The Jaguar XJ-S is a model of the steeped in tradition company Jaguar with very disputed Design. Nevertheless the XJ-S was 100.000 times sold in the 25 years of its production over 100.000.

With the last Jaguar E-type, which 1974 were delivered, gave to Jaguar the market for sports cars, for the straight English automobile industry with marks such as Jaguar, Triumph and mg admits was, up. New legal basic conditions, in particular in the USA, and the desire of the buyers for comfortable cars for the daily use forced the manufacturers to manufacture Coupes and Grand Tourer - if possible on the basis of existing models, in order to reduce the costs and increase the profit. Jaguar already presented the XJ Coupe to 1973 as alternative to the XJ sedan, however the Coupes was only delivered starting from 1975 and reset 1977 due to problems with production.

The XJ-S (1975 to 1981)

1975 were introduced the XJ-S and/or the XJ "sport ", that on the Jaguar XJ series with short wheel base and chassis was based (the wheel base was with 2,59 m about 25 cm more briefly than in the case of the sedan XJ12) with 2+2-Karosserie and the V12 in the injecting version. Its form was as can be prove more aerodynamic than those of the popular E-type, worked however more wuchtiger. On the part of management this was regarded as the most economic variant, in order to be able to offer at the same time an exclusive Coupe. The XJ-S was the most expensive Jaguar to win with the intention, buyer of other luxury marks such as Maserati and Ferrari. Compared with the Porsche at that time 911 and Mercedes Benz SL-class the XJ-S was not as roomy and cultivated as the XJ12 and substantially thirstier faster, but with excellent road-hugging property and an independent character. There was the XJ-S only with that to 5.3 V12 with 285 HP and the choice between a 4-Gang-Schaltgetriebe (world-wide only 5 pieces) and a 3-Gang-Automatik. The acceleration of 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) amounted to 6.9 seconds and the XJ-S reached a maximum speed of 153 mp/h (246 km/h).

The XJ-S HE and V12 (1981 to 1991)

After production 1980 had reached a lowest point of scarce over 1000 cars, was considered at short notice to adjust the production of the XJ-S. However under John Egan one decided to revise the XJ-S and offer new versions, among other things for a long time a Cabrio desired of customers. The XJ-S HE with the new cylinder head Design, which was on the one hand more economic, made the beginning (consumption did not sink according to factory specifications of "clearly over 20 litres" per 100 km on "any longer than 15 litres") and on the other hand a higher achievement had (299 HP). Beside more easily cosmetic changes (Holzinterieur, "Starfish "- rims, bumpers with upper chrome border) also the quality was substantially improved, which improved the sales figures noticeably.

The 3.6 litres of models (1983 - 1991)

In the XJ-S 1983 also that were used again AJ6 3.6 row six cylinder, which carried 221 HP out, with which 5-Gang-Schaltgetriebe of 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds accelerated and a maximum speed of 137 mph (220 km/h) reached. Beside the transmission there was also a 4-Gang-Automatik of ZF.

The XJ-S Cabriolet and the XJ-S Convertible

In the same year for to US in particular market the XJ-S Cabriolet with a Targa roof and a folding tail was introduced - for the time being only with the new six cylinder, later also with the V12. However the demand for the Cabriolet was not as highly as hoped for, in particular there covers time-consuming to open and close was and the competition the adequate Cabrios offered. "A genuine "Cabrio gave it only from some Tunern such as Hess & iron hard and Arden. Jaguar decided therefore, even a new Cabriolet on basis of the XJ-S to develop and 1987 the XJ-S Convertible with the V12 was introduced.

Into the 80ern the XJ-S was successfully inserted by the team Tom Walkinshaw Racing (short TWR) in the European route cars championship, where Jaguar 1984 won the title. A sporty and higher performance version was originally offered to 6.0 V12 later under the designation XJR-S by TWR and by Jaguar sport with that 5.3 and/or that.

The XJS (1991 - 1996)

When 1991 was declining the sales figures, the XJ-S for over 50 million Pound was revised, since no successor was available as alternative. The most remarkable change in the external opinion were the new taillights, which had not so far highly pulled now any longer. The new XJS was offered to 5.3 V12 with the AJ16 4.0 six cylinder and that as Coupe and Convertible. The 4.0 there was the V12 with a 5-Gang-Schaltgetriebe and a 4-Gang-Automatik, only with the 3-Gang-Automatik GM-400 von General of engine become outdated in the meantime. 1994 were introduced the 6.0 litres of V12 with 318 HP, the maximum speed were about 161 mph (260 km/h). First the old GM-400 AUTOMATIC blocked, later followed the 4-Gang mechanism also in the XJ81 and Bentley to find was. Even in the last production year, when the successor XK8 was already announced, still more than 3,000 XJS were delivered. Altogether in the 25 years more than 115,000 XJS were built.

Literature

• A. Whyte: Jaguar, The history OF A great British Car. Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1980
• Lord Montagu OF Beaulieu: Jaguar. 4th edition, The Anchor press Ltd., 1982

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