Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Jaguar XJ-S - the successor to the most beautiful sports car of its time

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on August 31, 2016

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Balz Schreier

27

Bruno von Rotz

25

Archiv

15

Balz Schreier

27

Bruno von Rotz

25

Archiv

15

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the massive bumpers were due to the Americans

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the type designation

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - also pleasant to drive on country roads

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the Cibié headlights were only available on the European version

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - not a cornering predator

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - flat snout, characteristic lights

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - appears particularly wide due to its low height, but 179 cm is actually not that much

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - when exhaust design was not yet an issue

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - it showed its exhaust tips to most of its competitors

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - a real cruiser

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the examples of the eighties managed around 240 km/h

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - fits particularly well in front of a brick building

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the rear section in particular demonstrates independence

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Seventies tires were still in vogue back then

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - 4.87 meters long

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the design hardly changed in the first two decades

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - not usually parked in front of terraced houses

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the H.E. version is significantly more economical

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - ready for departure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - also looks powerful from the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - rear view with relatively small rear window

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Feel-good atmosphere

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the handbrake sits to the left of the driver's seat

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - beautiful leather

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - comparatively generous space in the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - most were delivered with torque converter automatic transmission

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Cockpit with retrofitted steering wheel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the main instruments are on the left and right, the control instruments in between

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Displays for water temperature, oil pressure, fuel level and voltage

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - three-speed automatic, but "D" is sufficient for practically all driving situations

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the first versions had no wood

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the travel computer

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Cruise control on the center console

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the light switch

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Exterior mirror adjustment via two chrome-plated joysticks

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Wood and leather for the door panels

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the large twelve-cylinder engine is known for its smooth running

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the V12 optimized according to the Michael May "Fireball" principle

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - from the beginning the engine was fuel-injected in the XJ-S

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the V12 is fuel injected

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Nameplate

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the broadband headlights specially developed by Cibié

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Radiator grille

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the Jaguar on the hood

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Air intake on the hood

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the curved rear window in the style of the Dino 246 GT

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the Ferrari 375 America by Pinin Farina from 1954, which was built for Ingrid Bergman, already had a rear window of this shape

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Fuel filler flap

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - large trunk, but the spare wheel and battery are also located there

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - the special rear end

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - Jaguar lettering on the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S H.E. (1986) - clearly communicated V12 version

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

SS Jaguar 100 (1936)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XK 120 Super Sport (1948) - this picture was used to inform the press

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar E V12 (1971) - Presentation

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ 6 C Coupé (1973) - new luxury coupé from British Leyland - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1973

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S (1975) - E-Type replacement with 5.3-liter V12 engine and 285 hp - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1975

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S (1975) - early press photo of the launch - with embargo until September 10, 1975

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S (1978) - the coupé after three years of construction

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S (1976) - together with Austin Allegro, both painted in elegant black - Geneva Motor Show 1976

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJS (1983) - the V12 engine returns, the Swiss are still allowed to drive the silky smooth Jaguar - at the 1983 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S (1982) - the H.E. touring car version at Monza in 1982

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S (1983) - as a Group A touring car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S (1983) - the touring car according to Group A during test drives

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S (1983) - the slightly damaged Group A touring car in racing mode

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJ-S (1983) - the Jaguar in the pits at the touring car race in Zeltweg (Austria)

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Jaguar XJS Convertible Arden (1989) - with hardtop made of Kevlar - IAA 1989

You have only

1 out of 67

images seen in high resolution

Summary

From 1975 to 1996, Jaguar built the luxurious XJ-S coupé, initially exclusively as a closed twelve-cylinder model, later also with a six-cylinder engine and as a convertible. Although the task of building a successor to the E-Type was almost impossible, the XJ-S was significantly more successful than its predecessor, not least thanks to continuous attention, which resulted in the famous H.E. engine based on Michael May's Fireball principle in 1981, for example. This driving report describes the history of the Jaguar XJ-S and shows the car in current and historical pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

An impressive gallery of ancestors
Developed in several attempts
Proven technology, aerodynamic design
The affordable luxury GT
No match for the German opponents?
More efficiency thanks to a Swiss invention
Success in racing
From coupé to convertible
The gentle force
Further information

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Designing the successor to an iconic sports car while battling with the restrictions of modern safety standards can't be an easy project. The Jaguar E-Type was not even described by Enzo Ferrari as the most beautiful sports car of the sixties for nothing, and even if the elegance of the original design suffered somewhat over the years, the task of building a successor to it was certainly a major challenge. However, the Jaguar E-Type was just one of several outstanding sports cars to which Jaguar owed its reputation. Even before the war, William Lyons had shown what an elegant Gran Turismo should look like with the SS 100. He repeated this success with the XK series (120, 140, 150) and the E-Type, which was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961. In order to cater to American buyers' tastes, however, the E-Type had gained in weight and length over the years, but was also given a contemporary engine with a twelve-cylinder engine.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: