What's in a name? "Speed, sleekness and raw power" is the answer when it comes to Jaguar, for these are the elements that founder William Lyons wanted to reflect in the name, the company will tell you. And ever since, Jaguar has been one of the big cats of the sports car world. Yet it has built on this reputation with ever-increasing degrees of comfort and style, so that the modern Jaguar driver can get the best of both worlds.

Big cat

Ever since 1953, when the big cat got the cream at Le Mans, the maker has been involved in racing cars, with touring cars and world championships featuring the Jaguar logo year after year. Yet even these speedsters were taking on saloon style elements. The addition of a bit of style and luxury gave the manufacturer a new element.

Alive

Jaguar founder William Lyons said he wanted the cars to be "the closest thing we can create to something that is alive" and the plan for cars like the XZKRS and XF has been to "bring the exhilaration of driving to life".

But this is not just Jaguar's claim. Commenting on the XKRS, Top Gear magazine proclaimed: "The XK is still one of the most exciting cars to drive that Jaguar has ever made. Poised, comfortable, alive - it has the big GT game pretty much wrapped up, especially in XKR form." This is life indeed.

Classy

But class is there in spades too, as What Car Magazine noted when discussing the XF, stating that it is: "A brilliant combination of sporting saloon and luxury limo. Refined, classy and well equipped, it's hard to fault."

So for those looking for a ride that is comfortable and exciting all at once, it seems Jaguar may be the maker to fulfil that dream.