Big Guns

Jaguar’s iconic XJ saloon may mark its half century this year, but we can also look back on 25 years since the XJ40 line-up was finally completed.

- Paul Wager 

Much will doubtless be written this year about Jaguar’s XJ line of saloons: the original car, retrospectively known as the Series 1, was launched in 1968 and so it’s been with us for half a century now. Despite suggestions a few years ago that the current car might not be replaced, it looks like quite the opposite will now happen, with press reports suggesting the big Jaguar will morph into a top-end luxury electric car in the Tesla mould.

There’s also another anniversary this summer though, which is perhaps of more significance to classic Jaguar fans: it was in 1993 that the Series 3 XJ was finally retired and the XJ40 could be considered to have found its feet.

But surely, I hear the pedants pointing out, the XJ40 was launched in 1986? Indeed it was, but as unveiled, the range included only straight-six engines: the newly developed AJ6 which replaced the older XK engine, plus the entry-level single-cam 2.9litre which was effectively one bank of the long-serving Jaguar V12.