrasting red stitching and matching red seatbelts, a colour scheme that is both timeless and sporty. 

There’s satin alloy trim in addition to the high-gloss walnut veneer too, which isn’t a combination we see a lot of. This is surprising given how well the two finishes complement each other and the result is a modern, bright, and welcoming cabin that is resolutely 21st century while still giving a nod to the traditional interiors we all grew up admiring. It’s clever stuff, but then few did it better than Jaguar Land Rover at the time. 

The front seats are every bit as supportive and sumptuous as you’d expect of a car with the XKR’s grand touring chops. Naturally, they’re both heated and cooled too, and they’ve survived the passage of almost two decades better than anyone in our office with nothing more intrusive than the lightest of creases.

The individual 2+2 rear seats are snug and in an even better condition than those in the front.

The interior has also been deep-cleaned before having the leather fed and conditioned. 

It’s as clever as it is luxurious too, and electronic goodies include a powerful Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system, touchscreen sat-nav, keyless entry and start, cruise-control, and dual-zone climate-control that blows nice and cold.

Plus, of course, flappy paddles for the six-speed automatic ZF gearbox, a fat-rimmed leather steering wheel, a 170mph speedometer, and alloy pedals. This is, above all, a Jaguar sportscar. 

Everything works as it should, including the sat-nav, which has UK mapping, the speedometer, which is calibrated in miles-per-hour, and the radio, which picks up the full range of radio stations.

The headlining is new, the carpets are still excellent, and everything else could be five years old rather than on the cusp of its majority. 

The wide and shallow boot is beautifully trimmed and as clean as everywhere else. 

We are also told that everything works, including our current favourite touchstone, the door-mounted warning/puddle lamps. 

As for problems, we hesitate to describe them as such, but you should be aware that the leather on the offside dashboard near the windscreen air vent isn't fully stuck down.

The Jaguar comes with a documented main dealer service and Shaken history:

• 09.09.2009 and 3,987kms – Jaguar Service Centre Tokyo for scheduled maintenance and full mechanical safety inspection including an electrical and  charging system test
• 14.07.2010 and 6,373kms – Jaguar Land Rover Mitaka for scheduled service including a brake fluid condition check and to have the suspension and steering examined
• 21.10. 2010 and 14,333kms – Jaguar Land Rover Mitaka for an oil and filter service, and a driveline and lighting inspection
• 24.03.2011 and 17,718kms – Jaguar Land Rover Mitaka for scheduled maintenance and an engine electronics diagnostics and an underbody inspection
• 20.06.2011 and 21,332kms – Jaguar Land Rover Mitaka for a service and brake system checks, cooling system and belts inspected, and a suspension arm wear check
• 12.01.2012 and 27,990kms – Jaguar Land Rover Mitaka for routine service plus the steering tierods and joints inspected and the battery and ignition components tested
• 15.02. 2012 and 28,964kms – Jaguar Land Rover Mitaka for an intermediate service, wheel alignment check, and a fuel pressure sensor inspection
• 23.04 2012 and 30,176kms – Jaguar Land Rover Mitaka to have both front lower control arms replaced, the suspension geometry reset, a brake disc condition check, and the NAV system updated with a new disc
• 30.07. 2013 and 41,835kms – Jaguar Land Rover Mitaka for a Shaken inspection
• 18.09.2014 and 49,141kms – Jaguar Land Rover Mitaka for a Shaken inspection including having the maintenance checks completed, the ECM reconfigured, the gearbox adaptive values reset, and the wheel balance checked

The mileage is now recorded in miles rather than kilometers:

• 04.10.2021 and 37,362 miles - authorised Japanese Inspection Centre to have the brake force and emissions tested, a structural check, and the mileage continuity confirmed (Export Certificate matched)
• 19.09.2025 and 43,612 miles – Motor Masters of Hayes, UK for an advisory-free MOT pass

• 27.10.2025 and 43,601 miles – full UK conversion and pre-sale preparation by Jag West London, including:

  - Full mechanical inspection, diagnostic scan, and road test in addition to a new oil filter and engine oil and having both front track control arms replaced

  - The underside cleaned and rustproofed

  - MPH speedometer converted using an OEM face

  - UK sat-nav and radio band converted

  - Headliner replaced

  - Spare key supplied and coded

  - Front numberplate plinth fitted

All of which came to a hefty £2,390.

The seller is at pains to point out that while the front track control arms have been replaced, his local garage’s alignment equipment was offline at the time, so they weren’t able to set the tracking. The winning bidder will therefore need doing as a priority, both the straighten the steering wheel and prevent premature and uneven tyre wear.

Of course, having never seen winter road salt, the underside, which boasts both Brembo brakes and Jaguar’s CATS adaptive dynamic suspension, is so good that the worst we can say of it is that some – not all, only some – of the fasteners have light corrosion on them.

The leading edge of the plastic lip underneath the front splitter is also lightly scuffed but, again, that’s only scuffed rather than smashed to smithereens. 

The seller reports that it has a “quiet engine, a smooth gearbox, and tight steering. The brakes are also excellent, and it drives exactly as it should with strong performance.” He also points out that there are “no warning lights, fault codes, or known issues.”

As the video shows, the supercharged V8 bursts into life with a muted snarl, idles with a bass growl, and raises the hairs on the back of your neck when it’s provoked. No warning lights either, nor odd noises. 

The engine bay is as clean as everywhere else, with good and undamaged plastics, well-finished alloy components, a distinct absence of rusty fasteners, and even a very good soundproofing mat under the bonnet. We suspect few will feel the need to do anything more than keep it looking this good.

The Jaguar’s first MoT, which is valid until September 2026, was issued with no advisories – no pressure for the next owner then!

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear bar the marker for being an imported car, and the history file contains the Jaguar wallet and book pack, a V5 registration document, the MoT certificate, a printed summary of the service history, and masses of history from Japan. 

Because it was built in the UK for the Japanese market and retro-fitted with all the UK-specific bits, you shouldn’t expect any uplift on your insurance premium.

It’s also ULEZ- and CAZ-compliant, and costs just £360 a year for the annual VED.

The fact so many owners have a Champagne taste but a prosecco budget mean a lot of XKRs end their lives neglected, limping from one MoT to another before some poor unfortunate is left holding a fiscal blackhole when the luck runs out.

No such danger here though because this one has been meticulously maintained – and it has the paperwork to back it up.

It comes from Japan too, the country that would top our list were we in the market for a modern classic.

And all of this could be yours for between £15,000 and £18,000; we doubt you can have more fun, or make a more glorious noise, for any less. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.