The Jaguar XJ-series was the last Design of which by the founder of the company Jaguar, Sir William Lyons was affected. From 1968 to 1992 in altogether more than 400,000 pieces, from the Reihensechzylinder with 2,8 litres capacity up to the V12 with 5,3 litres capacity built, for a long time before Mercedes or BMW their models with 12-Zylinder offered. Its main competitors are the AUDI A8, BMW 7er, Mercedes S-class, the VOLKSWAGEN Phaeton as well as the Lexus LS

XJ series of I (1968 to 1973)

The car was presented to 1968 of the public and replaced first the models 340, which became S-type and the 420, the 240, that Daimler 250 V8 as well as the Daimler Sovereign (Daimler version Jaguar 420) and the 420G first still further produced. The XJ6 used the well-known XK 6-Zylinder with 4,2 litres capacity as well as a new version of the old Design with 2.8 litres capacity.

1969 presented the Daimler version of the XJ6, which took over the name Sovereign and both the Daimler 250 to Jaguar V8 as well as replaced the previous Daimler Sovereign (420). Already 1969 were adjusted briefly before the production Jaguar 240. When 1970 also the production of the 420G were adjusted, there was only the XJ as only sedan series with Jaguar/Daimler. [1972]] the XJ12 (Daimler double Six) followed announced, with same 5.3 litres the twelve-cylinder as the E-type. Followed still another particularly Vanden Plas with longer wheel base and both the XJ6 and the XJ12 gave it starting from at the end of 1972 now with two wheel bases, except which 2,8, which there was only with the original short wheel base.

Of the series of I up to 1973 more than 98,000 pieces were sold, until due to new environmental and safety conditions the series II was introduced.

XJ series of II (1974 to 1978)

Starting from 1974 the series of II was sold, both with short and with long wheel base. Were offered the well-known XK-engine with 2,8 and 4,2 litres capacity and the 5.3 litres to V12. 4.2 litres out the model carried only 125 KW contrary to the series of I with 180 KW. The achievement of the V12 rose from 186 KW to 210 KW. In April 1975 the 2,8 six cylinder by a new 3.4 litre was replaced six cylinder with 118 KW.

1974 were already announced the new XJ-Coupe, but lasted until 1975 to the Coupe into series production went. Due to problems with the quality and the suppliers the production of the Coupes was already stopped 1977. Like also the sedan, there was the Coupe both and Jaguar and and Daimler with that 4.2 six cylinder and that 5.3 twelve-cylinders.

XJ series of III (1978 to 1992)

At the end of of 1978 was announced the third generation of the XJ series, which was stylistic revised by Pininfarina. One can recognize the series of III well by the larger window areas and the rubber encased bumpers. Beside the revised Design the carburetors were replaced by a fuel injection system (exception 3.4). The achievement 4.2 rose to 147 KW and remained unchanged with the V12. 1981 got the V12 a new cylinder head that consumption lowered and H.E. (for High Efficiency) one called. There was the XJ6 originally also with a 5-Gang transmissions, due to the small demand later was not which no more offered.

The production of the XJ6 was stopped 1987, the series of III was further-produced with V12-Motor however still until 1992 (to more would background in the following section to the XJ40). The XJ 12/Daimler double Six was again extensively revised in the year 1990 for model year 1991 and equipped among other things with a bosch ABS and a one of Lucas under license produced bosch fuel injection system. Upon expiration of the production yearly 1991 the production of the XJ12 was stopped. The last Daimler double Six of the series of III came at the end of of 1992 off the line. In the meantime the XJ 40 was so far modified that it with one on 6l capacity increased V12-Motor as model XJ 81 be offered could.

XJ40 (1986 to 1994)

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1986 the follow-up series of XJ40 presented, whose development was begun, as Jaguar still to the British Leyland engine company (BLMC) belonged. There were the first Design suggestions for the XJ40, which should replace the XJ6, already to the early 70ern. But only 1981 were approved the development of the project by the executive committee.

The XJ40 was one of the technically ambitioniertesten vehicles in the middle of the 80's, at the same time however in production more favorable than the series of III, since its body consisted of less, for it larger sheet metal pressed parts. The XJ40 got from the XJ-S admitted AJ6 with 3,6 litres capacity and a smaller AJ6 with 2,9 litres capacity and in two versions and than Daimler was sold. Optical the Sovereign and Daimler models with high order were to be recognized by rectangular broadband headlights, the XJ6 of models had four round headlights. A further style element, which was introduced with the XJ40, was the "J-gate" - window blind of the mechanism.

From the secondary literature (see sources) it follows that by the lengthy Querelen with BLMC around the question, how a modern XJ-successor has to look Jaguar caused in the long run that the engine compartment of the XJ40 was so narrowly implemented that no V-engines fit in. This should exclude the possible demand from the beginning to use the V8-Motor of the BLMC daughter Rover also in the Jaguar. Rover V8-Motor, whose variants into the country Rover had/rank Rover models, which Rover P5B, Rover SDI mg B GT V8 and various British small series sports car, e.g. Morgan plus 8 was used, because of its originally American origin a something to rough charm, jaguar customers would have accepted these.

Customers were not satisfied with 3,6 litres as point motorizing anyhow, the recognized one already for the series start of the XJ40. One admitted officially that one had estimated oneself in the acceptance, in the 80's only (comparatively) gasoline-saving six cylinder engines would be in demand. From official sources of jaguar it follows that at the time of the presentation of the XJ40 in the year 1986 (thus still at BLMC times) a V12-Motor in this vehicle was already announced publicly (XJ81). However for it now modifications at the understructure had to be made, which should finally take years. In order to bridge the time up to the appearance of the XJ81 with V12-Motor, the series of III with V12-Motor to at the end of of 1992 was further-built parallel to the XJ40.

At first the XJ40 had some quality weaknesses as the first complete XJ-reconstruction of Jaguar since 1968, e.g. within the range of electronics (in particular the digital announcements prepared grief). In the course of the years the quality improved however strongly. In particular starting from model year 1990 the XJ40 applies as very reliable - in this year also the digital announcements were replaced by classical round instruments.

The XJ40 was despite all obstacles a commercial success for Jaguar and to 1989 39,000 models was sold. 1990 revised engines offered with 3,2 and 4,0 litres capacity. The V12, now with 6 litres and 229 KW followed 1993, after the body had been redesigned for the admission of V-engines (see XJ series of III). To win beside that basis and the Sovereign model 1993 a sport model imported around younger customers. Likewise there was a version with long wheel base the Majestic was called.

The XJ40 is to be recognized immediately as Jaguar. Although it concerned one expressed modern and material interpretation of the jaguar Design style, the vehicle pointed all typical jaguar characteristics to (proportions, collateral line,

The new XJ6 and XJ12 (1994 to 1997)

In the autumn 1994 the new XJ was introduced, which took over optically many Design elements of the classical XJ. Its body was based on that of the XJ40/XJ81, did not become stylistic however only, but also structurally strongly modifies. Beside the outside style elements also the Interieur was revised. Technically the X-300 took over much from the XJ40. Beside that V12 there were 6.0 litres the revised AJ16 with 3,2 litres and 4.0 litres capacity.

Beside the XJ6 with that 3.2 litres row-six cylinder, gave it the Sovereign with 3,2 and 4,0 litres, the Daimler Six and the two twelve-cylinders XJ12 and Daimler double Six. With the XJ sport 3.2 and 4.0 tried to reach Jaguar again a younger group of buyers. A completely new concept was the Jaguar XJR, a sport sedan with that 4 litres row six cylinder and compressor, which carried 240 KW out and so that then strongest Jaguar was the model. 1996 were offered the Sovereign, XJ12 and the two Daimler with long wheel base.

The XJ8 (1997 to 2002)

the success of the X-300 in the September of the successors, X-308 was internally called, introduced. Apart from the new AJ-V8, which had before in the XK8 its Debut, the XJ8 was improved also within other ranges, among other things a new 5-Gang-Automatik a chassis revised of ZF, and a new Interieur. The new V8 meant also the end of the era of the Big Cat, the thirsty however strong twelve-cylinder.

The new V8 with 3,2 and 4,0 litres capacity carried 177 and 209/214 KW out, the V8-Kompressor in the XJR and Daimler super V8 carried out only 267, later 272 KW.

Apart from the basis variant XJ Executive gave it a set of further models like the XJ sport, the XJ Sovereign, to the 4,0 Vanden Plas, the XJR, the Daimler Eight and Daimler super V8. There was the XJ Sovereign, Vanden Plas and the two Daimler of models also with long wheel base. Altogether more than 125,000 models of the XJ8 were produced.

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