Concepts and prototypes : Jaguar XJ-S

AROnline Calendar IconAugust 5, 2011 · AROnline Card IconKeith Adams · AROnline Comments IconNo Comments

Replacing the legendary E-type was never going to be easy for Jaguar – and radical thinking was going to be needed.

Ian Nicholls charts the development of the car that was given the uneasy task, the XJ-S.

Initial thoughts: the XJ21 project

This car has a different nose, but which came first?

This car has a different nose, but which came first?

Above are Malcolm Sayer's designs for an XJ21 roadster and coupe.

Above are Malcolm Sayer's designs for an XJ21 roadster and coupe.

The above images are models of what appears to be XJ21 proposals.

The above images are models of what appears to be XJ21 proposals.

Moving on: XJ27

With his impending retirement at the age of 70, Sir William Lyons was left to set up a Jaguar styling department. Here is an early effort at an XJ saloon based GT for the XJ27 project penned by Lyons' men, Or this could be the XJ 3-litre mentioned earlier?

With his impending retirement at the age of 70, Sir William Lyons was left to set up a Jaguar styling department. Here is an early effort at an XJ saloon based GT for the XJ27 project penned by Lyons' men, Or this could be the XJ 3-litre mentioned earlier?

An XJ27 styling model.

An XJ27 styling model.

XJ27 clay model showing two different front-end treatments. The left hand one is quite close to that of the production XJ-S.

XJ27 clay model showing two different front-end treatments. The left hand one is quite close to that of the production XJ-S.

Clay model or running prototype ? The number plate is deceiving! According to one source the first prototype was produced in 1969.

Clay model or running prototype ? The number plate is deceiving! According to one source the first prototype was produced in 1969.

A rear view, but is it the same car? Note the E-type badging and reference to the 4.2-litre XK engine, a powerplant the production XJ-S never used, although it was at one stage proposed and running prototypes were built. However the XK engine's extra height required a different bonnet shape and the project was abandoned.

A rear view, but is it the same car? Note the E-type badging and reference to the 4.2-litre XK engine, a powerplant the production XJ-S never used, although it was at one stage proposed and running prototypes were built. However the XK engine's extra height required a different bonnet shape and the project was abandoned.

Apart from minor details, this prototype is close to the production XJ-S announced in September 1975. The styling of the XJ-S was frozen in 1972.

Apart from minor details, this prototype is close to the production XJ-S announced in September 1975. The styling of the XJ-S was frozen in 1972.


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