Jaguar XJS

The Jaguar XJ-S (later the XJS) was a luxury GT coupe from Jaguar. The XJ-S replaced the legendary Jaguar E-Type in September, 1975, and was based on the XJ sedan. It had been developed as the XK-F, though it was very different in character from its predecessor. Although it never had quite the same sporting image, the XJ-S was a competent grand tourer and, in fact, more aerodynamic than the E-type. The last XJS was produced on April 4, 1996, with the XK8 taking its place.

1976

The first XJ-S appeared in 1975 as a 1976 model. Power came from the V12 version with a choice of a manual or automatic transmission (but the manual was soon dropped). It could reach 60 mph (100 km/h) in 6.9 seconds and accelerate to 150 mph (240 km/h). The Group 44 racing team built a successful Trans Am race car based on the XJ-S, and the car won the series' 1977 manufacturers' championship cup.

Jaguar's timing was not good: the car was launched in the wake of the first fuel crisis and the market for a 5.3-litre V12 grand tourer was very small. The styling was also the subject of much criticism, including the "flying buttresses" behind the windows.

Jaguar did seize a promotional opportunity with the television series Return of the Saint, in which the hero, Simon Templar (played by Ian Ogilvy), drives an early XJ-S with the number plate 'ST 1'. Miniature versions were made by Corgi and proved popular. A decade and a half before, Jaguar had turned down the producers of the earlier Saint series when approached about the E-type.

Responding to criticisms that the XJ-S was not a worthy E-type successor, Pininfarina revealed a sporty show car in 1979 based on XJ-S mechanicals. The car was not released.

The 1980s

The 1981 XJ-S received the new High-Efficiency engine for much better economy. The XJ-S HE was also now the fastest automatic-transmission car in the world at 155 mph. In 1982, the new V12 XJ-S won first and second at the Tourist Trophy race at Silverstone. A new 3.6-litre Jaguar AJ6 engine was added to the line-up, and a cabriolet version débuted, the XJ-SC, though it was only a 2-seat car. A V12 XJ-SC did not emerge until 1985. The two-seat cabriolet was replaced with a two-seat convertible in 1988.

Jaguar did consider a luxury Daimler version, without the flying buttresses, but this vehicle was not put into production.

Throughout the XJ-S's life, British company Lynx sold a high-quality four-seat full convertible conversion.

1991–1996

The car was reengineered in 1991 and renamed XJS, with a convertible waiting one year. The rear windows were enlarged, though the flying buttresses stayed, as designer Geoff Lawson argued that they were part of the car's character. The car got a new 4-litre version of the AJ6, and the V12 was upped to 6 litres in 1993. A 2+2 convertible was also introduced, as was a customized insignia line. The car came to an end in 1996 with the introduction of the XK8.