Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJ-S was launched in 1975, an entirely different approach by the company to the previous sports cars produced.
More a luxury Grant Touring car, the XJ-S was not, as thought by most, to be a direct replacement for the legendary E-type.
Based on the Jaguar XJ12 saloon mechanicals, with fuel injected engine and a choice of manual or automatic transmissions, at the time it was the most
expensive model Jaguar had ever produced.
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 1988 Jaguar XJ-S |
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Although still a genuine 150mph performance car, it lacked appeal to traditional Jaguar customers because of its avant garde styling and, due to
poor built quality and economy, the model came close to being discontinued, despite some racing success in the States with the Group 44 Team.
The XJ-S received a new lease of life in 1981 with the launch of the HE (high efficiency) model.
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Major improvements in fuel economy and build quality along with the return of traditional touches like chrome, wood veneer, etc. helped to improve
the overall reputation of the model and sales improved.
Another major benefit came with a return to competition with the European Touring Car Championship. By 1984 Jaguar XJ-Ss had won the most races and
the Championship outright.
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1989 Jaguar XJ-S
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In 1983 two new XJ-S models were announced, the 3.6 litre (utilising the then new AJ-6 multi-valve straight six unit with a Getrag 5-speed manual gearbox)
and the XJ-SC Cabriolet. The latter was supposedly built to special order offering a retractable rear hood section and targa panels over the driver
/front seat passenger. By 1985 this model became available with a V12 engine.
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In 1988 the XJ-S Convertible was announced replacing the Cabriolet but initially only available with the V12 engine. With fully retractable electric hood
(incorporating the then unique all-glass rear screen). Very soon the XJR-S model came about, based on a concept by TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) and
later adopted by Jaguar as a joint venture (JaguarSport). These models offered degrees of bespoke treatment to cater for a more sporting audience.
The XJ-S was re-engineered in 1991 having had £50m spent on it and although all the exterior body panels were different except for the bonnet, it
retained its unique style, including the "flying buttress" rear wings. Now with a 4.0 litre engine (plus V12) and more traditional instrumentation,
the XJS (without the hyphen) remained competitive. By 1993 the 5.3 litre V12 engine was increased to 6.0 litres capacity, the 4.0 litre engine was
re-designed with individual coils over plugs (AJ16) and the Convertible models became 2 + 2 configuration.
A final version was called the Celebration, commemorating 60 years of the Jaguar marque, the last cars produced in 1996.
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