Jay Leno surprises James Corden with his dream car, and it gets a surprising reaction from the comedian
Published on Nov 14, 2025 at 8:20 AM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Nov 14, 2025 at 10:56 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
During a new episode of This Is Your Automotive Life, Jay Leno revealed the one car James Corden had always wanted to drive.
Corden arrived expecting a simple walk-through of his automotive past and a few light stories from his early career.
But the final car on the studio floor stopped him in his tracks.
It was clear Leno had been saving the best for last.
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The moment Jay Leno revealed James Corden’s dream car
This Is Your Automotive Life takes guests through the cars that marked different stages of their lives.
Corden’s episode began the same way – the early cars linked to auditions, first jobs, and the start of his BBC career – each with a short memory attached.
But the last one broke from the pattern.
“You told me a long time ago you had a dream car you wanted to drive,” Leno said.
“Do you remember what it is?” he said as he nodded towards a car with a cover on it.
Underneath was a 1972 Jaguar XKE, James Corden’s professed ‘dream car.’
The 1972 XKE is considered one of the most significant sports cars of its era.
A 150mph grand tourer with a sub-seven-second 0-60 time, widely regarded as one of the most important designs Jaguar ever produced.
So, naturally, they had to take it for a spin.
His reaction and why it mattered
Corden didn’t try to hide how much the XKE meant to him.
“I genuinely think it’s the most beautiful car that’s ever been,” he said.
Once they were on the road, the moment shifted from surprise to personal reflection.
Corden began talking about what life looked like when he first arrived in America.
The struggle to make it in film and television and the uncertainty and impermanence that came with assuming the job might disappear at any moment.
For him, driving the XKE he’d once described as a dream wasn’t about nostalgia but rather a marker of how far he’d come from those early career days.
That’s what gave the moment weight, not the speed or the styling of the car.
A short drive, a long way from where he started.
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
