What does the E stand for in E-Type Jaguar

What does the E stand for in E-Type Jaguar

After WW II, there were the C-Type, which was mostly a race car, then the D-Type, also a race car. Next in the series was the E-Type. "E" isn't actually short for anything.

The E-type was supposed to be the replacement for the D-type for racing. The "XK" (120-140-150) designation was the road-going sports model. But the E-type was so well received by the press and public that it was decided to make a road version. The E-type became known in the U.S. as the "XKE" to ride the popularity of the preceeding XK models. And soon there may be the Jaguar F-type ... back to the "type"s roots as a 2-seater sports car instead of the grand touring route that the models took in 1972 when the E-types were long wheelbase 2+2's. BTW, Alfa Romeo used the terms "Corsa" and "Strada" to differentiate their racing models from the road going base car equivalent.

"Type", "Model, "Job", etc. were popular model progression designations in earlier times. Remember the Buick Y-Job, Ford Model A? But were there ever any Jaguar A- or B-types?